On this page, CHAP will post items of interest to homeschoolers both on a federal and a state level. Check back often because the information will change and be updated on a regular basis as the need arises.

CHAP's Legislative Watchdog - Summer 2007

Another two year legislative session is underway in Pennsylvania. The new session started the end of January with a clean slate. All those bills we were backing or opposing died their legislative death at the close of the legislative session in November 2006. Some of those bills have already been introduced again as possible legislation and others will be introduced in the future days. As homeschoolers, we must always be diligent to be on the watch for legislation which infringes on the rights of parents to direct the education of their children. Many believe the best defense (of parental rights) is a good offense. This is why CHAP is at work on behalf of homeschoolers in Pennsylvania during every legislative session. Our goal is to maintain and even recapture the God-given rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.

For the first time in many years, the House is controlled by the democratic party whose agenda is more government control and, therefore by definition, less parental control. We also have a democratic governor who would like to see more government control of education. Mix with these factors that the public schools are trying to entice more homeschoolers into their programs by offering cyber-charter schools (free public education at home), opening extra-curricular activities to homeschoolers, and offering classes and services to homeschoolers. Cyber-charter schools are just what they say they are. Public schools at home. That means all the regulations and strings of the public schools and Godless secular curriculum of the public school system. All of these enticements are to get homeschoolers back into the influence of the secular public school system. The argument “I pay taxes so therefore I should get services” does not apply in our opinion since over 60% of Pennsylvanians who pay school taxes do not receive services in return for their school taxes (elderly folks, childless couples, private school and homeschool families). Our view is that any government entanglement leads to government control and history bears this out that control will be taken away from the God-ordained parents.


House Bill 1273: An Act Concerning the Home Instruction Statute
Summary:
This bill would remove superintendents from reviewing portfolios in home education programs to determine whether the student is receiving an appropriate education. Instead, the parent would submit to the superintendent the written evaluation from a qualified evaluator. This bill also establishes an administrative procedure to resolve questions about the parent’s compliance with the laws.
Status:
Currently in the House Education Committee
CHAP’s position on this bill:
CHAP supports HB1273.

House Bill 118: An Act Lowering the Compulsory Attendance Age
Summary:
This bill applies to school districts of the first class. (Currently, the only school district large enough in PA to be a “first class” district is the Philadelphia School District so this legislation would only be applicable to the Philadelphia. district.) It would lower the compulsory attendance age from 8 to 6. The lower age would not apply to a child whose parents gave notice under the homeschool law that the child’s education was to be provided by the parent. While this would not require parents with children under 8 to comply with the homeschool law, the parents would, however, be bound to file notification paperwork. This bill represents an expansion of state control over education and imposes additional requirements on parents intending to homeschool. This bill contains the same language that was contained in HB377 during the last legislative session. Homeschoolers mounted a grassroots call-in last November which stalled the consideration of HB377 and it died at the end of the legislative session.
Status:
Introduced and referred to the House Education Committee, Jan. 31, 2007
Reported as committed, April 16, 2007
First consideration, April 16, 2007
Laid on the table, April 16, 2007
Removed from table, April 18, 2007
Re-referred to the Appropriations Committee, April 23, 2007
CHAP’s position on this bill:
This bill should be opposed. This bill adds another layer of government oversight to the homeschooling parents in Class 1 school districts.



House Bill 120: An Act requiring all public school districts in this Commonwealth to conduct interviews for all students who withdraw or are illegally absent from school
Summary:
An Act further providing for compulsory school attendance and for exceptions to compulsory school attendance; and requiring all public school districts in this Commonwealth to conduct interviews for all students who withdraw or are illegally absent from school. There is an exception for students withdrawing from public school to be homeschooled.
Status:
Currently re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, April 25, 2007
CHAP’s position on this bill:
This bill should be watched to make sure the homeschool exception stays in the language of the bill.

House Bill 1143: An Act mandating kindergarten in every district, setting the hours of kindergarten, and lowering the compulsory attendance to 6 years of age.
Summary:
This bill requires all PA school districts to make kindergarten a required school grade and lowers the compulsory attendance age to 6 with a school district being able to accept children as young as 5. Up until this time, kindergarten has not been a required school grade.
Status:
Introduced and referred to the House Education committee, April 23, 2007
CHAP’s position on this bill:
This bill should be opposed. This bill would increase funding costs as many students who are deemed to not be ready for formal schooling would be required to be placed in the formal schooling. The bill also lowers the compulsory attendance age to 6 years of age so that would require homeschooling parents to file the formal homeschooling documentation to the school district for two additional years.


Other legislation:
CHAP continues to work with legislators proposing amendments to the PA Constitution and with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) on amendments to the US Constitution defining marriage as being as God-ordained between one woman and one man.

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