LEGISLATIVE UPDATES: URGENT!

Hearing to Pass HB1013

It is not a small miracle that HB1013 is being heard by the House Education Committee. Thank you for all your efforts in contacting each member. Let's continue to send a strong message that we want our representatives to pass HB1013, by filling the hearing room on March 17. Bring your friends, bring your family, and join us at the hearing!  CHAP is devoting a series of posts to "fast action" items which you can participate in, as well as daily prayer requests as we seek to cover House Bill 1013 until March 24, one week after the Education Committee hearing. You may join by following CHAP on facebook or daily checking the CHAP Legislative Action blog. Keep bringing the Bill to their attention by calling your representative until they make a commitment with you to support HB1013. Some of them might hold off making a decision until it's out of the Education Committee, but call them anyway.  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  The hearing is at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Capitol Irvis Office Building, Room G-50 (Ground floor) It will be live streamed on PCN.                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~                                    = - = - = - = - = - = - =  CHAP Help Day 2014 - April 2nd To protect our God-given rights, CHAP works to inform our legislators about the benefits of homeschooling through CHAP HELP Day. CHAP HELP is the Home Education Lobby Program designed for the whole family.  In addition to promoting homeschooling to legislators, homeschool families experience a visit to our State Capitol and learn how our laws are made. We invite you to join us and hear Dewitt Black, Senior Counsel at Homeschool Legal Defense Association, our keynote speaker. Last year's homemade pies left a sweet impression on some of our legislators. This time around, we will reach out to all 253 members of the General Assembly so we will open it up to home baked breads and cookies, not just pies. We ask each family to bring 2-3 of any of these, labeled with your contact information and the ingredients/recipe; we also need some treats to be gluten free, sugar free and low-fat. Can't make it to the Capitol? Make an appointment to meet with your legislators when they're in your local district office. Bring other fellow homeschoolers with you to strengthen your effort and to let them meet real homeschool families. If you email cmoore@chaponline.com, we will send you downloadable fliers to take along if you need informational documents. Remember to inform us of this visit so we can keep track of who has been reached and who hasn't been reached. Watch for announcements by visiting CHAPonline.com and make your reservation today by emailing cmoore@chaponline.com with your basic information. Some details of the CHAP HELP Day program will be determined by what is happening with HB1013. We live in an exciting time in the history of the Keystone State to restore some of our freedoms! = - = - = - = - = - = - = Resolution to Protect Parental Rights Homeschoolers and the general public alike were watching while many united in prayer pleading to God in behalf of the Romeike family. This unjust reversal of their asylum came about when our administration decided that there is no right to homeschool anywhere. Justina Pelletier is not homeschooled but her family's fight is another story of political and judicial malfeasance. We need to amend the Constitution to protect parental rights, but it requires that 2/3 of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, and the approval by the state legislatures in 3/4 of the 50 states. Pennsylvania State Representative Will Tallman introduced House Resolution 71 to explicitly protect the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children as a fundamental right protected by the Constitution of the United States. Thanks to our strong ally in Representative Daryl Metcalfe, the Resolution was voted out of the State Government Committee and is now eligible to go on the voting calendar. To pass this Resolution there are two things we must ALL do: 1) Call your Representative and ask him/her to support HR71 2) Call the House leadership and urge them to put this on the calendar for a vote. Learn more about the Parental Rights Amendments here.  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." ~Benjamin Franklin

Most Restrictive Burdensome Home School Laws in the United States

by Gennel Zimmerman

Brecknock Township

For the last 5 years, I have been a home educating mother of four. One of the aspects of being a responsible home educating family is the diligence that we employ to keeping up with homeschool law in our state.  Pennsylvania has some of the most restrictive, burdensome home school laws in the United States: laws that burden families, students, and school administrators who have to keep up with our growing numbers. While I have very much appreciated our district’s administration in their support of our family’s homeschool structure, it seems apparent to our family that Pennsylvania’s home school laws need a fresh look after over 25 years since enactment.  

We’ve come a long way since then and it is time for the law to be amended in more support of our students. There is legislation currently under consideration by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that I’d be honored to share with the community at large, with home educating families, and with those who are employed by public schools. House Bill 1013 would address three parts of the current, outdated law that need to be changed to lessen the burden on the districts and superintendents, as well as the evaluators and parents that choose to home educate in Pennsylvania. 

The new law would allow for one evaluation by a licensed, clinical or school psychologist or a teacher certified by the Commonwealth, or by an administrator, and would remove the onus on the school districts’ superintendents to review the same material. It is also a benefit of the law, as in other states, that a superintendent would not be able to disregard the first evaluation in favor of his own review, thus removing a so-called double jeopardy of requiring two evaluations of these students.  

This bill also allows for the diploma given upon completion of the graduation requirements to stand in the same recognition as the diplomas issued by public schools. 

Lastly, I’ve been informed by Homeschool Legal Defense that current law provides for an administrative hearing only to resolve the issue of whether the homeschool student is receiving an appropriate education. Other issues of administrative noncompliance must be resolved by judicial proceedings in the form of truancy charges against the parent. Such criminal charges used to resolve questions such as whether the parent included all the required information in an affidavit are draconian and inappropriate. The law should be changed to permit such paperwork discrepancies to be resolved at an administrative hearing conducted by the school district.  In connection with this, the home education program should be permitted to continue during the time of any appeal of the hearing examiner’s ruling.

I hope that many citizens will support today’s excellent home educated students in our state, by telephoning or contacting your state representatives and asking them to support House Bill 1013. The job we do to best support our students is one we do not take lightly. All of the parents I know who home educate pour themselves daily into the education of their students at home, with some amazing resources and curriculum. We would much appreciate the support of the community in the excellent job we and our students do, often attracting the attention of the best colleges in the nation, and often earning the highest accolades for the accomplishments of our remarkable students.

*This article was written for the Reading Eagle although a shorter version was printed.

Homeschoolers Ready to Change the Law in Pennsylvania

by Melissa Eyler
York County, PA

House Bill 1013 has opened the door to many conversations among home educators in Pennsylvania regarding the current homeschool law. Pennsylvania is the second most regulated state in the nation in regard to homeschooling. Many of our current homeschool laws were created about twenty five years ago when there was still much skepticism about homeschooling. However, over these last twenty five years homeschooling across the country has gained popularity with a current estimation of approximately 2.4 million students and still growing!

There are many advantages to homeschooling and on average homeschool students score 15-30% higher on standardized tests than public school children. In fact, studies show that there is no difference in the test scores of homeschooled students in less regulated states versus students in highly regulated states such as Pennsylvania.  This fact has been voiced to lawmakers in Harrisburg as part of our effort to urge them to pass House Bill 1013.

Three informal polls were done recently on social media asking home educators if they were happy with Pennsylvania's homeschool law. 99% of those polled indicated that they were unhappy with the current law. The responses showed that many felt the law was too intrusive and overbearing.  The requirement to annually submit a notarized affidavit, educational objectives, and immunization records at the beginning of the school year, as well as an end-of-the-year portfolio and a portfolio evaluation to the school district are viewed as not only intrusive but excessive as well.

One home educator, Susan L., says, "I always hated the multitude of steps necessary to homeschool. From submitting objectives and coursework on an affidavit, to the physical forms, to the cost of a portfolio evaluation, to the extensive time of getting a portfolio together to the meeting with the district. Why does a parent need to prove they are invested in educating their own child? Why does the state think that I would not have a greater stake and investment in my children than a public educator would?"

Three of those who responded to the poll said that they object to the school district collecting the portfolios for their own review after a portfolio evaluation has already been performed. They feel it is redundant to have a second review of a portfolio by the district when a certified evaluator has already completed this step. Some parents expressed an opinion that a large problem lies in the fact that each school district has their own interpretation of the law and also do not have an understanding of what the law is requiring.

Two parents privately shared information about their difficulties when dealing with the school district.  They have received phone calls from the district questioning them about their child's progress and inquiring whether certain subjects had been covered that year, even after the portfolio and portfolio evaluation submitted to the district clearly indicated that an appropriate education had occurred.  Not only did this create a distraction and add stress to a homeschooling family, but these inquiries, according to the law, are to be submitted in writing via certified mail and not by telephone.  These instances further lend themselves to prove that there is much misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the law among the school districts.

House Bill 1013 would remove administrative burdens on school districts and superintendents by allowing them to rely on the determinations of qualified portfolio evaluators, thus eliminating the re-evaluation by the school district.  Although there were various responses expressing dissatisfaction with the current homeschool law, there was an overall theme ringing through: home educators are deeply invested in their children's education and feel that Pennsylvania's restrictive laws say to them that the state, not the parents, knows what is best for their children.

Visiting Clymer to Get HB1013 to a Vote

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does." 

Psalm 145:13

That passage gave me confidence as Mark and I drove downtown to the capitol to meet with the Chairman of the House Education Committee. I pondered on the truth that God is the power broker when it comes to family issues. He has the ultimate authority over our posterity. It is His will that His kingdom is extended to the coming generations. My husband and I are here as mere instruments of our LORD for the cause of homeschooling in the state.

We met with Representative Paul Clymer and his staffer to advocate for the passing of House Bill 1013. We knew that the members of the Ed Com are getting many phone calls and emails. At this point, the key person who must include the bill for a vote is the chairman.

Clymer welcomed us warmly and we were joined by his Legislative Research Analyst. Right off the bat, Clymer said that he supports homeschooling, that many of his constituents homeschool, and that he is impressed by their children's character and respectful attitudes. To our surprise, he added that many homeschoolers seems to put their kids in public school after the 8th grade.

We affirmed the intimidation that many parents feel about teaching high school, but commented that their decision to stop homeschooling often hinges on their student's ability to enter college and having the necessary documents and activities to qualify for scholarships. To emphasize this point, we shared our story of a state college refusing to accept our oldest child unless she took a GED test, even though her SAT score was quite high. We also informed Clymer, to his amazement, that Ivy Leagues are actively courting homeschool graduates.

Part way through the meeting, we and Rep. Clymer learned that his own staffer was homeschooled, along with all of the staffer's siblings, but that after the 8th grade, they were all sent to either private or public school.

When Clymer mentioned cyber schooling, it gave Mark an opportunity to explain the difference between homeschool and virtual school, as well as communicate CHAP's definition of homeschooling: parent directed, privately funded home-based education.

Both gentlemen gave us indications that the Education Committee will not be the bigger problem when HB1013 comes up for a vote. Those who may oppose the bill are the government education entities including the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and definitely the school district superintendents who feel the need to handle a tangible proof to assess what has been taught instead of just receiving the report from the evaluator that proper education is occurring.

Because HB1013 will open a specific section of law, another concern is that other legislators could tack on other unwanted amendments to HB1013, or even add amendments that would make the homeschool law more complicated. Rep. Clymer assured us that he will kill the bill if this happens.

As we wrapped up, Rep. Clymer announced that he already scheduled a hearing for the bill on March 17th. We were encouraged! He wants all concerned parties to have a chance to voice their opinions and, based on the outcome, the Education Committee will vote on it. Chairman Clymer has deferred to Rep. Gillen to arrange the public hearing since Gillen is the prime sponsor of HB1013. There will be a panel represented by the various interested organizations to address the committee members. We are trying to insure that CHAP has some people on the panel.

According to Clymer, Education Committee members has gotten many phone calls and emails about HB1013 from all parts of the state. They encourage homeschoolers to continue this and verified that it is effective in influencing decisions. They also appreciate the pie homeschoolers have made for each legislator in the Ed Com during CHAP HELP Day in December. Clymer shared his with all his staff members.

When we asked Rep. Clymer for a timetable of when the bill should pass, he said that the legislative process should be completed by June 30 before everybody goes into summer break. He reminded us that when they return from this break, the focus will be on the big election this year: governor, everyone in the House, and some of the Senators.

We don't have the exact time of the public hearing yet, but please mark your calendars for Monday, March 17. We want to fill the room with homeschoolers. Rep. Gillen says, "Bring the children. This bill is for them."

April 2 is the tentative date for the next CHAP HELP Day. We will once again bake pies for our legislators as a gesture of goodwill. Please watch CHAPonline.com for the announcement or email cmoore@chaponline.com.

Thank you all for your participation and prayers. We cannot do this without your enthusiastic support.

National Week of Prayer for Homeschoolers

January 27 to February 1, 2014 - This week is National Week of Prayer for Homeschoolers. Please pray with us!

Monday Prayer Focus -- Fathers

Please pray for homeschooling fathers to walk in integrity before the Lord in every area of their lives. Pray for their hearts to be turned towards their children and that they may instill in them a love for Christ and His Church. Pray for these men as they carry such an important responsibility for the spiritual care and physical provision of their families. Pray for protection of marriages.

Proverbs 20:7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

Link suggestion: http://familymanweb.com/blog/ 

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Tuesday Prayer Focus -- Mothers

Please pray for homeschooling mothers to walk generously in the fruit of the Spirit. Pray that every moment in their day would be filled with much rejoicing and gentleness. Pray for their hearts to be encouraged as they fill so many different roles in their family, church, and community. Pray for their minds to be focused on the Lord and that they will trust everything to Him, not giving place to comparisons. Pray for protection of marriages.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Link suggestion: http://www.itakejoy.com/ 

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Wednesday Prayer Focus -- Children at home

Please pray for the children that are being educated at home to come to faith in Christ, walking out personal and deep relationships with the Lord.  Pray for their minds to be saturated with the things of God and that their hearts would be set aside for His glory and work.  Pray for relationships with parents to be solid, strong and healthy.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Link suggestion: http://www.doorposts.com/blog/

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Thursday Prayer Focus -- Graduates of all ages

Please pray for those children who have graduated from homeschools.  Pray that the truths of the Word will accomplish the purposes of God in their ives.  Pray for clarity of thought as they build their own families and careers.  Pray for strong relationships with parents and healing of any broken relationships within their families.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

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Friday Prayer Focus -- Second generation homeschoolers

Please pray for second generation homeschoolers who are discipling and educating their own children at home.  Pray for these families to create their own traditions and learning environments while building on the good things their parents did.  Pray for them to stand firm in their convictions and follow the Lord in all things.

Psalm 78:6 That the generation to come might know them [laws of God], the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

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Saturday Prayer Focus -- Grandparents

Please pray for grandparents of homeschooled children to be encouraging towards the efforts of their adult children to disciple and educate the grandchildren at home. Pray for them to have wisdom on how to speak into their adult children's lives when needed and how to help facilitate the vision of homeschooling.  Pray for them to have great influence for good in the lives of their grandchildren, always pointing them to Jesus.

Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.

Link suggestion: http://www.grandparentsofhomeschoolers.org/

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Sunday Prayer Focus -- Revival in the homeschool family

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work in homeschooling families across the world.  Pray for hearts to be humbled and submitted to the Lord.  Pray for true repentance and turning from sin.  Pray for entire families to seek the face of God together, crying out for His presence in their homes. Pray for a harvest of souls through the witness of the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of homeschoolers.

Psalm 130:1-6 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may  be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning. Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM

Yesterday, I received  an encouraging call from Representative Mark Gillen who is a member of the PA House Education Committee. As sponsor of HB1013, he informed me that the Ed chairman is considering putting our bill on the schedule to discuss in the committee. This is the bill we have been working on that will reduce the requirements on home educators. Mark also said that he has gone the extra mile in explaining to the House Ed Com what HB1013 is and what it is not. Apparently, they had some fears that this bill will leave the government school superintendents with no recourse or control over homeschoolers. Chairman Clymer is concerned that it will also end up being loaded with amendments.

There's enough worries to spread around but with Rep. Gillen's advise, I went ahead and presented an overture with Rep. Clymer's office for CHAP to meet with the Education Committee members. I also wanted to include their staffers since they are the ones who engineer legislations, lay out leadership decisions, and determine the realm of the possible. At least we can give them the benefit of perspective and who knows how God can use the occasion in our favor. I thought that this would keep the momentum going lest our cause get shelved. I left it open ended with the secretary. I expect to hear from Chairman Clymer's administrative assistant soon and requested that we be given a week's notice when they schedule this meeting.

In our desire to change homeschool laws, I feel the urgency to get this moving while we have the best possible situation in the Capitol -- with Governor, Senate and House all Republicans. I know it does not mean they are conservative, but the majority of us did elect them and this can be viewed as an advantage for us.

If something doesn't happen this year, our prospects in the future are not inspiring. Chairman Paul Clymer is not running for re-election. Plus this is even year so all PA House members are up for re-election. Another consideration is that we don't know how long until the bill hits the Senate and our friend and Senate Ed Com Chair, Mike Folmer, is also up for re-election. The other concern is this bill will expire if it doesn't get out of committee before December this year.

I wish that there's a way to measure homeschoolers' participation and get feedback, but it seems that all the Ed Com Reps know about HB1013 now as a result of our CHAP Legislative Day! I am anticipating committee hearing days down the road, and the budget meetings will be starting soon. We can be that shining example of true liberty and independence, asking for zero money and freeing up more tax funds for hopefully, worthy programs. If we tie this bill into saving the taxpayers money I think we have a good chance of getting this bill to the House floor and even passing it.

The battle will be long and it will get tough, but who knows if the LORD will grant us His favor in some way we least expect. Let's keep in mind the words of John Quincy Adams, "Duty is ours, the results are God's" .

HSLDA's Action Request for HB1013

Calls Needed to Pass Homeschool Bill

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

House Bill 1013, legislation that would remove superintendents from evaluating home education programs, has been stalled in the House Education Committee for the past 10 months. Your calls and emails to members of the committee are needed to get this bill moving. They need to know how important passage of this bill is to home educators.

Following are the noteworthy changes that HB 1013 would make in the current law for home education programs:

       - Eliminate the public school superintendent’s review of portfolios;

       - Require superintendents to accept an evaluator’s determination that an appropriate education is occurring in the home education program;

       - Provide for an administrative procedure to resolve any claim by the superintendent that the parent has failed to comply with any aspect of the homeschool law;

       - Ensure that the home education program may continue during the time of any appeal of an adverse ruling by a hearing examiner; and

       - Require that a high school diploma issued by the supervisor of a home education program be recognized the same as a diploma issued by the commonwealth.

The current homeschool law was passed in 1988, 25 years ago, at a time when there was a great deal of skepticism about the viability of homeschooling as an educational option. As a result, Pennsylvania’s law remains one of the most restrictive in the nation, second only to New York. Homeschoolers in Pennsylvania have tried for over 10 years to get relief from the oppressive requirements of the current law. It is time for Pennsylvania to join the majority of states that have enacted laws that do not demand unreasonable and unnecessary government oversight of parents teaching their children at home.

Action Requested

(1) Please call or email (both would be better) members of the House Education Committee with this message or something similar in your own words:

“Please vote for House Bill 1013 which would improve the homeschool law of Pennsylvania. It would remove the unnecessary double evaluation of home education programs and streamline administrative procedures for both school districts and parents.”

If your last name begins with A-K, please contact:

Hon. Paul I. Clymer, Chair
Email at pclymer@pahousegop.com 
(717) 783-3154

Hon. James R. Roebuck Jr., Democratic Chair
Email at http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=188
(717) 783-1000

Hon. Will Tallman, Secretary
Email at Wtallman@pahousegop.com 
(717) 783-8875

Hon. Jim Christiana, Subcommittee Chair on Higher Education
Email at jchristi@pahousegop.com 
(717) 260-6144

Hon. Bernie O’Neill, Subcommittee Chair on Basic Education
Email at boneill@pahousegop.com 
(717) 705-7170

Hon. Kathy L. Rapp, Subcommittee Chair on Special Education
Email at http://www.reprapp.com/contact.aspx 
(717) 787-1367

Hon. Ryan P. Aument
Email at http://www.repaument.com/contact.aspx 
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2041

Hon. Joe Emrick
Email at Jemrick@pahousegop.com 
(717) 260-6159

If your last name begins with L-Z, please contact:

Hon. Harold A. English
Email at http://www.repenglish.com/contact.aspx 
(717) 260-6407

Hon. Mike Fleck
Email at mfleck@pahousegop.com 
(717) 787-3335

Hon. Mark M. Gillen
Email at http://www.repgillen.com/contact.aspx 
(717) 787-8550

Hon. Seth M. Grove
Email at http://www.repgrove.com/contact.aspx 
(717) 783-2655

Hon. Mike Reese
Email at Mreese@pahousegop.com
(717) 783-9311

Hon. Todd Rock
Email at trock@pahousegop.com
(717) 783-5218

Hon. Justin J. Simmons
Email at http://www.repsimmons.com/contact.aspx 
(717) 783-1673

Hon. Dan Truitt
Email at Dtruitt@pahousegop.com 
(717) 260-6164

(2) Please forward this email to other homeschooling families who are not members of HSLDA and ask them to contact members of the committee as well.

View the text of House Bill 1013.

Please call or email today!

Very truly yours,

Dewitt T. Black, III
HSLDA Senior Counsel