Kentucky legislative updates

[srbrts]

Dear Kentucky Homeschoolers,
This email alert is to inform you of pending and potential legislation in the state of Kentucky that may have an impact on homeschoolers in the state.

There have been several bills introduced in the House during this session that would increase the compulsory school attendance age to 18. In particular, HB301 (See link below) will likely go before the House for a vote in the near future. It is CHEK’s stance that bills such as these are unnecessary and ultimately harmful to homeschoolers as they further increase the state's control of the education and upbringing of our children. We stand opposed to these measures and encourage you to contact your legislators to let them know that you are opposed to expanding the compulsory attendance age.

The following are points that can be made in a phone call or email to your legislator:

1. Expanding state control infringes on parents’ rights to direct the upbringing of their children.
2. This increase in control will come with an increase in tax dollars being used to administer the program, pursue legal action against parents for truancy, etc.

More troubling is a bill that has been proposed by Representative Linda Belcher of Bullitt County. Her proposal would bring sweeping change to homeschooling in the state of Kentucky. Some of the changes this bill would bring are:

1. Teacher Qualifications – If a parent does not have a high school diploma or GED, they would be required to submit a portfolio of student work to the local superintendent each year.
2. Increased Information Requirements – The notice of intent would require additional information such as grade level, proposed hours of instruction and teacher qualifications.
3. School Sanitation Requirements – Homeschools would be opened to sanitation inspection and enforcement by the Cabinet for Human Resources.
4. Local Boards of Education to Adopt Policies Relating to Home Schools – Each local Board of Education would be given authority to implement policies and procedures “to ascertain whether the home school has the capacity to comply with the compulsory attendance requirements.” This would allow the Board of Education to approve or deny the right to homeschool based on policies that may be different from district to district.

This threat cannot be taken lightly. While the bill is currently a draft, the most effective way to prevent the bill from becoming law is to prevent it from being submitted. We must make our voices heard in Frankfort. We ask you to call and email Mrs. Belcher as well as your legislators to let them know that you are opposed to this legislation. Contact information can be found below.
Now, more than ever, we encourage you to stand with CHEK and HSLDA as we fight for homeschool freedoms and the right to bring up our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). We must take a stand for the freedoms that have been purchased for us by those who pioneered the modern homeschool movement. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

Please pass this message along to those who may not be on our mailing list.

May God bless you and your family!
Representative Linda Belcher
[email protected]
(502) 564-8100


Email your legislators:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/email.htm

Call your legislators:
Legislative Message Line – (800) 372-7181
Bill Status Line – (866) 840-2835

Compulsory attendance bills:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB301.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB94.htm
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB140.htm

Track Bills:
http://migration.kentucky.gov/services/billwatch/

[pandahoneybee]

Thank you so much for posting this important article!