Just as the Thanksgiving turkey has come and gone, HB2395, another effort by
\nhomeschool advocates to open VHSL activities to their children is gone…. for now.<\/p>\n
The subcommittee of the House Education Committee convened by Chairman Bob Tata
\nvoted Tuesday, November 22nd\u00a0to effectively \u201ckill\u201d Delegate Rob Bell\u2019s bill to allow
\nhomeschooled students to participate in public school VHSL activities.\u00a0 After three hearings on HB 2395, which was
\nintroduced during the 2011 Session, legislators concluded that the bill presented too many unanswered questions to go forward.<\/p>\n
Of particular concern were academic equity, how to handle catastrophic insurance for sports injuries, and the fact that the
\nbill referenced the Virginia High School League, a private organization that is not subject to state control or sanction.
\nIn opposing HB 2395, Delegate McClellan of Richmond told the audience
\nthat she was worried about unintended consequences and the \u201cone case\u201d that
\ncould result in a problem for the state and for school divisions.
\nTestimony fromVASSP stressed the fact that, unlike the right of all to a free education,
\nsports participation by any student is a privilege and not a right. Director of
\nGovernment Relations Bet Neale also reminded the subcommittee that no court had
\never ruled that homeschooled students had a constitutional right to participate
\nin public school sports and that state law should not dictate homeschool\u00a0 participation in areas other than the classroom.<\/p>\n
Delegate Bell promised homeschoolers and subcommittee members that he would introduce a
\nsimilar bill in the 2012 Sesssion and would attempt to include language to
\naddress the issue of academic testing for homeschoolers as well as other
\nissues.\u00a0 As staff pointed out to the patron, subsequent legislation should be directed to local school boards rather
\nthan the Virginia High School League, a private organization.\u00a0 In that case, any new legislation will
\nprobably include language forbidding local school boards from joining any
\nleague that does not allow homeschool participation.\u00a0 Bell will likely face a friendly House of
\nDelegates and appears to have the support of the Administration as well.\u00a0 The challenge may be the Senate, but that
\nwill not be as challenging with the new numbers (20-20) as a result of recent elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Just as the Thanksgiving turkey has come and gone, HB2395, another effort by homeschool advocates to open VHSL activities to their children is gone…. for now. The subcommittee of the House Education Committee convened by Chairman Bob Tata voted Tuesday, November 22nd\u00a0to effectively \u201ckill\u201d Delegate Rob Bell\u2019s bill to allow homeschooled students to participate in … <\/p>\n