Homeschool Alert

<blockquote>Senate Bill 291 introduced by Senator Don Ryan (D-SD 22) represents the greatest threat to homeschool freedom ever in Montana! <br />n<br />nSenate Bill 291 would make the following restrictive changes in the law:<br />n<br />n<strong> Require that parents be (a) licensed to teach in Montana, (b) hold a bachelor's degree, or (c) have a high school diploma or GED and be monitored by a state-certified teacher for two years;<br />n</strong> Require homeschool students in grades 4, 8, and 11 to take the same "nationally standardized examination" required of public school students;<br />n<strong> Prohibit the homeschooling of children determined to have a developmental disability, such as autism or Down's syndrome<br />n</strong> Change the definition of "home school" to exclude stepparents and legal guardians from being able to teach a child at home;<br />n<strong> Require parents to register their children with the local school district instead of notifying the county superintendent of the child's enrollment in a homeschool;<br />n</strong> Require the monitor to evaluate and report the child's academic progress to the school district twice a year;<br />n* Require that students scoring below the 30th percentile on the test be evaluated for special education services.<br />n<br />nThis bill must be defeated before it gains any momentum. <br />n<br />nThe sponsor of the bill, Senator Ryan, is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and has a great deal of power in the Democrat-controlled Senate. He introduced a bill last year which would have mandated state testing for homeschoolers. Due to your actions this legislation failed, but the new political environment has Democrats in control of the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor's Office. <br />n<br />nWe are in for a real battle! It is crucial that you contact members of the Senate Education Committee as well as your own state senator to express your opposition to this bill. <br />n<br />nThis bill will probably be heard by the Senate Education Committee next week, possibly as early as Monday. Time is of the essence!</blockquote><br />n <br />nI received this information this evening. As a homschooling parent I am taking what action I can. My Darling Wife is making a special trip to the Post Office in the morning to mail off letters to all members of the committee voicing our opposition to this bill. I have also e-mailed all committee members with my concerns. I am particularly concerned about the provision that we could not homeschool our autistic son. We have not officially enrolled him in school yet but our plan is to homeschool him starting next year. He responds very well to the one on one teaching enviroment available at home and I would hate to see it upset by sending him to a public school where he would be shuffled off to a corner and ignored. This bill scares me and I will be watching it closely.<br />n<br />nI have all ready heard back from Senator Gregory Barkus (Republican) saying he opposes the bill. Yay for the good side.<br />n<br />n<b>Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. Mohandas K. Gandhi</b>