Attack on TN homeschoolers
Posted on Feb 26, 2008 under Secular Laws | 1 CommentThe attack on home schoolers is now being extended to all schools
House Bill 2795: An Act Mandating Gateway and Exit Testing on Non-Public School Students
As well as companion bill SB3412
Author:
Representative G. A. Hardaway
Summary:
This bill would subject non-public school students, including homeschool students, to additional state testing. It would require them to take subject matter tests based upon state-approved textbooks. It would also require them to pass the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests before receiving a high school diploma. These new testing requirements would also apply to students being taught at home through extension or satellite programs of church-related schools. This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 3412.
This bill is the most threatening legislation to the freedoms of homeschooling families in many years. It should be opposed.
Status:
| 1/17/2008 |  |
Introduced and first consideration |
HSLDA’s Position:
HSLDA strongly opposes this legislation.
Action Requested:
(1) Please call or write (both would be better) Representative G.A. Hardaway and at least one member of the House Education Committee with this message:
“Please oppose House Bill 2795, which would impose public school testing on non-public school students. This bill would effectively destroy non-public education in Tennessee by requiring private schools, church-related schools, and homeschools to adopt the public school curriculum for their instruction programs.”
The contact information for Representative Hardaway and members of the House Education Committee is set forth below. Members of the Special Initiatives Subcommittee which will hear the bill on Wednesday are indicated by an asterisk.
From the legislative website: *HB2795 by *Hardaway. (SB3412 by *Tate.)
Education - Extends public school testing requirements to students in non-public schools. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 6; Section 49-6-3050 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 60.
Bill Summary for *HB2795 / SB3412
Present law requires the following tests for high school students:
(1) Subject matter tests to measure performance of high school students in subjects designated by the state board of education and approved by the education oversight committee; and
(2) The Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests.
This bill specifies that the above tests are required for public and nonpublic high school students.
Present law establishes requirements for home schools, including qualifications for parents desiring to home school their children and the testing standards that students home-schooled by their parents must meet. Present law provides that these present law requirements do not apply to home schools that teach K-12, where the parents are associated with an organization that conducts church-related schools, which are supervised by such organization through the director of schools of such organization’s department of education, and which administer standardized achievement tests at the same time such tests are given in their regular day schools. This bill revises this exemption so that it would not apply to those home schools requiring the same testing of other home school or public school students.
Here’s the TCA with the appropriate changes: Wording being removed, Wording inserted.
Please note these are snips of the TCA to provide some context. You should not assume that it’s the entire picture.
49-1-608. Subject matter tests for secondary schools — Initiation of value added assessment. — By not later than 1993, the development of subject matter tests will be initiated to measure performance of high school students public or non-public high school students in subjects designated by the state board of education and approved by the education oversight committee. These tests must reflect the complete range of topics covered within the list of state approved textbooks for that subject. As soon as valid tests have been developed, the testing of students will be initiated to provide for value added assessment. Value added assessment shall be initiated in the designated subjects within secondary schools by 1999-2000 school year, and continued annually thereafter. Value added assessment may be initiated in other subjects designated by the state board of education and approved by the education oversight committee at such times as valid tests can be developed which effectively measure performance in such subjects.
49-6-6001. Graduation requirements. —(a) (1) To receive a full diploma upon graduation from high school public or non-public high school, a student shall pass the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests as adopted by the state board of education, with scores established by the board. Students may take each of the required tests at any administration and in any order upon completion of the required coursework. The state board of education may establish by regulation additional requirements for students who do not pass the required tests. Such requirements may include remedial work that may be counted only for elective credit toward graduation. The state board of education may also establish by regulation uniform policies and procedures whereby any student, who narrowly misses passage of one (1) or more of the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests, including one (1) or more parts of the Gateway examination, may petition for and may be awarded bonus test points based upon clear indicia of student classroom performance and achievement meritorious of a full diploma upon graduation from high school. 49-6-3050. Home schools. —(a)(2) (A) Home schools which teach kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), where the parents are associated with an organization that conducts church-related schools, as defined by § 49-50-801, which are supervised by such organization through the director of schools of such organization’s department of education, and which administer standardized achievement tests at the same time such tests are given in their regular day schools, are exempt from the provisions of this section . [period to the immediate left removed--ed] , except those requiring the same testing of other home school or public school students.
Contact your representatives.
You can go to congress.org and find who you need to contact just put in your zip
Representative G. A. Hardaway
(615) 741-5625
rep.ga.hardaway@legislature.state.tn.us
If your last name begins with A-I, please call the following members:
*Chair Les Winningham,
(615) 741-6852
rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us
*Vice-Chair Tommie Brown
(615) 741-4374
rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us
*Secretary Joe Towns, Jr.
(615) 741-2189
rep.joe.towns@legislature.state.tn.us
Harry Brooks
(615) 741-6879
rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us
*Jim Coley
(615) 741-8201
rep.jim.coley@legislature.state.tn.us
Barbara Cooper
(615) 741-4295
rep.barbara.cooper@legislature.state.tn.us
If your last name begins with letters J-R, please call these members:
Dolores Gresham
(615) 741-6890
rep.dolores.gresham@legislature.state.tn.us
Beth Harwell
(615) 741-0709
rep.beth.harwell@legislature.state.tn.us
John Hood
(615) 741-7849
rep.john.hood@legislature.state.tn.us
Phillip Johnson
(615) 741-7477
rep.phillip.johnson@legislature.state.tn.us
Ulysses Jones, Jr.
(615) 741-4575
rep.ulysses.jones@legislature.state.tn.us
*Ron Lollar
(615) 741-7084
rep.ron.lollar@legislature.state.tn.us
If your last name begins with letters S-Z, please call these members:
Mark Maddox
(615) 741-7847
rep.mark.maddox@legislature.state.tn.us
Michael McDonald
(615) 741-1980
rep.michael.mcdonald@legislature.state.tn.us
Gerald McCormick
(615) 741-2548
rep.gerald.mccormick@legislature.state.tn.us
Richard Montgomery
(615) 741-5981
rep.richard.montgomery@legislature.state.tn.us
Larry Turner
(615) 741-6954
rep.larry.turner@legislature.state.tn.us
*John Mark Windle-Chair of the Subcommittee
(615) 741-1260
rep.john.windle@legislature.state.tn.us
