CHEWV

Category: Home School Day at the Capitol

  • Gazette-Mail Article

    Gazette-Mail Article

    WV lawmakers seek to ease home-school regulations

    (Please note that the HB numbers are switched in this article.)

    For the second consecutive year, state lawmakers are seeking to ease restrictions on home-school students in West Virginia.

    One bill (HB 4175) would remove the requirement that home-school students secure a GED diploma to qualify for the Promise Scholarship, which provides $4,750 a year in college tuition.

    “We’re trying to streamline the process for home-school kids to qualify for the Promise Scholarship,” said Delegate Brian Kurcaba, R-Monongalia, lead sponsor of the bill and father of home-schooled children.

    The House of Delegates and the Senate unanimously passed the legislation last year, but Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed the bill, saying it could entice students to drop out of high school.

    According to this year’s bill, students could qualify for the Promise Scholarship if they score in the 85th percentile on a college entrance exam, like the ACT or SAT. That would be four points higher than the ACT score that public school students must achieve to qualify for Promise. Public school students also must graduate with a 3.0 grade-point average to qualify.

    Another bill (HB 4215) under consideration this year would ease home-school testing requirements and limit paperwork that parents must submit to county school officials.

    Under the legislation, parents also no longer would have to notify county school systems two weeks before withdrawing their children from public school.

    “A lot of parents are pulling their kid out because there’s bullying or some other serious thing going on,” said Don Kincell, board member with Christian Home Educators of West Virginia. “They’re trying to protect them from something the school is either unwilling or unable to guard against.”

    Another provision would require county superintendents to show probable cause before getting a court order to deny home schooling.

    “We’ve had a lot of counties go beyond the law and actually try to threaten parents,” Kincell said. “The state Board of Education and local boards seem to be trying to tie truancy to home schooling.”

    On Monday, several House Democrats raised concerns that some home-schooled children could be left behind if the state eliminates academic progress and testing requirements.

    “I’ll see kids on a four-wheeler all day long, and they’re home schoolers,” said Delegate Ralph Rodighiero, D-Logan.

    But those who support the bill said home-schooled students typically outperform public school students on standardized tests.

    “We should be lifting up the home-school community,” Kurcaba said. “The statistics out there are very good.”

    The House Education Committee took no action on the bill Monday. The committee plans to resume discussions and vote on the legislation Wednesday.

    Also Wednesday, committee members are expected to take up the bill that no longer would require home-schooled students to pass the GED exam to qualify for the Promise Scholarship.

    Monday was “Home-school Day” at the state Legislature.

    Reach Eric Eyre at ericeyre@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.

    – See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160125/wv-lawmakers-seek-to-ease-home-school-regulations#sthash.ke7gL3o7.dpuf

  • Bills Introduced!!

    Bills Introduced!!

    ACTION NEEDED—RALLY TO SUPPORT FREEDOM FOR HOME EDUCATION!

    Join me along with CHEWV, WVHEA and hundreds of others  next week for the 26th Annual Day at the Capitol in Charleston and advance freedom for homeschooling in the Mountaineer state!

    Two important bills will be heard that day in the education committee and your presence will help support passage of both. At 9:00 a special briefing will be held where Senator Robert Karnes, CHEWV legislative Liaison John Carey, and I will talk about bills you should know about. At 11:00 watch the house in session and meet legislators. At 12:15 we will gather in the Rotunda to hear from other leaders and legislators.

    At 2:00, the House Education Committee is expected to hear HB 4175, the homeschool modernization bill, as well as HB 4215 which addresses homeschoolers’ qualification for the Promise scholarship. I plan to be on hand to answer questions. Among the reforms are elimination of the GED requirement for the PROMISE scholarship, revising the 50th percentile standard for academic progress, changes to test administration requirements, removing the plan of instruction, and a one-time Notice of Intent.

    The special program for the 26th Annual Day at the Capitol will be full of events you’ll want to be part of. You will hear from members of the House of Delegates and Senate and be able to visit your own delegate or senator.  I will be speaking about the importance of freedom in education and why West Virginia parents deserve more freedom.

    In addition to the program, you’ll want to visit the West Virginia Capitol’s impressive museum of West Virginia history and culture.

    Make plans to join us in Charleston, West Virginia, next Monday, January 25. Events start at 9:00 AM. Register to let us know you are coming and to stay informed.

    See you there!

    Montani Semper Liberi!

    Mike Donnelly

    Michael P. Donnelly, Esq.
    Staff Attorney

  • 2016 Legislative Session

    Whether you choose to communicate from your kitchen table, personally visit your state legislator, or simply want to attend the Home School Day at the Capitol, our goal is to assist you in your efforts.  We hope our new tool box is helpful.  If you have a moment, we would love feedback and ideas to make it even better!

    The 2016 Session is fast approaching. It begins Wednesday, January 13th, and ends in the middle of March.

    Early in the session, we expect the state legislature to introduce the two homeschool bills vetoed by the Governor last year. One of these seeks to make it easier for homeschoolers to apply for the Promise Scholarship. The second, the homeschool modernization bill, seeks to upgrade the homeschool law to reflect the fact that parents are the ones responsible for directing the education of their children.

    The important thing to remember about the legislative session is that each step in the process is another opportunity for you to contact your legislator in order to make him or her aware of your support or opposition for legislation. If the phones remain silent at these various steps, then the perception by legislators is that their constituents really do not care about the issues on which they must decide.

    Yet it does not take many calls to make a difference. Only ten calls to a Delegate and as few as 25 calls to a State Senator can be enough to convince your representatives that an issue is important to their constituents.

    Early January is a good time to set aside time to get ready for the session. We’ve put some timely and practical resources together for your convenience at HeritageCWV.org:

    • How a Bill Becomes a law
    • A current listing of both House and Senate Education Committee Members
    • A complete list of all Delegates and Senators
    • A map of the State Capitol
    • Parking Directions
    • Information on the Cafeteria
    • Guidelines for How to Address a Letter to a Legislator
    • More to come . . .

    In communicating with your legislators, it may help you to realize that they understand some folks like to simply express their support or opposition in a single sentence, while others enjoy expressing their views at length. Never feel apprehensive about expressing your views the way that best fits you! The only requirement is that ALL communications are courteous and respectful. Seek the Lord for discernment and grace. The reason your representatives sought office is to represent you. Help them do their job! They very much want to hear from you and have set aside time to do so.

    To participate in Home School Day at the Capitol, click here.

  • It’s Time to Get Involved: HSDC 2016!

    Registration now open!

    2016 is the year for hundreds of homeschool families across the Mountain State to attend Home School Day at the Capitol!  In the upcoming legislative session we expect the introduction of a bill to modernize the homeschool law.  HSDC has been scheduled early enough (January 25) to make a legislative difference.

    There are several options for your family to choose from on this important day:

    • Create a display featuring a homeschool project or your group,
    • Schedule an educational tour of the Capitol and/or Governor’s Mansion,
    • If your student has a talent to showcase, register for performance consideration at the main event of the day – the rally at 12:30, and/or
    • Contact your Delegate and/or Senator to schedule a time to introduce yourself and possibly leave them with a little something to remember your visit.

    Keep in mind that some of the Senators and Delegates have never met a family that home schools and probably know very little about it.  Any impressions they have likely come from sources such as sensationalized news stories, the Department of Education, or teachers’ unions – which means they may not be favorable impressions.  Your presence can change all that!

    For full details about the day’s schedule, registration, display guidelines, and what to expect, start here.

    But one final thought – while we are visiting our great state’s capitol, let’s take the time to pray for our state and governing authorities.  I Timothy 2:1-4 states, “I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

    “All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”
    -Edmund Burke

    Hope to see you on January 25th!