|
HOMESCHOOL RELATED LEGISLATION
2008: SB 1 - Maryland Legislative Youth Advisory Council
UPDATE: This bill was approved by the Governor on May 22. While the Advisory Council
is not up and running as of Summer 2008, Senator Lenett
is the co-chair of the committee and responsible for developing an application process for this program.
This bill would create a panel of high school and college age students who would advise the Maryland
General Assembly on issues pertaining to youth. While not specifically included in eligibility criteria, the bill
is worded to allow for participation by secondary school students who do not attend public school and who are
between the ages of 14 - 22. Students must be nominated by
the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, the Governor, or by a student council organization.
Get the latest update on SB 1.
Facts: The current language in this bill specifically INCLUDES homeschoolers as eligible for
nomination.
Status: Referred to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your support for the current
language in this bill that gives homeschoolers equal opportunity to be eligible to participate in this extraordinary
experience.
2008: HB 1249 - Public Schools - Classes and Extracurricular Activities - Home-
Schooled Students
UPDATE: This bill died in the House committee.
This bill would allow homeschool students to participate in after-school activities at their local
public school, as well as having the option of taking up to four (4) academic classes in the subject areas
of math, science, languages, art and music. In the case of class size restrictions, public school students
would be given priority enrollment. In return for home-schooled students being allowed to partially enroll, public schools
would be able to receive funding for those students participating in some of the school's programming.
Get the latest update on HB 1249.
Facts: This bill does not currently require additional oversight or testing for partially
enrolled homeschoolers.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Families fall on different sides of this issue. Should you wish to encourage
your elected representative to endorse this bill, keep in mind that additional oversight requirements may be imposed on
all homeschoolers, as a result. One alternative would be to ask for an amendment that classifies a separate,
partially enrolled student outside of the homeschooling definition. These families would then fall under
different regulations than homeschoolers who wish to function without any ties to the public school system.
2008: HB 21 - Education - Compulsory Attendance - Age of Withdrawal
UPDATE: This bill died in the House Committee.
This bill alters the age at which a child may withdraw from required schooling to 18. SB 436 has also been introduced
in the Senate, seeking to up the compulsory age.
Get the latest update on HB 21.
Facts: Language in this bill specifically excludes homeschoolers from this compulsory age requirement.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your support for the current
language in this bill that will not compel families to homeschool their children until the age of 18.
2008: SB 591 - Higher Education - Tuition Charges - Maryland High School Students
UPDATE: This bill died in its Senate Committee.
This bill establishes criteria for non-resident high school students who would be exempt from paying out-of-state
tuition charges at Maryland higher education institutions.
Get the latest update on SB 591.
Facts: The current language in this bill does NOT specifically include homeschoolers as being
eligible for this proposed reduced tuition program. It appears that this bill would mainly effect military homeschooling
who are stationed in Maryland but do not hold Maryland residency.
Status: Referred to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your concern that
the present language in this bill excludes military homeschooling families from the in-state tuition rate benefit the
bill wishes to extend to certain individuals.
|
2008: SB 50 - Special Education Services - Children in a Homeschool Setting
UPDATE: SB 50 passed the Senate with a unanimous vote but died in its House
Committee hearing. The concurrent HB 121 also died in Committee.
This bill requires a child with a disability in a home school setting be given the
same consideration as a child with a disability in a private school setting for
the purpose of determining allocation of federal set-aside funds for the provision of specified
federally authorized special education services. The same bill, HB 121, has been filed in the House.
Get the latest update on SB 50.
Facts: This bill will NOT guarantee special education services to individual homeschool families.
The bill only requires that a county school board consider the needs of homeschooled children who have been evaluated
by a local school and found to be in need of special education services.
Status: The 2nd reading of this bill passed on the floor of the Senate.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your support for this bill
that gives consideration to special education homeschool students.
2008: HB 1077 - Higher Education - Dual Enrollment Grant Program - Homeschooled Students
UPDATE: This bill died in its House Committee.
This bill extends the definition of high school students, to include homeschoolers, who
qualify for reduced tuition at community colleges as dual enrolled students.
Get the latest update on HB 1077.
Facts: This bill offers the same reduced tuition benefit that other public and private school
students already receive.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to ask them
to support this bill as it is currently written.
GENERAL EDUCATION RELATED LEGISLATION
2008: HB 519 - Public High Schools - Graduation Requirements - Weighted Numerical Assesment System
UPDATE: This bill died in its House Committee.
This bill would change current graduation requirements into a weighted system, thereby eliminating the need to pass all the
High School Assessment exams.
Get the latest update on HB 519.
Facts: Homeschoolers are not eligible to receive a Maryland State high school diploma. However, families who enroll
their previously homeschooled student into high school, in any grade, would be subject to the same graduation requirements.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your support for the current
language in this bill.
2008: HB 520 - Education- High School Assessment Requirement
UPDATE: This bill died in its House Committee.
This bill would prohibit the graduation requirement of needing to pass all the
High School Assessment exams.
Get the latest update on HB 520.
Facts: Homeschoolers are not required to take the HSA, unless they choose to enter into high school before the 12th grade,
in which case the transferring homeschool is currently required to take and pass four HSA exams.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to express your support for the current
language in this bill.
2008: HB 192 - State Board of Education Members - Qualifications
UPDATE: This bill died in its House Committee.
This bill would require that a minimum of two appointed State Board of Education board members be parents of
children who are currently enrolled in a public school.
Get the latest update on HB 192.
Facts: While homeschoolers are not legally defined as public school students in Maryland, it would still be a
benefit to the 20,000+ homeschoolers in the State if the two parent appointed Board members could be eligible by way of
being a homeschool parent.
Status: Referred to the House Ways and Means Committe.
What You Can Do: Send a letter, e-mail or call the members of the committee to request that the parent
eligibility be expanded to include parents who are homeschoolers.
|
