Please oppose HB 1204. Vouchers disproportionately impact students with disabilities because they divert public funding away from public schools that are legally required to serve all students while sending money to private schools that are not required to provide special education services, follow IEPs, or accept every child. As a result, students with disabilities often lose both resources and protections, leaving them with fewer supports and fewer real choices. For this reason, we strongly oppose HB 1204. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, members of the committee, my name is Bethany Kirschner. As a homeschooling mother of four, I’d like to thank the patron for the bill and encourage you to support this bill that would ensure my four Virginia-born and raised children, and all other eligible homeschoolers, get the same rights and services as other Virginian children. Thank you.

HB 1204 is a simple, common-sense bill that puts decisions back where they belong: with local governments and families. This bill does not mandate vouchers, cut public school funding, or change Virginia’s compulsory attendance laws. It simply allows localities, if they choose, to let a portion of per-pupil SOQ funds follow a student when a family lawfully meets attendance requirements outside the public school system. Families who choose private schools or home instruction are still taxpayers. They are still supporting public schools, even though their child no longer uses those services. HB 1204 recognizes that reality and restores basic fairness. Just as important, this is a local option, not a statewide mandate. Elected local officials decide whether it makes sense for their community. If a locality believes the policy isn’t right for them, they don’t have to adopt it. HB 1204 also creates healthy pressure for innovation. When funding reflects real student enrollment, school systems are encouraged to respond to families’ needs rather than assume students have no alternatives. At the end of the day, this bill strengthens parental rights, respects local control, and acknowledges that one size does not fit every child. It’s a modest, responsible step that gives families flexibility without undermining public education, and that’s why it deserves support.

As a taxpayer, I am asking you to vote no on these bills. Private schools should remain just that….private. As much as parents are paying for their children’s education, because they feel it’s what is best for them, government shouldn’t have a say in how those schools conduct themselves. As far as homeschoolers receiving funds, please know, homeschoolers do not want assistance of any kind, they are happily paying taxes and would rather the money be used in the public school system.

The bill as written, coupled with HB1204, is an absolute disaster for homeschoolers, private schoolers, co-ops, micro schools, and any version of education outside public schools. I strongly disagree with this bill as any financial assistance to families outside the public school system should be only tax credits. That ensures the financial aid is not coming out of public funds and thus cannot have strings attached by the government on what can be taught and what tests have to be taught to. VOTE NO on HB1204.

SUPPORT! The Virginia Education Opportunity Alliance (VEOA) is a coalition of more than 1,000 grassroots members committed to expanding education options for families across the Commonwealth. This bill empowers local school districts to establish a funding mechanism that allows students who are struggling in traditional public schools to access alternative education models. By doing so, it gives local boards of supervisors and school boards greater flexibility and control over their budgets to respond to the needs of families in their own communities. Participation is voluntary, and families who have concerns about program requirements are not required to participate.

I vehemently oppose any measures that redirect public funding out of public schools to any private, religious or home-school purpose.

As stated in this bill, HB1204, For "funds derived from local levies", "governing body may reserve per pupil amounts of such apportioned costs and instead appropriate such amounts to the parents of students in the local school division for the satisfaction of the compulsory attendance of their children in nonpublic school settings". This effectively allows local governing bodies to give funds to private schools and homeschools. In league with HB1204, HB359 then goes on to state that any private schools who receive funding from any source funded in whole or in part from public funds (E.g., HB1204 funds), will be required to participate in the Standards of Learning assessments at the grade levels and subjects required for public schools. HB1204 gives government handouts to homeschoolers. HB359 then forces non-public educational facilities who received government handouts to participate in assessments in accordance with public school requirements. Both bills were filed at the same time, in collusion AGAINST Virginia schools. It is obvious they are trying to trick private schools and homeschool families into taking the money and losing their rights as a result. Shame on Delegates Scott and Helmer for this underhanded scheme. Please do NOT support either of these bills.