Comments Document

Re: Please Vote NO on HB 2551 The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is the only organization in the country founded and run by homeschool alumni that advocates for laws and policies that protect homeschooled children. CRHE exists to ensure that homeschooling is an educational tool used to lovingly prepare children for an open future. CRHE strongly opposes HB 2551 and urges legislators to vote no. HB 2551 removes the parent-qualification requirements from Virginia’s homeschooling statute. This means that any parent or guardian of a child in Virginia could homeschool that child - even if the parent or guardian has not graduated high school. The result would be that a parent or guardian could teach - and declare that their child had successfully completed - grades that the parent or guardian had not themselves completed. There is no evidence in the literature, or in the lived experiences of the homeschooled adults that CRHE represents, that this change to Virginia’s law would improve the lives of homeschooled children. In fact, CRHE has grave concerns that this change would increase the chance that homeschooled children in Virginia experience educational neglect. Some might point to the rare situation where a parent without a high school diploma recognized by the Commonwealth is nevertheless capable of homeschooling their child. But the homeschool statute already provides for that possibility. Subsection (iv) of paragraph A states that individuals without a high school diploma can nevertheless homeschool their child if they present “evidence” to show that they are able to “provide an adequate education for the child.” This provision provides flexibility while also safeguarding children’s right to an adequate education. No change is needed. Please vote no on HB 2551. ------ Re: Please Vote NO on HB 2598 The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is the only organization in the country founded and run by homeschool alumni that advocates for laws and policies that protect homeschooled children. CRHE exists to ensure that homeschooling is an educational tool used to lovingly prepare children for an open future. CRHE strongly opposes HB 2598 and urges legislators to vote no. HB 2598 provides an additional mechanism for stopping conduct already prohibited by Section 22.1-254.1(G) of the Virginia Code. Namely, school districts are not allowed to share information about the homeschooled children in their districts with Virginia’s Department of Education. That prohibition prevents Virginia’s Department of Education from knowing how its homeschooled children are faring. It also prevents comparisons between counties so that we can better learn which policies most benefit homeschooled children. CRHE opposes such restrictions on the sharing of data because a child’s education should not be a black box. Please vote no on HB 2598.

I am totally in favor of this bill which allows for an injunction to prevent the disclosure of personal information by students receiving home instruction or their parents. This legislation is crucial for protecting the privacy of families choosing home education, ensuring their personal and educational data remains confidential within the local school division. Privacy Protection: This bill directly addresses privacy concerns, safeguarding sensitive information from being shared outside the local context, aligning with the principles of privacy protection established in cases like Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo (2002), where student privacy was a key issue. Parental Control: It reinforces parental rights by giving them control over how their child's educational data is handled, respecting the family's decision to educate at home without fear of unwarranted external oversight. Encourages Home Instruction: By ensuring the confidentiality of home instruction details, this bill encourages more families to opt for this educational path, knowing their privacy will be legally protected. Reduces Bureaucratic Overreach: It limits the potential overreach of state or federal entities into local educational decisions, promoting local autonomy in line with the principles upheld in Milliken v. Bradley (1974). Legal Recourse: Providing a clear legal mechanism for families to seek injunctions against improper disclosure empowers them, ensuring they have a means to protect their rights proactively. Supports Educational Diversity: This legislation supports the diversity of educational choices by removing one of the barriers to home instruction, fostering an environment where different educational philosophies can thrive without external interference. I wholeheartedly support this bill for its comprehensive approach to privacy, parental rights, and educational freedom, making it a significant step towards respecting and protecting the choices of home-educating families.