I support this bill.

I support this bill!

Writing in support of this bill as it provides equitable opportunities for homeschoolers and must be passed. Evaluators for public school are not required to hold a masters degree but homeschool evaluators are. We find this to be unfair and discriminatory against those who cannot afford or obtain a Masters degree. Please pass HB534 to ensure all children of the commonwealth have equal oversight and expectation- be it homeschool, public or private education.

I am writing in favor of HB534 and ask you that strongly consider passing this bill. My husband and I are strong supporters of parental rights and homeschooling. As it stands, evaluators for homeschooling students have higher requirements than for public school. We are asking that you make the Bachelor’s degree requirement standard across the board which this bill will do.

Please review and pass HB534 for the benefit of homeschooling families across the commonwealth. Currently, evaluators for public schools are not required to hold a masters degree but homeschool evaluators are. HB534 simply requires that homeschool progress evaluators have the same level of education as public school progress evaluators. Thank you.

Thank you for your consideration of HB 534, and I humbly ask for your vote for this bill as written. This year there are over 66,000 homeschoolers in Virginia, and we are a very diverse group. Currently one way to show proof of progress is having an evaluation conducted by someone with a Master's degree. While this is a wonderful option, especially for those with children who may not be able to shine in a strict standardized testing environment, requiring a Master's degree is more than the public schools require of their evaluators. HB 534 allows those with a compatible Bachelor's degree to conduct assessments. For example, I have provided a homeschool education to my 6 children (4 graduates, one with a PhD in Engineering, one with BS in International Studies & Chinese Studies, one with a BSN (Nursing), and one with an Associates in Health Sciences currently working on her BSN.) The younger two are still home educated. In addition to 22 years of homeschool experience, I have a Bachelors in German and a Teaching Certificate, but I am not currently allowed to evaluate and help homeschooling families. This bill would bring equity with school evaluations. Thank you for serving our Commonwealth & all the people of the state.

I homeschool my children, and I am a committed supporter of parental rights and homeschooling. The current law requires a public school evaluator to have a bachelor’s degree and a homeschool evaluator to have a master’s. Please support this bill and bring fairness and equity into school progress reporting.

I am asking for your support in reviewing and passing HB534. It is a bill that will benefit homeschooling families across the commonwealth. As Virginia law is currently written, evaluators for public school are not required to hold a masters degree but homeschool evaluators are. HB534 simply requires that homeschool progress evaluators have the same level of education as public school progress evaluators.

Thrilled to see this bill! This bill provides equitable opportunities for homeschoolers and must be passed. Evaluators for public school are not required to hold a masters degree but homeschool evaluators are. We find this to be unfair and discriminatory against those who cannot afford or obtain a Masters degree. Please pass HB534 without delay.

Thank you for reviewing HB534. The only change this bill is proposing is that it will be acceptable for someone with a well earned bachelor's degree be able to evaluate the progress of a homeschool student . I support this proposed bill . The teachers in a public school are able to evaluate children with a bachelor's degree , so it makes perfect sense that a homeschooled child should be able to be evaluated by the same . Thank you for your time .

Please review and passHB534 as it is a simple bill that would benefit homeschooling families across the commonwealth. As Virginia law is currently written, evaluators for public school are not required to hold a masters degree but homeschool evaluators are. HB534 simply requires that homeschool progress evaluators have the same level of education as public school progress evaluators. Thank you.

This bill helps ensure equitable outcomes for parents who may not have been able to afford a Masters degree however are in a situation where they need to homeschool their children.

I support this bill to enhance homeschool options

This bill is a step towards equity concerning assessments between forms of education and carries no fiscal impact. It should be passed without question.

I support this bill!

HB534 is a necessary documentation for Virginia Homeschoolers. To date there is a more strict guideline for homeschool evaluators than for public school evaluators, requiring homeschool evaluators hold a Masters degree while only requiring completion of Bachelor degree studies for public school evaluators. This bill will require of both homeschool and public school evaluators to hold a Bachelor degree in order to qualify as an approved evaluator. This bill requires NO cost to either party and needs to be quickly passed.

HB534 is a simple modification to current homeschooling law in Virginia, which creates equity between public school and home school progress evaluators, by requiring the same level of education (a bachelor's degree) for both. Current law requires a master's degree for home school evaluators, and is a disservice to public school students who currently are not required to have evaluators that are as educated as those performing home school progress evaluations. Opponents of this bill would believe that public school students do not deserve the same level of effort as home school students. The law must be changed.

HB534 is a simple change that helps to align all students in VA to the same standards. It levels the playing field for all students, no matter the nature of their education, so that every student has the same chance to thrive. There's no cost involved, no burden placed on anyone, yet marches us forward towards fairness and equity. Education concerns everyone, and this bill would bring benefits without causing any damage. We all want better for our children, and ALL children in the Commonwealth, so this is a simple easy start.