The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:21 *************************************************************** A Call to Action! Once again we wish to thank you for your wonderful response to our Email Alert. It appears that your efforts to stop the 17-page draft were successful, and a simpler proposal was sent to the Legislative Reference Bureau, a bill number was reserved, and a new homeschooling bill is about to be born! To date we have had 291 emails sent to us. Most of these reflect 3-6 phone calls, or emails sent to the three representatives. Several grandparents even acted after getting the Alert from their homeschooling children. Notes of encouragement are coming from as far away as New York, Florida and Oregon. God has answered the prayers of many and led one of the legislator/homeschooling dads, Rep. Sam Rohrer to lead the introduction of this bill into the legislature. CHAP has been given the final draft of this bill which will be introduced shortly in the House of Representatives. This final version will be posted on the CHAP website at www.chapboard.org under legislative updates. Once it has been given its bill number by the legislative clerk, it will also be available to view in the PA Legislative Electronic Billroom on line www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/billroom.htm. Although this bill is not the one-page simple bill that CHAP had been hoping for, it is a bill that we can endorse and work for its passage in its current form. The bill is similar to the laws that have been working well in 20 other states for many years. At the end of this email, we are putting the text of the law as it would read once passed if it is passed without any changes or amendments. *************************************************************** What does this bill do? *************************************************************** *** It recognizes the responsibility of the parents to direct their children’s education. *** It requires a yearly notice of your intent to homeschool. *** Required Subjects and hours are listed for elementary and secondary levels, but the homeschool parent does not turn anything into the school district. *** Upon completion of the graduation requirements, the student is considered a graduate and no longer under compulsory attendance. *** Special needs students can still receive services from the school, if the parent desires. (This issue is addressed by federal law which supersedes state statues) *************************************************************** What does this bill not do? *************************************************************** *** Contrary to some information that we have seen circulating, this bill does NOT eliminate diploma programs. If a parent desires such overview, it is their choice. It would be the same for a parent who would desire their child to participate in a homeschool co-op, a college course, or under a private mentor (such as music or art). In the last 10+ years no other state has seen the need to follow South Carolina and Pennsylvania into the diploma system business. Homeschoolers throughout the nation have proven that it is the parent that has the most vested interest for their child’s success. Homeschool parents are going above and beyond what any diploma system or public school system can regulate or do. One only has to look at the research, the test scores (20 percentile points above the public schools), and the success of homeschoolers in spelling bees and geography bees. Most of these winners came from states with very little, if any, homeschool regulations. Homeschool students are now being sought by colleges because homeschool students succeed in college and are more self-motivated to complete the degree programs and are #1 on the college entrance test according to a Washington Times article. This bill is the best chance we have had yet to have a law that recognizes the God-given rights, responsibility and freedom of parents to educate their children. Our U. S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions and courts recognize these principles. Now is the time to incorporate them into our homeschool law. *************************************************************** What should you do? Your fast action is critical! *************************************************************** Now, in addition to praying, you need to read the bill carefully to be sure you can support it (helps for understanding the full version can be found at the end of this email), and contact your state representative this week at his or her district office and/or Harrisburg office. According to Rep. Rohrer, a personal visit by a constituent to their district office speaks the loudest. Then in descending order of influence is a phone call, a letter, and, lastly, email. We are told that the best way to increase the chance of passing this law is to get as many representatives as possible to be cosponsors. This is happening NOW – this week. For this reason, we are asking you to call your representative and follow up with an email or snail mail letter. Ask your representative to sign on as a cosponsor of HB 2560. We need to act quickly to make this happen! Rep. Rohrer has started this process and already has 29 cosponsors, but this requires the immediate action of many homeschoolers to gain the many cosponsors needed. What should you say in your contact? If your representative is one of those already listed as a cosponsor (see the listing at the end of this email), your note should thank them for their supportive action to homeschoolers. If they are not listed as a cosponsor, then your note should ask them to sign-on as a cosponsor. Be congenial, be short, be concise, and be sure to inform them that you are a constituent. Avoid threatening them by withholding your support in their reelection. A short letter along the lines of the following would suffice: Dear Honorable XXXX: As one of your constituents, I am writing to you to ask you to cosponsor House Bill 2560. This bill, introduced by Rep. Sam Rohrer and endorsed by CHAP (the Christian Homeschool Assoc. of PA) and other homeschooling organizations in the state, returns the responsibility of education to each homeschool parent. I strongly support this idea. Thank you, in advance, for cosponsoring this bill. Mr./Mrs. XXXX Your address Please send a copy of your letter to CHAP (address below) so we will know and have evidence of what kind of support the bill is receiving. Note which representative you have contacted and how (visit, letter, phone, or email). This allows us to present an accurate picture when talking with the legislators about their support of this bill. Making this law a reality as soon as possible cannot be done without you. This is the first major step of many. The next step might require similar action to get the bill out of the House Education committee. Additional action might be needed for a favorable vote in the House and the Senate. Each step is important along the way. Snail mail is slow in this age of electronic communication and your fast action is needed. CHAP will utilize our CHAP E-Newsletter database to send updates and notices of when quick action is needed. If you are not currently subscribed to our CHAP E-Newsletter and you'd like to receive these emails, please sign up at http://www.chapboard.org/e_newsletter/signup.shtml. CHAP will also post updates on our webpage at www.chapboard.org click on "Legislative Updates." *************************************************************** Please take action TODAY! Your IMMEDIATE action is critical! *************************************************************** Thank you, The CHAP Board, Bruce & Mary Ann Eagleson, Larry & Kim Huber, Clyde & Pam Gwin, Doug & Nada Rothgaber, Jim & Robbie Warren and our children. They and your children are the reason for the journey! Summary of action needed: 1) Write and send a letter to your state representative TODAY! 2) Send a copy of your letter via email to chaplaw@chapboard.org or via snail mail to CHAP, 1032 Ridge Road, Grantville, PA 17028 How to find your representative: If you don’t know your representative, go to: http://capwiz.com/hslda/dbq/officials/ Enter your zip code, then select the button for "State" then on the same line as the "State" button click on the light blue "GO" button. On the next webpage you may be asked to enter your address or you may already have the name of your State Representative and their pertinent info (address, phone, etc. for both their capitol office and their home office) How to read a bill: When a new bill is introduced to replace an existing law, the bill contains ALL the language, both old and new, so the legislators can see what used to be and what is being proposed as replacement. So here is a little key to what you see in the full version of a bill: Regular text = In a new bill, the regular text is the part of the old law that is also going to be part of the new law. [square brackets] = Anything that is contained in brackets is the old law that is being eliminated. Underlined text = text that is being added in the new law. Strike out type is used once a bill has been introduced. Strike out denotes text that was amended in committee or on the floor of either house. It shows text that is being deleted. CAPITAL LETTERS are also used once the bill has been amended after being introduced. It denotes text that has been added either in committee or on the floor of either house. *************************************************************** This text is taken directly from the draft provided by Rep. Rohrer’s office late this afternoon. We have received notice of other inaccurate posts of this bill. For our purposes here, we have eliminated all the old bill language for your ease in reading. If this bill is passed without any changes to its current form, this is how the new homeschool law would read: Text of HB 2560: An Act Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising,consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," further providing for compulsory school attendance and for a home education program. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Sections 1327(d) and 1327.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No. 14), known as the Public School code of 1949, added December 21, 1988 (P.L.1327, No. 169), are amended to read: Section 1327. Compulsory School Attendance. (d) Instruction to children of compulsory school age provided in a home education program, as provided for in section 1327.1 of this act, shall be considered as complying with the provisions of this section.The supervisor of a home education program may request that the school district or intermediate unit of residence provide special education and related services that address the specific needs of the exceptional student in the home education program. When the provision of services is agreed to by the supervisor, all services shall be provided in the public schools or in a private school licensed to provide such programs and services. Section 1327.1 Home Education Program. (a) It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to preserve the primary right and the obligation of parents, guardians or other persons having legal custody of a child to choose the education and training for the child. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant by implication or otherwise to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any of its officers, agencies or subdivisions any right or authority to control, manage, approve, supervise or make an suggestion, rule, standard, regulation, policy, procedure or requirement as to the control, management or supervision of a home education program. (c) Notwithstanding the subjects enumerated in subsection (f), this section does not require the home education program to include in its curriculum any concept, topic or practice in conflict with a parent's, guardian's or custodian's religious beliefs or to exclude from its curriculum any concept, topic or practice consistent with the parent's, guardian's or custodian's religious beliefs. (d) A home education program shall be defined as instruction primarily supervised by the parent, guardian or custodian of the child. The parent, guardian or custodian shall be the supervisor of the home education program. (e) Each year, a parent, guardian or custodian who elects to supervise instruction in a home education program shall notify in writing the superintendent of the school district of residence within thirty (30) days of establishing the program. The notice need only contain the name, residence address and age of each child who shall be enrolled in the home education program and the name of the supervisor of the home education program who shall be responsible for supervising the instruction. A parent, guardian or custodian shall notify in writing the superintendent within thirty (30) days of the termination of the home education program. (f) A child who is enrolled in a home education program and whose education is therefore under the direct supervision of the child's parent, guardian or other person having legal custody shall be deemed to have met the requirements of section 1327 if the home education program provides a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction or nine hundred (900) hours of instruction per year at the elementary level, and one hundred eighty (180) days of instruction or nine hundred ninety (990) hours per year at the secondary level. (1) The following subjects shall be taught each year to every student enrolled in a home education program of compulsory school age through grade eight in the English language and from English texts or resources: English, to include spelling, reading and writing; mathematics; science; health; physical education; art; and music. These subjects may be taught as separate subjects or integrated into other appropriate subjects. The following subjects shall be taught for at least one academic year to every student of compulsory school age through grade eight: history of the United States, history of Pennsylvania, geography, civics and safety education. These subjects may be taught as separate subjects or integrated into other appropriate subjects. (2) At the secondary school level, grade nine through completion, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and history of Pennsylvania; mathematics; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education. The courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and other age- appropriate courses. The following minimum courses at the secondary school level, grade nine through completion, are established as a requirement for graduation in a home education program: (i) Four years or equivalent credits of English (ii) Three years or equivalent credits of mathematics. (iii) Three years or equivalent credits of science. (iv) Three years or equivalent credits of social studies. (v) Two years or equivalent credits of arts and humanities. (g) A student who has completed the graduation requirements set forth in subsection (f) shall no longer be subject to this section or to the compulsory attendance laws of this Commonwealth. Such student shall for all purposes be considered a high school graduate and shall receive all the rights, benefits, and privileges pertaining thereto. Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. *************************************************************** This is the most recent list of cosponsors that we have been given: Armstrong, Petrarca, M. Baker, Bastian, Birmelin, Clymer, Coleman, Creighton, Cruz, Dailey, Egolf, Feese, Ficter, Forcier, Godshall, Hershey, Horsey, Leh, Lynch, McNaughton, Metcalfe, Robinson, Stern, T. Stevenson, Turzai, Wilt, and Youngblood.