A Truancy Bill That Is Fiercely Opposed By Homeschool Families In Tennessee As Well As National Homeschool Advocacy Group Home School Legal Defense Association Passed On The Senate Floor In A Unanimous 30 To 0 Vote On Monday And Will Be Heard In A House Subcommittee Today.
Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A truancy bill that is fiercely opposed by Homeschool families in Tennessee as well as national homeschool advocacy group Home School Legal Defense Association passed on the Senate floor in a unanimous 30 to 0 vote on Monday.
The legislation goes swiftly to the House today, March 3rd, to be heard by the House Education Administration Subcommittee.
Sponsored by Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1), Senate Bill 1968 as amended requires that attendance records for a student who transfers or withdraws from an LEA or public school, including a public charter school, once the school year has already begun must be maintained by the LEA or public school from which the student transferred or withdrew for the rest of that school year.
Should an LEA or public school enroll a student after the commencement of the school year, they would be charged with determining whether the student was previously enrolled in another LEA or public school at any time during that same school year and requesting attendance records which would be required to be provided within five business days.
The enrolling LEA or public school would be mandated to include the number of unexcused absences the student accumulated during the same school year as part of enrollment and required to implement the appropriate tier of the enrolling LEA’s progressive truancy plan, if the number of absences requires intervention.
Speaking to the Senate Education Committee last week, Lowe stated, “The amended language of the bill makes it very very clear that this has nothing to do with homeschooling.”
Lowe has insisted that families in the middle of truancy proceedings can choose to homeschool, but some parents choosing this option have been bullied by rogue judges into returning their children to the very schools that are failing them.
Tennessee Homeschool Advocacy group Free Your Children (FYC) had this to say about Lowe’s bill.
“In reference to the posted amendment: The implications of SB1968 still stand and are unconstitutional. This bill will codify into law the ability for a juvenile judge to determine a child’s educational path. They can potentially restrict a family from enrolling their child in a private school or a legal homeschooling option in Tennessee if this bill passes. Currently, there is no such law in Tennessee that prevents a parent from enrolling their child in a private school or a legal homeschooling option AT ANY TIME. This bill would do that,” stated FYC on their Facebook page, “It is highly important that Tennessee citizens understand the implications of this bill. The bill language attempts to control the educational options of citizens by creating unconstitutional barriers to exit public schools. Juvenile Judges should not have the authority to direct the educational path of families.”
If you oppose House Bill 1823, sponsored by Representative Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland-District 24), contact the members of the subcommittee.
Contact information for members of the House Education Administration Subcommittee may be found below.
House Education Administration Subcommittee – HB1823 to be heard March 3rd
HB1823 codifies into law the ability for a juvenile judge to determine a child’s educational path.
Rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
