2005 Legislative Summary
This was the first year CHN introduced a bill:
SB 5922. We are excited to inform you that SB 5922 passed into law. We also worked on seven bills and tracked about five others.
Of the seven bills CHN worked on, six of them posed a threat to homeschool freedoms. By His grace, we were able to get language
added to each bill to protect homeschooling.
CHN also coordinated and hosted two legislative
days, with over 500 people attending the “Day at the Capitol” event and the “Reading of the Homeschool Resolution” event. Thank you
to all who attended! Many legislators and legislative staff commented that they were excited to see homeschoolers come to Olympia to honor them and to be honored.
Praise the Lord for the overwhelming support
CHN has received from the homeschool community, other groups, legislators, and legislative staff. Without this support, we
would have not been able to accomplish all that was done this legislative session.
Below is a synopsis of the 2005 legislative session.
Bills
we worked on that passed into law.
Protecting
homeschoolers in Running Start SB 5289- A student receiving home-based instruction enrolling in a public high school for the
sole purpose of participating in Running Start shall not be counted by the school district in any required state or federal
accountability reporting.
Nor shall the student be required to meet any
of the education reform standards such as achieve a certificate of academic achievement, pass the WASL, senior project, etc.
CHN requested an amendment to clarify that home-based
students are exempt from education reforms once enrolled in Running Start. We hope this law will help homeschoolers who have
had problems with school districts wanting them to meet the graduation requirements of the school district. We realize that
this may not solve all of the problems within the Running Start program, but we are hopeful that this law will be helpful.
CHN is in the process of investigating problems and solutions with the Running Start program, we will keep you posted as to
our findings
Law goes into effect July 24, 2005.
Strengthening
Parental Rights SB5922- This bill would change procedures for investigations of child
abuse or neglect. CHN introduced this bill to insure proper implementation of the Federal CAPTA law-which HSLDA drafted, lobbied
for, and helped to pass into federal law. CAPTA requires Social Services workers to be trained in Fourth Amendment rights
and advise parents of the allegations against them at first contact.
CHN introduced this bill in the Senate Human
Services and Correction Committee. The bill passed the Senate but with some of the language weakened. CHN sought to add language
to strengthen the bill while the bill was in the House.
The House Children and Family Services committee
added an amendment which included language from HB1482- a bill CHN opposed. The amendment added would protect children who
are victims of their parents substance abuse, but we were concerned that this bill would open a door for “education
neglect” to be included in the definition of child abuse. We were able to get this language removed, and add language
to strengthen the bill. The Senate concurred and the bill passed after much hard work on the part of CHN and House and Senate
committee members.
The bill was later named the Justice and Raiden Act in memory of the two young children that starved to death in Kent due to their mother’s
drinking problem.
HSLDA link regarding SB 5922
Virtual
Schools SB 5828- Allowing digital learning centers to continue to operate. This bill would allow for distance learning centers to claim state funding for basic education.
This bill was very vague and did not give full
disclosure to homeschoolers, had no accountability for students in the program and vague part-time attendance language. CHN
worked very hard to have stronger language added, and language to include full written disclosure to protect homeschooling.
CHN was able to get language added for full written
disclosure to parents, part-time attendance along with clarity that these students are under home-based instruction laws and
part-time funding, state reporting of programs, and limit funding to only basic education dollars.
OSPI was given authority to create rules for
these programs. OSPI has added the on-line programs to the Alternative Learning Experience Rules which has opened the door
for them to completely rewrite WAC 392-121-182, the hearing set for May 24, 2005.
History:
Last session CHN barely stopped a similar bill HB 2704. To stop HB2704 the Senate added a striker amendment which turned
the bill into a study. The study was to be conducted with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and would include
information from the on-going investigation by the State Auditor’s office. The striker amendment also stated that digital
learning programs would no longer be funded by June 2006. The Washington Homeschool Organization testified in support of HB
2704 due to the provision for part-time attendance. This created confusion within the homeschool community and others. One
legislative insider and homeschool supporter told us that when he asked what the homeschool community thought of HB 2704 he
was told not to worry the homeschoolers were on board except this little Christian group (referring to CHN).
Due to these factors, we were not able to stop
SB 5828. This also meant we could not stop the threat of the virtual schools from operating in our state. Instead were only
able to work to amend the law and try to lessen the impact upon the homeschool community.
Bills
we worked on that did not pass into law.
SB 5360- This bill would require a student to have earned their certificate of academic achievement in order
to enroll in Running Start. This would require passing of the WASL for entrance, which did not exclude homeschool students.
CHN quickly sent out an e-alert warning homeschoolers of the danger. CHN also went to Olympia, met with Senators and testified at the hearing.
In the end, the bill was completely rewritten and was turned into a study. The bill failed to meet the deadlines and died.
We expect to see this bill again next session.
SB 5029/HB1123- These bills would have required all schools, both public and approved private schools, to test and
meet water quality standards that are to be adopted by the state board of health. The schools would be required to report
the results of tests done on the water and to report any failure of the school to meet the adopted standards to the Department
of Health. CHN was concerned that the bill did not specifically exclude private school extension programs, which may operate
in homes (homeschooling) RCW 28A.195.010. CHN was able to get language added to exempt homeschools. The bill failed to meet
deadlines and died in committee. We expect to see this bill again next session.
