The Relationship Between the Degree of State Regulation of Homeschooling and the Abuse of Homeschool Children
The Relationship Between the Degree of State Regulation of Homeschooling and the Abuse of Homeschool Children
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National articles on why government “home visits” are unconstitutional and problematic
Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs – Rodger Williams, Researcher – Homeschooling Backgrounder 4/8/19
Here Comes Big Brother: Home Visiting Laws Threaten Parental Rights Nationwide – Karen Ephram, MD, The National Pulse 4/8/19
Home Visit Legislation: A Sales Pitch For Family Surveillance? – Wrench in the gears: A Skeptical Parent’s Thoughts on Digital Curriculum 2/17/2019
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The bill has been changed to a “study” on home visit programs during the 2020 Interim Session. However, we remain concerned that the word “voluntary” is not used in reference to home visits.
The amended bill received a “Do Pass” from the Assembly Health and Human Services committee. The bill goes back to the Assembly Floor but may be redirected to Assembly Ways & Means since studies cost money. The study will be more limited in scope than the original bill BUT it still all about setting up home visits by government officials for “at risk” families. NHN remains opposed to AB 430, see letter submitted 4/11/19.
NHN submitted the following letter in opposition to both the original bill and the amendment.
Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson sponsor of AB 430, the “home visits” for certain “at risk” families has agreed to a proposed amendment by Assemblywoman Shea Backus to change the bill to a “study” during the 2020 Legislative interim on home visits/services for at risk families with any new proposal to be heard in 2021.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/…/ExhibitD…/OpenExhibitDocument…
The key for us in the future will be that any “home visit” program offered by the state be VOLUNTARY with no penalty or record kept of parents choosing not to participate.
Also, check out the fiscal note Washoe County slapped on this bill for a 2 year period… can you imagine what a fiscal note from Clark County would have looked like? As always… “follow the money.”
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/S…/80th2019/FiscalNotes/9649.pdf
Video of the hearing can be found here:
http://nvleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=28&clip_id=11681
Wednesday, 4/10/2019 – Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services Agenda
Room 3138 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
Videoconferenced to Room 4406 of the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV.
AB430 – Establishes a family home visiting system to provide “support” to new parents.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/…/R…/80th2019/Bill/6816/Overview
1) It violates the 4th amendment for the government to come into your home SO MAKE THIS VOLUNTARY AT A MINIMUM
2) Being Low Income or Young does not equal being AT RISK
3) There are already community support services in place
4) Fiscal Impact on state and local governments.
If you can, PLEASE SHOW UP TO TESTIFY AGAINST THIS! But please stick to the point. It is not about homeschooling, or anti-vaxxing right now! It’s about not allowing the government into our homes.
You may also submit written testimony for the hearing by emailing AsmHHS@asm.state.nv.us 48 hours before the meeting day.
March 28, 2019
(printable version: AB430.2019.Legislative Alert.Call to Action)
By way of introduction, Nevada Homeschool Network (NHN) advocates for Nevada families who have chosen to direct the education of their children via homeschooling. We also advocate for the fundamental parental rights of all parents. In this capacity, we are writing today about AB 430.
AB 430 is vaguely written and as such threatens the constitutional rights of Nevada citizens. Further, there is no credible research showing that what works in a “voluntary” environment will work in a “coercive” environment as required by this bill. This bill is an overreach and without merit as introduced. NHN is OPPOSSED to AB 430.
First, this bill DOES NOT impact homeschool freedom in Nevada. There is no need for you to even mention that you are a homeschooler. Instead, we are concerned about the constitutional rights of all NV parents.
The bill has been referred to Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services. It has not been given a hearing date at this time. For now, please share in your OWN words your opinion on this bill on the Legislation Opinion page (don’t just copy & paste our concerns and conclusion, that is not effective and actually makes you comment TOO long – thanks); https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/80th2019/.
We also encourage you to contact your NV State Assembly-person and let them know what you think about AB 430. You can find your legislator by clicking this link; http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/ .
Elissa Wahl, NHN Chairwoman – Las Vegas, NV
Matt Alder, NHN Vice-Chairman/Treasurer – Reno, NV
NHN Officers: Kelley Millard Radow, Secretary – D. Raymond Poole, Officer – Aaron Sutherland, Officer – Kristi Casaus, Officer – Maureen Ford, Provisional Officer
Barbara Dragon, Officer Emerita
[1] The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
[2] NRS 126.036 – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-126.html#NRS126Sec036
Minnesota: https://cplaction.com/cpl-article/minnesota-home-visits-an-opportunity-to-herd-our-children/
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February 22, 2019 – NHN is watching for bills threatening homeschool freedom in Nevada… nothing so far but check back regularly for updates.
Federal legislation has been introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) – again – encouraging states to implement a “tax-credit scholarship organization” program where donors receive a tax credit on their federal income tax. The scholarship money will be distributed to K-12 aged children who meet eligibility requirements established by the state to receive education from various entities. The Education Freedom Scholarship Act, if passed by Congress, may be a good thing for families who need financial assistance to find alternative education options for their children. Our concern is whether it could lead to more government control of private schools and homeschools.
Only time will tell.
This article in The Daily Caller published on Senator Cruz’ Facebook page denotes a red flag for us here at NHN.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos takes it further in her Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos at the unveiling of the Education Freedom Scholarships proposal!***see 5/29/2019 addendum below.
This statement is of concern because it hints that all education provided to children should be “public education” or could be interpreted in such a manner by future administrations. NHN holds that parents, not the government, are ultimately responsible for the education of their children, including the financing of said education. States may “provide for public schools and other options” as put forth in state constitutions but that doesn’t mean government should be the only providers of education. Nor should government dictate what education for the individual child is to look like.
Based on Nevada’s homeschool history of government over-regulation and what has happened more recently with the non-operational NV-ESA and NV-Choice/Opportunity Scholarship (a business tax-credit program introduced by Governor Sandoval in 2015 and over-regulated by the NV-DOE the same year) – we are concerned NV state government would seek to control the education of a student utilizing such scholarship funds.
“Innovation, voluntary collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit fuel the engine of the homeschooling movement.” (JimMason, HSLDA). Private schools and homeschoolers need to always be cognizant of possible drawbacks to government education programs. Often government sponsored education programs only offer “choice” with “accountability” and not the freedom to educate children according to the independent standards of the private school and/or parents.
Having said all this however, our friends at HSLDA have come out in support of the bill. NHN has worked with HSLDA since our founding in 2002 as did other Nevada homeschool organizations dating back to 1983. We value and trust their opinion! Key to their statement is the following:
HSLDA gives the example of a program for low-income families in New Hampshire that is working well for families to choose homeschooling without increased government regulation (though homeschooling in NH is considered “moderately” regulated as compared to Nevada’s “low” regulation). NHN reviewed the New Hampshire program back in 2014 and found it to be a beneficial program for some families. Giving families a choice in the education provided to their children is a good thing.
In reviewing the current federal bill ourselves, we are encouraged by strong protective language barring states choosing to implement the program from controlling the private school or homeschool beyond existing state statutes. Section 102, Subsection (d)(3-5) on pages 9-11 of the proposed legislation – as written – seems to adequately protect both private schools and homeschools within this state to operate without further intrusion by federal or state government. Modification of this section by amendment if the bill moves forward would of course need be watched carefully.
In our experience here in Nevada private, self-funded homeschool freedom is put at risk every legislative session as these programs are added, changed or updated according to the whims of politicians and government bureaucrats. We want to believe the best but will always view government “help” with a skeptical eye.
To clarify, Nevada Homeschool Network (NHN) advocates for the right of parents to direct the education of their child. We strive to guard the freedom of each family to educate their own children as they see fit and pay for it themselves! To that end, keeping the NV homeschool law separate from any government approved/funded program has always been, and will continue to be, a goal for NHN. We support parents’ right to choose the best education option for their children – even a government sponsored program – as long as parents who prefer private, self-funded homeschooling free from government controls always have the LIBERTY to do so.
Several organizations that we also respect have voiced their objections to The Education Freedom Scholarship Act. We find many of their arguments compelling and encourage everyone to read these as well. Liberty assures that we are free to make up our own minds after reading both sides of an issue.
Other articles in support:
Addendum – 5/29/2019: The link to the DeVos quote above is broken or gone – of course. However, she restated her ridiculous logic in May 2019 and was quoted in this article, Ed Secretary DeVos: All Education is “Public” Education by Alex Newman, Freedom Project Media 5/28/2019. To avoid “losing” a direct link again, we’re posting the full article:
The speech in question, given at the Reagan Ranch while speaking at the neoconservative-leaning Young America’s Foundation on May 17, sparked alarm among educators and education researchers. And it is easy to see why.
“Let’s stop and rethink the definition of public education,” she said. “Today it is often defined as one type of school funded by taxpayers, controlled by government. But, if every student is part of the public, then every way and every place a student learns is ultimately of benefit to the public,” DeVos continued. “That should be the new definition of public education.”
Of course, if every form of education is “public” education because it benefits “the public,” it follows that “the public” is entitled to some say over that allegedly “public” education. And that is exactly where DeVos and others pushing this agenda are going.
And DeVos has been a leading advocate of phony “school choice,” which would see federal tax dollars going to fund private schools and potentially even homeschoolers. The dangers of this unconstitutional idea are hard to overstate.
Consider: With federal funding comes federal control. And just as state funding such as “vouchers” has resulted in formerly independent schools having to ban the Bible and teach Common Core, so too will this DeVos-backed “choice” result in government hijacking all education. The Supreme Court has agreed that what the feds fund, they can regulate.
The dictator-controlled United Nations “Human Rights Council” passed a resolution in 2015 demanding that governments worldwide crackdown and regulate non-government education, even calling for the same “standards” to be imposed on both. That is the real agenda.
Last year, The Newman Report exposed DeVos’ agreement with mass-murdering regimes and other G20 governments to facilitate the ongoing “internationalization” of education. The same deal also purported to commit the signatories to advancing the totalitarian ideology of “sustainable development” through “education.”
The staggering implications of DeVos’ statements and schemes must be understood clearly as a direct assault on educational freedom. It is past time to shut down the unconstitutional U.S. Department of Education and get the feds out of schools completely. Advocates of true school choice must turn up the heat or risk losing educational freedom in the years ahead.”
A recent Georgia Court of Appeals decision overturning a lower court’s restriction of homeschooling gives homeschool freedom advocates reason to cheer. The Chief Judge on the Court, Stephen Dillard, wrote a concurring opinion that give historic context to the right of parents to direct the education of their children without government interference. Click the title or the link to read Mr. Eugene Volokh’s article on this important court decision and the judge’s own words.