[Sir Gawain]

LOL, I bet this title will be edited.

[Lizavetta]

Every cloud has a silver lining. Here's ours:

Final Education Bill Contains Protections for Home Schoolers

On December 18, 2001, the Senate passed the final version of President George W. Bush's education initiative, H.R. 1, by an 87-10 vote. (The House passed the measure on December 13 by a 381-41 vote.) Passage marked the end of 11 months of intense lobbying by all parties interested in education.

Home School Legal Defense Association, through its National Center for Home Education, worked with the president and Congress on this bill from its earliest stages. While it is the position of HSLDA that the federal government has exceeded its constitutional limits in education policy, we believe that due diligence remains necessary to keep an ever-expanding federal government away from home education. To that end, we were satisfied with certain aspects of the final bill.

The bill specifically states that none of the provisions contained therein should be interpreted as applying to home schooling. It also includes some positive policy steps including prohibitions on the development of a national test, restrictions on use of federal funds to develop any national curriculum, restrictions on federal teacher certification, the repeal of the Goals 2000 program, and prohibitions on a national database.

"We are pleased that the bill clearly states that home school activities are not the business of the federal government," HSLDA President Mike Smith said. "In addition, we are gratified that home schools are expressly exempted from the bill's testing requirements, including any tests merely referenced by the Act. While home schoolers do exceptionally well on standardized testing, the last thing we need is the federal government setting up national tests."

Throughout the course of the year, HSLDA worked extensively with the administration and members of the House and Senate to protect home schooling from regulation in this massive bill. HSLDA crafted language, made suggestions, and encouraged our members encouraged our members to put pressure on key players. In fact, one key congressional committee member called HSLDA and said he had received 100 calls and letters from home schoolers during one day! He promised to work for home schoolers' interests and in exasperation asked us to stop the calls.

Despite these protections for home schoolers, H.R. 1 clearly expands the role of the federal government in education. It authorizes an increase in spending of nearly $8 billion from what was appropriated for 2001. The bill requires testing of all children in grades 3 through 8, and requires that states sample test using the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in grades 4 and 8. HSLDA has opposed NAEP because we believe that such a centralized federal test runs the risk of becoming, in practice, a de facto national test-and what is tested is what gets taught. Thankfully, some reforms to NAEP were provided in H.R. 1, including parental notice and opt-out provisions.

HSLDA thanks its members and the home school community at large for their calls and prayer during this protracted process. Special thanks is also due HSLDA's National Center staff for their hard work on this legislation, particularly Caleb Kershner, Sam Redfern, and Sarah Durkee.

[eaglebeak]

He mentioned charter schools--that kids in failing schools would have the chance to go to a charter school or opt for tutoring, or even opt for another public school if they can't afford private ones.

[peekaboo]

This is a great start. Nothing happens without a beginning. Regardless of the shortcomings, it is better than no bill at all.<p. The President was great on the podium. In this partisan world that he faces, he has the courage to demonstrate that he does want to work with both sides. He is big enough to know that even if you do not get all you want, the ability to get the cooperation of the likes of Kennedy and George Miller is worthwhile. Baby steps get you there.

[Hostage]

It's political move, not designed to have any effect other than a nod from the large segment of suburbanites that have been sold on the idea that public education needs "investment".

If it helps the GOP to regain the Senate and hold the House, the benefit that ensues is worth the cost. The President can tweak on problem areas of the law later.

What in education do the Democrats have left to complain about?

President Bush just made his administration the "Education Presidency", something his father had promised but never really impressed on the public.

"No Child Left Behind"; masterful. I don't think these politics could be played any better.

[xzins]

I agree. This is more of the "more money" cure that hasn't worked for decades.

I'm beginning to think the only cure is the takeover of school boards in local districts by conservatives. At least there'll be basics-minded persons making the decisions about how that money gets spent.

[kingh99]

C'mon, since when did the Federal Govt matter a whit in the area of education. This bill was meant as a template for what the states should do. It's a state and local matter, always has been.

The bill is purely symbolic.

[dalebert]

Blame the Dems

[Digger]

Let's see, would a liberal rather spend YOUR money on protecting the school unions or protecting YOUR life with a missle defense system. Nuff said.

[Destructor]

You have to give President Bush credit. At least he is genuinely trying to keep his campaign promises! Did Bill Clinton do that much? No. Mr. Clinton did not. President Bush kept his promise on the Tax Cut. "W" has just succeeded in getting the Military a pay raise. Now "W" has gotten an Education Bill passed that accomplishes part of what he originally wanted to get done.

You must consider the deck is stacked against "W" right now.President Bush has partisan Dimocrats fighting him every step of the way. Those extremist Dimocrats could care less about what's good for the country. All those Dimocrats care about is getting re-elected.

[Hank Rearden]

Must be part of that "Smaller, cheaper, limited government" we've been hearing about, ad nauseum, from Republicans.

[The Irishman]

It's great to see the Republican's deliver on the reform of education pledge made by GWB during the campaign. I'm sure that the future will bring a rebirth of parental authority and local control. Indeed, this reform is so good that I expect homeschoolers to be flocking back to the public schools in droves. Not only will these reforms transform our society but I expect the Republicans to deliver a smashing defeat to the Democrats (socailists!) when the public realizes what has been done for them by our President. Ted Kennedy has been shown up by our own GWB. Sinkspur and all the Bushies on this forum have been proven right all along.

As a Brigadier who now sees the true greatness of the Republican vision, I am overcome with happiness on the passage of this bill.

Regards.