HONDA is not referring to your vehicle, but it is abbreviated name of the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act of 2005. This is a bill that was introduced in September of 2005 and then was read and sent to the Committee on Finance. I had no idea there was such a controversy surrounding this bill and suffice it to say, not all homeschoolers agree that this bill is a good thing. There are equally strong opinions on each side.
Proponents of the Bill Say. . .
There are several areas of federal law that according to HSLDA, unfairly impact homeschoolers. Much of this “unfair treatment” has occurred simply because Congress has overlooked the home school population while drafting homeschoolers. Certainly this is true as in the 80’s home schooling was barely legal and now there are an estimated 2 million homeschoolers.
The bill addresses student aid eligibility, it changes the applicable rules to Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts so that families can use qualified expenses towards home schooling, it changes the child labor laws such that younger students who are home schooled (ages 14-16) would be allowed to work during traditional school hours, and it also amends laws regarding recruitment of high school seniors who have graduated and want to serve in the armed forces. It also addresses issues regarding home schooled students receiving aid and being accepted into colleges.
Opponents of the Bill Say. . .
The biggest argument to the bill is that it invites federal legislation into home schooling. While opponents are quick to point that there is nothing about education in the U.S. Constitution, (instead it is left to individual states to set appropriate laws), it seems to me the biggest issue remains over the definition of a home schooled student.
You see, each state defines “home school” differently. In some states, there is an actual home schooled statute that specifically defines home schooling as educating your own children, in your own house. There are other states that allow for a group of people to get together and home school each other’s kids, and still other state where there are no laws at all governing home schooling but rather consider home schools the same as private schools.
This bill, does not define homeschoolers specifically enough. So then, introducing federal legislation could have a drastic impact on homeschoolers all over the United States, many of whom may enjoy the freedom of being regulated only minimally.
On the Fence
I am personally on the fence with this one. The only part of this bill that would truly benefit me would be the tax breaks but I am not sure that a few tax breaks are really worth having federal regulations over my home schooling endeavors. The other issues that are brought out by the bill either have been successfully dealt with on a state or even individual level.
Other issues such as college admissions I just don’t feel pertain to me. New York is unique in that SUNY and CUNY schools will not accept anyone without a Regents diploma. To me, that just means my kids won’t go to a state school for college (assuming of course that they go). Of course this could change by the time my children reach college age!
On the other hand, I’m not sure what the effect of increasing federal regulations of home schooling would be. While I’m sure for folks in New Jersey (who have no real regulations governing their home schooling endeavors) it would present a problem. But I wonder if federal involvement wouldn’t supersede the regulations of other states like New York that are very heavily regulated.
What do you think? Do you support HONDA?
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