- The scores of the homeschooled student are sent directly to the student’s home address rather than to the public school, resulting in more privacy.
- By using the homeschool code, the test results will NOT be calculated with the average scores of the local high school.
Homeschool Survey from School District
This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. Am I required to complete the homeschool survey I received from my district?
A. No, the homeschool statute does not require you to complete this or any other homeschool survey. Prince George County’s “Winter 2011 Home School Survey” asks for information that goes beyond the requirements of the home instruction statute. The survey asks for information and opinions that are personal and includes some questions that do not relate to home education. The Prince George County cover letter accurately states that completion is “optional.”
Responding to a survey that requests private information could set a precedent for additional surveys with even more intrusive questions. Know your rights as a homeschool parent so you are not intimidated. Your right to homeschool is not based on your response to a survey.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 29, 2011 | Homeschool Q&A | Comments (1)
Tax Deduction for Education Expenses
This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. Can homeschoolers get a federal tax deduction for education expenses?
A. No. The IRS 2010 Form 1040 instructions clearly say:
Qualified expenses do not include expenses for home schooling or for nonathletic supplies in health or physical education. [emphasis ours]
2010 Form 1040—Lines 21 and 23, page 27
There is a general tax deduction for teachers for up to $250 of qualified out-of-pocket expenses for books and classroom supplies. This deduction was included in the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 and was extended in 2010 for one more year. This tax law amended the tax code (26 U.S.C. Sect. 62(a)(2)) dealing with employee deductions.
The IRS guidelines state that in order to be qualified as an eligible educator, “You work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under state law.”
Some states offer education tax credits. Although education tax credit legislation has been introduced in Virginia for business donations, Virginia does not offer tax credits for homeschoolers.
*This information is not to be construed to be legal advice.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 26, 2011 | Homeschool Q&A | Comments (0)
Sports Access to Wait Another Year — Other Bills in Process
HEAV Legislative Update **Sports Access Bill to Wait Another Year – Plus Other Bills HEAV Is Tracking
January 25, 2011
Greetings!
This year’s short session creates a brisk pace as thousands of bills move through sub-committees, full committees, and on to the Virginia House or Senate for a vote. At the capital–sometimes for early-morning meetings–HEAV’s lobbyist Bob Shanks talks with legislators behind the scenes and attends hearings for bills that could potentially affect homeschoolers.
This week began with a flurry of activity that included a second committee discussion of homeschool sports access. Because of the House Education Committee action today, a decision about sports access will be put on hold for another year.
Below is our lobbyist’s first-hand report on what took place yesterday on sports access for homeschoolers. You will also find a list of some of the other bills we are carefully tracking.
View the rest of this Legislative Update.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 26, 2011 | Legislative | Comments (0)
Sports Access Bill to Be Heard on Monday
HEAV Legislative Update **Sports Access Bill to Be Heard on Monday
The legislative session began last Wednesday (January 12), and already HEAV has sorted through several thousand bills and attended numerous committee hearings.
This week, a bill on homeschool access to public school sports came up; it passed out of subcommittee and will come before the full House Education Committee this Monday, January 24, at 9 a.m.
While we understand the interest some parents have in providing athletic opportunities for their children, it is not HEAV’s mission or purpose to pursue legislation that promotes a return to public schools. We have worked diligently for 28 years to protect and strengthen homeschooling freedoms and are concerned that additional requirements will be imposed on homeschool families. HEAV is neutral on this legislation.
Although neutral, our lobbyist, Bob Shanks, is still at the capital talking with legislators and attending all hearings. Below is his first-hand report on the hearing.
Thank you for keeping the legislative session in your prayers! Watch for more updates as we move forward, and check HEAV’s blog or Facebook page for current postings.
With warm regards,
Yvonne Bunn
Director of Homeschool Support & Legislative Affairs
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HEARING REPORT
Homeschool Access to Public School Sports Debated in Committee
As anticipated again this year, sports access for homeschoolers is a topic of heated discussion in the General Assembly. Education Subcommittee #2 met yesterday to discuss homeschool access to interscholastic sports. Both Delegate Robert Bell (R-Charlottesville) and Delegate David Nutter (R-Christiansburg) introduced similar sports access bills. They were combined in committee to become HB 2395.
Delegate Bell summarized the history of several unsuccessful attempts by homeschooling parents and organizations to work with the Virginia High School League (VHSL), the governing body of interscholastic sports in Virginia. He stated there was no willingness from VHSL to even consider a compromise. Bell suggested he would do most anything VHSL wanted in order to reach a compromise.
Several people spoke in support of the bill. A homeschool dad, who was a former public school teacher and from a family of public school teachers, stated that the present policy was punitive. His homeschooled children attended the meeting with him. Another homeschool dad and CPA from Northern Virginia discussed the number of homeschool high school students in Virginia and the number of schools in Virginia. He argued that changing the current policy would have a negligible effect on public schools. A homeschool mom also briefly spoke on behalf of the bill.
Delegate Landes stated that the academic standards are not the same. There are no SOLs for homeschoolers.
Chris Freund of the Family Foundation suggested VHSL could require some other form of evaluation like a standardized achievement test.
Delegate Athey reiterated that the bill says the VHSL will set the rules. “Do you all understand? VHSL will require SOLs!! Homeschoolers don’t want SOLs.”
Ken Tilley of VHSL said he respects homeschoolers but remains strongly opposed. He said he wants a level playing field. “Public school kids have to do things to qualify to play that homeschoolers don’t have to do,” Tilley stated. His major concerns were 1) enrollment requirements and 2) the requirement to take five and pass five academic subjects. He said, “Bell’s bill gives parents too broad a latitude to declare their kids have qualified. Kids should have to pass SOLs or something similar.”
Joining the VHSL in opposition to sports access for homeschoolers were the School Superintendents Association, Virginia Education Association, and School Principles Association.
Delegate Morrissey commented regarding “the level playing field” by stating homeschoolers are not academic or discipline problems.
Tilley responded that there is no way to know if they are meeting the requirements the other students are meeting; therefore, they don’t face the consequences the other students face.
Delegate Athey asked what other states allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports. Scott Price of VAHomeschoolers and others indicated 1/3 to ½ of the other states allow access.
Delegate Landes expressed concern about public school kids who are benchwarmers who might get bumped off the team by a homeschooler. He said he knew public school parents who think that would be terribly unfair. Several answered, “That’s the way it is. We just want a chance to compete.”
Delegate Bell suggested there could be some version of dual enrollment. “All the arguments against my bill boil down to some version of ‘I don’t like it.’ I think the tail is wagging the dog.”
Delegate Athey concluded, “A generation ago, the type of parent who would be active in PTA etc., is now the one who is homeschooling. The quality of public school has suffered in part by their absence. I think some interaction between the homeschool community and the public school community would be good. I will vote for this bill.”
The committee moved to report the bill; it was seconded. The bill passed out of the sub-committee 6 Y – 2 N. It will be heard before the full House Education Committee Monday, January 24, at 9 a.m., in House Room C.
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If you are interested in HB 2395, and wish to express your opinion, you can contact the committee members here.
This report was written by the Home Educators Association of Virginia, a member-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting homeschooling freedoms in the Commonwealth. Feel free to reprint or pass along this report in its entirety.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 21, 2011 | Legislative | Comments (0)
Homeschool Codes for the SAT, ACT, and PSAT
This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. What are the school codes that high school homeschoolers should use for the SAT, ACT, and PSAT? Why do homeschoolers have an identifying code?
A. Because of the increased number of homeschooled students applying to colleges and universities, the College Board developed universal codes for homeschoolers who take college admissions exams.
Using the specific homeschool code provides two advantages:
The following codes are the same for homeschoolers in all states:
SAT Homeschool Code: 970000
ACT Homeschool Code: 969-999
The PSAT code varies by state. See all state codes here.
Virginia PSAT Homeschool Code: 994799
View more information about test dates and registration.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 19, 2011 | Homeschool Q&A | Comments (4)
Virginia Homeschoolers Did It! – Congratulations to All!
Congratulations to the “Bionics,” Who Placed First in the Virginia-DC LEGO LEAGUE Regionals!
The “Bionics” are a team of nine homeschooled students, started this past fall by Dustyn Crocco and coached by Heather Kemmerly. Members of the Bionics team are Grant Showalter, age 13; Noah Butterfield, age 13; Anthony Wolf, age 12; Noah Crocco, age 11; Julian Mena, age 10; Jacob Crocco, age 9; Beckett Behel, age 9; Calvin Utne, age 9; and Garrett Kemmerly, age 9. (The team spans the entire age-range of their division.)
The Bionics competed in the Virginia-DC Southeast Regional Tournament of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) in November, along with nine other teams. As the winners, the Bionics moved to December’s State Tournament, where they competed against about 50 other teams from around the state. The 2010 FLL challenge of “Body Forward: Engineering Meets Medicine” presented the Bionics the opportunity to explore the cutting-edge field of biomedical engineering. The Bionics did well at the highly competitive state level, ranking in the middle of the pack.
The Bionics plan to continue as a team, maintaining their friendships and building their teamwork skills, as well as learning more about building and programming Lego Mindstorm robots.
The team is sponsored by the NASA Knights and New Horizons Regional Education Center, and is supported by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Welding Society.
Learn more about the Virginia/DC FIRST LEGO League.
Read an additional article on the Bionics in the Langley Researcher.
Congratulations to a Homeschooled Eagle Scout!
Ian Hill, homeschooled for seven years, achieved his Eagle Scout rank and was honored at a Court of Honor on November 21, 2010. He began as a Cub Scout in King George, Virginia, and continued into Boy Scouts, holding positions as junior assistant scout master, assistant senior patrol leader, librarian, and patrol leader. He has also earned the Order of the Arrow, the Firem’n Chit, and the Totin’ Chip. Since he will not be 18 until April 2011, Ian was able to attain a Palm award by completing five additional merit badges and demonstrating leadership abilities. Ian remains active as the junior assistant scout master.
And Congratulations to a Homeschooled Essay Writer!
Emma Shepard won first place out of more than 1,000 entries in an essay contest sponsored by Landry Academy (a homeschool organization) on the theme “How does human anatomy and physiology show evidence of God’s creation?” She won a Dell laptop with her essay titled, “The Blood Brain Barrier.”
Blog @ January 19, 2011 | Homeschoolers Did It! | Comments (2)
Immunization Requirements for Homeschoolers
This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. If I send in a Notice of Intent, does that mean I must comply with the immunization requirements?
A. The law requires all children to be immunized, including children who are homeschooled under the home-instruction statute, the certified-tutor statute, or the religious-exemption statute. However, the law does not require parents to submit immunization records unless the superintendent specifically requests them.
Homeschooling parents should keep immunization records on file at home. Immunization is not a requirement for homeschooling and is not linked to the Notice of Intent.
There are exemptions to immunizations based on (i) a parent’s or guardian’s religious beliefs or practices, or (ii) a written certification from a licensed physician stating that one or more of the required immunizations may be harmful to the child’s health. The penalty for not immunizing a child is that he is prohibited from attending public school.
View more information about the types of immunizations that are required, who can administer them, record keeping, etc., on our Explanation of Immunization Laws page, taken from The Virginia Homeschool Manual.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 12, 2011 | Homeschool Q&A | Comments (0)
Spanish Homeschooling Ruled Not Legal
Homeschooling Is Not Legal, Rules Constitutional Court
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Reprinted from TheReader.es
A trial case by two couples who homeschooled their children against the wishes of local social services has failed after the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that homeschooling is not a right under Spanish law, and that children must go through a formal educational system.
The Constitutional Tribunal (TC) has stated that the Constitution allows the legislature to set up a system of compulsory basic education and does not recognize the right of parents to educate their children in their own homes.
In a sentence that has just been published, the Constitutional Court dismissed the writ filed by two couples who homeschool their children, but who had been pressured by the local social services to send their children to school.
Under the Law on Legal Protection of Minors, the prosecutor requested the Court to order the immediate enrollment of the children in their local schools. The parents argued that “the Constitution does not order the compulsory schooling in the State system” and stressed that their children received an education more appropriate than that given in “public or private classrooms of 30 or 40 students.” Their children spoke five languages, knew music and were taught math, science and language, and ethics education.
The parents claims were however rejected in all instances. The Court of Coin (Malaga) answered the prosecutor’s request and ordered the minors to school. The judge argued that the Spanish Constitution “does not allow parents to deny children the right and obligation to participate in the formal education system.”
The court added that the exclusion from the formal system can generate in minors “serious problems in their future development” both in academia (in reference to the difficulties of access to university) and in the social and integration with other children their age.
That ruling was upheld by the Provincial Court of Malaga. The Constitutional Court has now rejected the claim for protection of their parents.
The ruling states that “the right of parents to choose for their children an education outside the compulsory education system for reasons of pedagogy does not fall within any recognized constitutional freedoms.”
It also indicates that the Constitution does not prohibit the legislature setting up a system of compulsory basic education “as a period of enrollment period” during which “excluded is the possibility” of teaching their children in their own home instead of proceeding to school.
However, it notes that the option of compulsory schooling is not required by the Constitution, but is a legislative choice that the Constitution does not prohibit, and therefore “it cannot rule out other legislative options to incorporate some flexibility into the education system and, in particular, basic education.”
Blog @ January 5, 2011 | International Homeschooling | Comments (0)
High School Seniors and Standardized Testing
This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. Are homeschooled high school seniors required to submit standardized test scores in August following their senior year?
A. The requirements of the home instruction statute apply to children who are between the ages of five and 18. If your senior is 18 years old, he is no longer under compulsory attendance laws, which include home instruction and its requirements.
§ 22.1-254. Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this article, every parent, guardian, or other person in the Commonwealth having control or charge of any child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30 of any school year and who has not passed the eighteenth birthday shall… provide for home instruction of such child as described in § 22.1-254.1.
Also, according to §22.1-254 (A), if a child has obtained a high school diploma or has graduated, he is no longer required to comply with compulsory attendance laws which include home education.
§22.1-254 (A) The requirements of this section shall not apply to…(b) any child who has obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, a certificate of completion, or a GED certificate, or who has otherwise complied with compulsory school attendance requirements as set forth in this article.
The Notice of Intent form includes a paragraph stating that the parent or guardian understands he must provide evidence of educational achievement according to §22.1-254.1. This statute defines the requirements for home instruction and the ages of the children to which it applies (children who are between the ages of five and 18).
§22.1-254.1 (A) Any parent of any child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30 of any school year and who has not passed the eighteenth birthday may elect to provide home instruction in lieu of school attendance…
The purpose of providing the results of a standardized achievement test or an evaluation is to show satisfactory progress so homeschooling can continue. A senior who has graduated will not be continuing home instruction. Also, a child who is 18 years old and not compulsory school age does not have to meet the requirements of the homeschool statute including testing or evaluation.
Yvonne Bunn @ January 5, 2011 | Homeschool Q&A | Comments (0)