The HSLDA has just claimed victory for a Nevada homeschool bill, which on first reading does, indeed, appear to secure a rock-solid base for Nevada homeschoolers. Or does it? On second reading of S.B. 404, the provision which in SEC 5 (subsection 13 (a) and (b) states that:
This religious freedom provision in S.B. 404 states that “no regulation or policy of the state board, any school district or any other governmental entity may infringe upon a parent’s right to educate his child based upon religious preference unless it is (a) essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and (b) the least restrictive means furthering that compelling interest.”
For me the inclusion of this phrase this would be an obvious deal-breaker. Why? Simple. If the trend towards a New World Order continues to roll along in the hallow'd halls of Washington - and all evidence points to acquiescence to the globalist's goals of a UN mandate to roll the world up in a cloak of secretive manipulation of all sovereign nations - then the adoption of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, or CRC, as it is known, will render this bill useless. Granted, the the US adoption of the CRC will probably roll over any rights to homeschool, anyway. But why go to the trouble to get a homeschool bill in Nevada passed with language which could have been crafted by the UN drones themselves?
One has to wonder why this provision was included. Klicka is hailing it as a great victory. But, I mean, we're talking about homeschooling, right? That means parents educating and bringing their children up in whatever religious atmosphere they deem suitable. How did the idea of granting homeschoolers religious freedom "unless it is essential to further a compelling governmental interest" get its nose under the tent?
No, S.B. 404 is not a religious freedom clause "victory". It's a sham, a set-up. Who do they think they're kidding? Take out the so-called "religious freedom clause" and what new homeschool freedoms, exactly, have been advanced here? I'm beginning to have my doubts about the intentions of the HSLDA, and it's supporting Website Home School Foundation. It is assuming a corporate-type structure that makes me very uncomfortable. I intend to find out who insisted on this provision, and I also intend to ask Senior Council Christopher Klicka for an explanation. Unfortunately, finding an email address for any person in the HSLDA has proved impossible as of this writing.
So, who is HSLDA, and what do they really provide homeschoolers? Home-School-Is-Legal (hsislegal.com) provides some answers. Turns out I do have a good nose for smelling a rat.
Nevada
Victory for Homeschool Freedom Bill
After a tremendous effort by the Nevada Homeschool Network, especially Frank Schnorbus and Barbara Dragon, S.B. 404, the Homeschool Freedom Bill, has been signed into law. Joining in the effort during key periods over the past four months were Elissa Wahl, Irene Rushing, Carl Lucas, Tina Goodman, Kelley Radow and former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (also a former homeschooler).
Home School Legal Defense Association Senior Counsel Christopher Klicka was involved in the minute-by-minute drafting process and amendments, as well as orchestrating e-lerts to Nevada HSLDA members. Finally, without the help of the many emails, phone calls, and appearances at committee hearings from homeschool parents throughout Nevada, this bill would never have become law.
Incredibly, S.B. 404 passed during just one legislative session. Many times, this type of bill, which eliminates over 50% of the current regulation, takes several sessions to actually pass. However, due to the expert guidance of the Nevada Homeschool Network, not only was the bill passed by the Senate and the Assembly, and signed by the Governor, but it was passed unanimously by the entire Senate!
S.B. 404 does several things:
- Eliminates oversight of homeschooling by the local or state public school system. It establishes a one-time (instead of annual) notification of intent to homeschool to be sent to the local school district when the child begins to homeschool. No longer do parents need to show the child’s birth certificate.
- Eliminates the requirement that homeschoolers provide “equivalent instruction to public schools.” The law recognizes parents’ rights to direct the education of their children and their full responsibility to determine how their children are being educated. It does list certain subjects that must be taught, but only as appropriate for each child’s age and skill level as determined by the parent.
- Requires the school district to accept a notice of intent that contains the name, age, gender of each child; name and address of their parents; a short educational plan, as appropriate for the age and skill level of the child at the time of filing for the first year of homeschooling.
An optional privacy statement is included on the notice of intent form if you so wish to sign it to prevent your notification from being circulated to anyone else.
The school district must give the parent a “written acknowledgement” that serves as a “Proof of Compliance” with Nevada’s compulsory school attendance law.
S.B. 404 requires the school district give notice about testing opportunities that must be available to homeschool students, such as college entrance exams and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam.
One of the most amazing aspects of S.B. 404 is that it includes a religious freedom clause!
This religious freedom provision in S.B. 404 states that “no regulation or policy of the state board, any school district or any other governmental entity may infringe upon a parent’s right to educate his child based upon religious preference unless it is (a) essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and (b) the least restrictive means furthering that compelling interest.”
This language was crafted by Klicka in order to parallel religious freedom acts which HSLDA has helped to enact in nearly a quarter of the other states. However, this is the first time it is being used in a purely educational context. This is an important provision because it serves as a “backup” of the homeschool law. Any homeschool family who is teaching their children according to their religious convictions may invoke this clause any time a school district becomes abusive. HSLDA is particularly excited about this aspect of the new Homeschool Freedom Bill.
The term “parent” is defined to include: “parent, custodial parent, legal guardian, or other persons in this state who have control or charge of a child and the legal right to direct the education of the child.”
The Department of Education is required to develop a standard form for homeschool children to participate in programs and activities, including classes, sports, and interscholastic activities.
The Homeschool Freedom Bill will virtually end the state’s power to create regulations for homeschoolers. Now homeschoolers will have all their rights specifically delineated in the Nevada Code as enacted by the Legislature. This makes homeschool rights more permanent. (All emphasis mine)
We are thankful to God for this incredible victory in Nevada. Nevada homeschoolers will now enjoy one of the best laws in the country.
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