HELP ALERT 04.02.07


Two very dangerous bills have been scheduled for hearings on Thursday April 5th in Hearing Room D.

The bills are HB 2979 which requires home school students to register with the state annually, and HB 2996 which forces all private schools to register with the Department of Education. This bill effectively puts private schools under the thumb of the teachers' unions. Furthermore it states " Any person who provides instruction for compensation to a child who is in kindergarten through grade 12 is required to hold a teaching license issued by the commission." That means your child's piano teacher or karate instructor.

It is critical that you contact the committee members immediately and voice your opposition to both of these intrusive and unnecessary bills. If you can come to the hearing, please do so.

Remember, for years, home school families have made the legitimate claim that "home schooling is private schooling." Furthermore, HB 2979 now compels you to turn in test scores to the education service district and has new but undefined requirements for what constitutes acceptable scores.It also restricts options for parents whose children fail to meet these undefined standards.

If these two bills pass, your home school freedom will be seriously eroded.

Contact information for the subcommittee hearing the bills (Education Innovation Subcommittee) appears below, along with a suggested message.


Betty Komp, Chair 503-986-1422 rep.bettykomp@state.or.us
Karen Minnis, Vice-Chair 503-986-1449 rep.karenminnis@state.or.us
Arnie Roblan, Vice-Chair 503-986-1409 rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us
Peter Buckley 503-986-1405 rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us
Ben Cannon 503-986-1446 rep.bencannon@state.or.us
John H Dallum 503-986-1459 rep.johndallum@state.or.us
Gene Whisnant 503-986-1453 rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us


Dear Representative,

House Bills 2979 and 2996 represent the most intrusive and unneeded attacks on educational liberty I have ever seen.
Home schools and private schools are successful and require no intervention on the part of the state. I strongly urge you to vote NO on both bills.
Very truly yours,

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