After being revived the debate on homeschool participation has been delayed.

 

Representatives brought back House Bill 1120, which permits students receiving alternative instruction be deemed academically eligible by complying with alternative instruction requirements and allowed to participate in activities sponsored by the SDHSAA, on the chamber floor this week.

 

Through what’s known as the “smoke-out” process, HB 1120 returned after being defeated in the House Education committee last week (2/4). Members voted 38-30 to calendar the bill on Tuesday (2/6), which resulted in it receiving debate by the full body.

 

And just as that debate began, it abruptly ended, at least until next week.

 

HB 1120’s prime sponsor, Rep. Sue Peterson mused about supporters’ views on its merits and introduced an amendment that would “narrow the scope” of the bill to only permit participation in SDHSAA activities.

 

That amendment lead Rep. Jason Kettwig to invoke Joint Rule 5-17, which delays debate on the bill until Monday (2/12).

 

ASBSD opposes the bill.

 

“We need to let school boards carry out their local authority,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany testified during the bill’s committee hearing, adding the bill means “local decisions no long become local.”

 

“School boards are held to a high level,” Pogany testified. “(Through HB 1120) you remove the board from their elected responsibility.”

 

ASBSD encourages school board members to contact their district’s representatives and ask them to vote no on the bill.

 

For updates on HB 1120, check the ASBSD Blog, Bill Tracker page and Twitter feed.