After debate, discussion and a day’s break to think on it, a bill altering assessment requirements for certain students stopped its legislative run.

 

House Education committee members tabled House Bill 1065, which removed the assessment requirement for students receiving alternative instruction, on a 13-2 vote.

 

The action came after the committee deferred additional action on the bill – after initially coming to a 7-7 stalemate on a “do pass” motion – and waited until the next committee hearing for all members to be in attendance.

 

ASBSD opposed the bill.

 

“This bill is inconsistent policy,” ASBSD Executive Director Wade Pogany testified. “(It) creates a system that says public school students must be accountable, but homeschool students do not.”

 

“I think it’s important for this body to be consistent.”

 

Proponents of the bill argued it followed a national trend of easing the testing burden on homeschool students.

 

An argument Rep. Lana Greenfield, the committee chair, didn’t see as in the best interest of those choosing the alternative instruction path.

 

“I think requiring testing of homeschool (students) is a good safeguard,” Rep. Greenfield said.

 

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