“Everyone gets to play!”
While it sounds good on the surface, everyone gets to play sports or band, etc., no home schooler gets to ‘play ball’ in a public school program without the same regulations as the government school students.
Regulations are a necessary part of any government program, it allows taxpayers to know better how their money is spent. Some regulations that often come with equal access laws, or “Tim Tebow” laws, include eligibility criteria for participation (testing), entering of personal student data into a national database, mandatory vaccinations, etc.
"We do not want to lose our freedom for any reason."
Home educated students will be expected to the adhere to the same behavior/performance/responsibility and code of conduct as any other student participating in the public school program.
This puts all Oklahoma home educators at risk. In Oklahoma, we have the opportunity to educate our children with the least regulations in the country according to the Oklahoma constitution. But home educators who want their children to participate in government school activities jeopardize this freedom. What may seem to only apply to those wanting to participate in public school programs will eventually apply to all home educators in Oklahoma. How do we know? In every state that has “equal access” laws, ALL home educators are regulated. We do not want to lose our freedom for any reason.
"...home educators who want their children to participate in government school activities jeopardize this freedom."
CHEA opposes equal access bills. Senator Rader has filed an equal access bill for this session. While the intent may be to help the poor home educating families in the rural areas, any legislation specific to home education opens up the door for ALL home educators to be subject to restrictions and regulations. Read more information about SB958 on our Website and please take action by calling Sen. Rader and express your concerns and then contact your own legislators and ask them to oppose SB958.
Please stay aware and check our website regularly throughout the legislative session.
JOIN US for our second annual Legislative Impact Day on March 6th!
