Homeschooling in Idaho ROCKS!!

From Lee Ann's email list:

Senate Bill 1017, sponsored by Senator Russ Fulcher (R-Meridian) and Representative Bob Nonini (R-Coeur d’Alene), has now been passed with the unanimous vote of both houses of the Idaho legislature. The final stop for this bill will be the desk of Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter who we expect to approve the bill in short order.

Both of the bill’s sponsors did a masterful job of shepherding this effort through our legislature. The bill, which was a joint effort by ICHE, CHOIS, and the Governor’s Task Force on Children at Risk, provides a tremendous boost to the liberties of Idaho’s home educating families. The bill:

1. Adds private home education to the express list of the types of education which are permitted in Idaho;

2. Retains the right of parents to direct the teaching of their children by other friends or relatives;

3. Distinguishes private home schooling from instruction by means of a virtual or on-line public charter school program;

4. Clarifies that the instruction provided by private home education is not required to bear any resemblance to the programs offered in the state’s public schools; and

5. Clarifies that home schoolers are not required to give formal instruction for any set number of hours or days per year.

With the passage of this bill, Idaho now has what is arguably the greatest set of home schooling liberties in the entire country. For this we primarily have Senator Fulcher and Representative Nonini to thank.

Would you please take a moment to send a short note expressing your gratitude to each of these fine public servants? Senator Fulcher’s email address is rfulcher@senate.idaho.gov and Representative Nonini’s is bnonini@house.idaho.gov.