HB 3624
Directs education service districts to provide and pay for examinations administered to homeschooled children.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
8%
Oppose
92%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires Oregon’s education service districts (ESDs) to reimburse parents and legal guardians for the fees associated with standardized examinations taken by homeschooled children in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. The bill also outlines procedures for administering these exams, including who can administer them and when they must be taken. It includes provisions for additional testing and potential oversight if a child’s scores are consistently low.
Key provisions
- Education service districts (ESDs) must reimburse parents/guardians for exam fees.
- Homeschooled children in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 must take approved standardized exams.
- The State Board of Education will create a list of approved examinations.
- Qualified neutral persons administer the exams.
- First exams must be administered 18 months after withdrawal from public school or prior to grade 3 if never attended public school.
- Children scoring below the 15th percentile receive an additional exam within a year.
- Superintendents may require additional supervision or return to traditional schooling if scores decline.
Who is affected
- Parents and legal guardians of homeschooled children
- Education Service Districts (ESDs)
- Homeschooled children
- State Board of Education
- School districts
Notable changes
- Establishes a system for ESD reimbursement of exam fees for homeschooled children.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
E. Werner Reschke
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of the bill emphasize the benefits of homeschooling, highlighting its ability to provide a personalized learning experience for children. They argue that this approach can lead to improved academic outcomes and increased student engagement. Additionally, proponents believe that the bill would alleviate financial burdens on homeschooling parents, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, by reducing or eliminating costs associated with state-mandated testing. Furthermore, supporters contend that tax dollars already fund education regardless of whether it is used in public or private schools, making it unfair to charge homeschoolers for testing requirements.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
The opposition to HB 3624 is centered around concerns that the bill would infringe on homeschooling freedoms, increase government involvement in education, and impose unnecessary costs on taxpayers. that the measure would restrict parental choice in state testing, conflict with local school district requirements, and undermine the authority of parents to make decisions about their children's education. Many express opposition to the bill due to its potential impact on homeschooling autonomy, freedom of choice, and individual privacy. They also believe that the proposal would set a precedent for government control over homeschooling families' rights and limit their freedoms, ultimately increasing taxes and burdening public schools.