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Urgent Action Needed - Today!

  

 

Regardless of the reason you homeschool--or whether you're under religious exemption or you've complied with the homeschool statute--we ask you to stand with us to protect homeschool freedoms. This could be the beginning of tighter regulations for all homeschoolers.

 

Last week Delegate Thomas Rust (R-Fairfax) introduced a resolution, HJ 92, requesting the Department of Education (DOE) to study how religious exemption is implemented in each school district. After gathering this information, the DOE is charged with making recommendations about changes to the religious exemption statute.  

 

Help us stop this study!  

 

Call your delegate today--Wednesday, January 22--if he or she is on the House Rules Committee. (See list below.) The Rules Subcommittee on Studies is scheduled to meet today at 4:30. We must let the delegates on this committee know that we oppose this move toward limiting our religious freedom.

 

Learn about other legislative activities below and see how you can make a difference!

 

Regards,

 

Yvonne Bunn

Director of Legislative Affairs

Home Educators Association of Virginia 

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One day everyone's freedom to homeschool could come into question. Right now, it's parents who homeschool under religious exemption that officials want to scrutinize. Please stand with HEAV, HSLDA, and VaHomeschoolers in opposing HJ 92! Your calls and e-mails make a tremendous difference!

 

Action:

Call the offices of the delegates on the House Rules Committee today, Wednesday, before 4:30 p.m. The Rules Subcommittee meeting has just been announced. You can expect to speak with a receptionist or legislative aide who will take your message, not the delegate. They will not debate the issue with you. In your own words, ask your delegate to oppose HJ 92 based on one or two of the reasons below. Here is a list of the Rules Committee members and the geographical areas they represent. See if your delegate is on the committee.

M. Kirkland Cox (R-Chesterfield, Colonial Heights)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1066
Email: 
DelKCox@house.virginia.gov

 

Gregory Habeeb (R-Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, Salem)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1008
Email: 
DelGHabeeb@house.virginia.gov

 

Algie Howell, Jr. (D-Norfolk, Virginia Beach)
Phone: (804) 698-1090
Email: 
DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov

 

Riley E. Ingram (R-Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1062
Email: 
DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov

 

Johnny S. Joannou (D-Norfolk, Portsmouth)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1079
Email: 
DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov

 

S. Chris Jones (R-Chesapeake, Suffolk)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1076
Email: 
DelCJones@house.virginia.gov

 

Terry Kilgore (R-Lee, Scott, Wise, Norton)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1001
Email: 
DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov

 

Barry D. Knight (R-Chesapeake, Virginia Beach)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1081
Email: 
DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov

 

Steven Landes (R-Albemarle, Augusta, Rockingham)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1025
Email: 
DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov

 

Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1072
Email: 
DelJMassie@house.virginia.gov

 

Robert D. Orrock (R-Caroline, Spotsylvania)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1054
Email: 
DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov

 

Kenneth R. Plum (D-Fairfax)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1036
Email: 
DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov

 

David J. Toscano (D-Albemarle, Charlottesville)
Phone: (804) 698-1057
Email: 
DelDToscano@house.virginia.gov

 

R. Lee Ware (R-Chesterfield, Fluvanna, Goochland)
Phone: 
(804) 698-1065
Email: 
DelLWare@house.virginia.gov

Reasons to oppose HJ 92:

  • You are opposed to this attempt to reduce religious freedom.
  • The religious exemption statute has protected First Amendment rights of homeschoolers of all faiths for 37 years.
  • Data shows that homeschoolers are doing well academically.
  • Religiously exempt homeschoolers score 33 percentile points higher than other students.
  • Some Amish, Mennonite, and families of other faiths could be prosecuted if their religious freedom is not protected.
  • A study is not necessary--all questions can be answered without a study. It is an unfunded mandate.

Join Mike Farris in Richmond

On Thursday, January 23, Mike Farris will speak at the Virginia Christian Alliance (VCA) Lobby Day at the General Assembly in Richmond. VCA opposes Delegate Thomas Rust's resolution, HJ 92 that questions your freedom to homeschool your children under the religious exemption statute.  

 

Mike will speak at 9:30 a.m. in House Room 1 of the Capitol Building. If you would like to attend, please contact Rita Dunaway at ritadunaway@selfgovern.com. After the presentation, you can visit the Rules Committee members and voice your opposition to this measure.

 

Tebow Bill Scheduled

HB 63, Delegate Rob Bell's (R-Charlottesville) Tebow Bill, will come before the House Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee tomorrow morning, Wednesday January 22. The subcommittee will be meeting at 8:30 a.m. in House Room D in the General Assembly Building. You can find directions and parking here.

 

Things are moving very quickly with little notice of committee times and places. Watch for future updates!