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LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Dear Fellow Home Educators:
HB 5468 is the equivalent instruction bill that would take us from
educational freedom to chains. Please plan to attend the public hearing:
HB 5468 Education Committee Public Hearing
Wednesday, March 11 at 10:00 am
Room 1E LOB, Capitol Ave, Hartford
You can see the bill language HERE. Note: Everything in brackets is removed. The new bill language begins at Line 47. At line 56, they retained some of the language of the original 10-184.
People have been asking...
Who does this bill immediately affect?
The bill affects the following populations:
1) Parents of children age 5 must appear in-person at a district office to sign an intent to educate, although they can still wait until age 6 or 7 to educate. (begin line 76).
2) Parents who have moved into the school district will have to appear. (begin line 86)
3) Parents who withdraw from public or private schools will have to appear in person. Withdrawal can be made only with approval from the Board of Education after the Department of Children and Families has reviewed their files to determine if the child is the subject of an order for protective supervision or receiving protective services. (begin line 95)
These groups will be required to demonstrate equivalent instruction annually via guidance developed by the Dept of Education at a later time. (begin line 220)
~ Portfolio review (may include results of nationally normed test) ; or
~ Causing the child to take the statewide mastery exam, or
~ Receiving a state high school diploma
IMPORTANT NOTE:
While HB5468 may only apply to SOME homeschoolers initially - make no mistake - eventually these draconian changes will be phased in for all. We cannot allow this tactic of unequal treatment to divide us or weaken our resolve to push back.
This outrageous disregard for the right of parents to direct their children's upbringing -recently reaffirmed by SCOTUS - must be fought, if not for you or your neighbor today, then for your children and grandchildren's future. Provisions in this bill also will affect those in private and parochial school, and open the door for unlimited additional requirements.
If the vision of a few is allowed to overturn the law of the land, and dismiss our state constitution, (ironically in the "Constitution State") then everyone's liberties are at risk.
We ALL need to come together as a community to oppose this heavy-handed legislation which creates a culture of distrust, discrimination and government intrusion into family's lives, unprecedented in our state.
Please make every effort to ATTEND the Public Hearing:
Wednesday March 11th 10:00 am
Room 1E Legislative Office Building (LOB)
300 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT
Tips for testifying are available HERE.
A map of the capitol campus area is HERE
A map of area parking is HERE.
Another way to get a parking spot is to use the app SpotHero.
Please note: Hearing rooms have limited space, and many people will not get into the main room, or even the overflow room to watch. That's okay, your presence is still very valuable. Join with other homeschoolers, praying, singing and carrying signs (< chest size) Bring materials to keep children occupied, or take a self-guided tour (brochures at door).
SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
Submit your testimony - preferably in a pdf format- HERE.
If you cannot send in a pdf, please attach a word document as directed.
The testimony form will guide you through the fields for your name & title (or anonymous), hearing date and bill number. Submitted testimony is public information and available by clicking "View Public Hearing Testimony" in the upper R corner of the form.
Keep your testimony brief and to the point. It is better to send a simple "Vote No on HB 5468" than not submitting anything or trying to follow a template.
TESTIFYING IN PERSON (or remotely)
Testimony sign up is online and currently available via the bulletin.
The deadline for signup is 3 pm on Tuesday, the day before the hearing.
The link to the bulletin, which contains the testifying link is HERE.
1. Click on Public Hearings at the top.
2. Find the hearing on the schedule, and click on On-line Testimony Registration.
This link is used for both in-person and remote testimony.
ACTION: Please contact the members of the Education Committee to ask them to Vote No on HB 5468 . Your message needn't be long - simply the bill number and a few reasons why you oppose this unnecessary surveillance and oversight of homeschoolers, when there is no evidence that it solves an identified problem.
You can find contact information for the Education Committee members HERE and the key members also listed below . If your legislator is an Education Committee member, it is particularly helpful to contact them. You can find your legislator HERE.
If you email put in the subject line: Vote No on HB 5468. If you are a Democrat, you can add that information as well.
Education Committee Key Members:
Co-Chair S Doug McCrory - (D) mccrory@senatedems.ct.gov : 860.240.1453
Co-Chair R Jennifer Leeper - (D) jennifer.leeper@cga.ct.gov : 860.240.8753
Vice Chair R Kevin Brown - (D) kevin.brown@cga.ct.gov : 860.240.8466
Vice Chair S Gary Winfield - (D) winfield@senatedems.ct.gov : 860.240.0475
This information will also be available on our website, our Facebook page, TEACH CT, and in our Facebook group, TEACH CT Homeschoolers..
Your involvement does make a difference! Large participation by homeschoolers contacting their legislators and coming out for a public hearing has preserved homeschool freedoms in the past, here in CT, and in many other states.
Thank you for standing with us to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in CT. Every voice and every body makes a difference!
In Prayer,
Pam Lucashu, Legislative Liaison
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.
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