YAY!
Some good news on the legislative front:
Concord (NH)— The busy Senate yesterday voted to eliminate some homeschooling paperwork, sent the issue of workforce housing for more study, and enhanced criminal penalties for assaulting the elderly.
The Senate, on a roll call vote, passed House Bill 406, which eliminates filing of curriculum plans for home-schooled children.
The bill removes all requirements for curriculum reporting from parents. Children will still be tested every two years to determine what they are learning.
The Senate passed the measure, 17-5, and before that, defeated an amendment 8-13 that would require a one-time curriculum plan be submitted to local superintendents for home-schooled children.
“The best interests of the child would be served by one curriculum plan at the outset of their education,†said Sen. Iris Estabrook, D-Durham. “My concern remains that without this requirement we will have no information for two years until they take the assessment requirement. . . . This is not living up to our responsibility to ensure that children are receiving an excellent education.â€
Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, said the state is asking people “who are busy enough trying to educate their own children to provide paperwork that won’t be looked at till later.â€
Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester, said the state is entitled to that information. “It’s a good amendment,†D’Allesandro said.
Sen. Robert E. Clegg, R-Hudson asked “why we burden people with more government paperwork? We’re overstepping. I certainly don’t think we need to burden people with more paperwork.â€
The bill reduces paperwork compared to the amount of detail now required, Sen. Margaret Hassan, D-Exeter, said.
“This is an excellent mechanism, in a self-discovery process, whether parents are capable of the task of educating their children.â€
It seems a lot of New Hampshire state senators have forgotten their state motto.