Bill > SB191

This bill, known as the Home Schooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act, aims to support military families by clarifying homeschooling regulations and ensuring access to school resources. It defines "bona fide change in duty station or residence" as a required military relocation and "covered military service" as active duty, whether federal or state-ordered, that necessitates such a move. For parents in "covered military service" who are homeschooling, the bill requires them to notify their local superintendent of education as soon as possible after moving and to comply with all state homeschooling requirements within 30 days, with the superintendent potentially requesting proof of permanent change of station orders. Additionally, homeschooled students whose parents are in "covered military service" can use public school facilities and equipment if it doesn't disrupt activities, is approved by the principal, incurs no extra cost, relates to the student's academic program, and hazardous areas are supervised. The bill also mandates that local school systems provide home-schooled students with disabilities, whose parents are in "covered military service," a genuine opportunity to access special education and related services, though this does not grant the same procedural rights as the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Finally, it amends existing law to ensure that high school equivalency, homeschooled, or charter school students whose parents are in "covered military service" are not denied participation in interscholastic activities, such as sports, if they meet all other requirements except for class attendance.

Budget and Finance

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