|
HR
1815
H.
R. 1815, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2006
We are sorry to report that on January
3, 2006, H.R. 1815 was presented to the President. Once signed
into law, the Secretary of Defense will decide what criteria will
determine who is a graduate of homeschooling, for the purposes
of recruiting and enlisting in the U. S. Armed Forces.
Here
is the final language that was adopted:
SEC.
591. RECRUITMENT AND ENLISTMENT OF HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS IN THE
ARMED FORCES.
(a)
Policy on Recruitment and Enlistment.--
(1) POLICY REQUIRED.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
a policy on the recruitment and enlistment of home-schooled students
in the Armed Forces.
(2)
UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE ARMED FORCES.--The Secretary shall ensure
that the policy prescribed under paragraph (1) applies, to the
extent practicable, uniformly across the Armed Forces.
(b)
Elements.--The policy under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An identification of a graduate of home schooling for purposes
of recruitment and enlistment in the Armed Forces that is in accordance
with the requirements described in subsection (c).
(2)
A communication plan to ensure that the policy described in subsection
(c) is understood by recruiting officials of all the Armed Forces,
to include field recruiters at the lowest level of command.
(3)
An exemption of graduates of home schooling from the requirement
for a secondary school diploma or an equivalent (GED) as a precondition
for enlistment in the Armed Forces.
(c)
Home School Graduates.--In prescribing the policy under subsection
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a single set of
criteria to be used by the Armed Forces in determining whether
an individual is a graduate of home schooling. The Secretary concerned
shall ensure compliance with education credential coding requirements.
(d)
Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term ``Secretary
concerned'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(9)
of title 10, United States Code.
Background:
In May of 2005, the 739-page bill passed out of the house
by the Yeas 390 and Nays 39. Senator Warner added this amendment
regarding the “Recruitment and Enlistment of Home Schooled
Students in the Armed Forces” on behalf of Senator Rick Santorum
on November 9, 2005.
AHEM’s
questions and concerns are:
•
As
always, the term “home school” should not be used in
federal law. See http://www.ahem.info/Federal109thCongress.htm.
•
What
might be the ramifications of the Secretary of Defense defining
who qualifies as a homeschool graduate? While the bill requires
this definition for the purpose of enlisting in the armed forces,
will the definition come to be used in other ways to decide what
constitutes a homeschool graduate?
•
In
practical terms, how will homeschooled graduates be “identified”?
Will national registration of homeschooled students become necessary?
For
more information
For further information about HR 1815 and explanations about why
the federalization of home education is not desirable:
•
Home
Education Magazine News and Commentary http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/groupnews/
•
http://hr3753.blogspot.com/,
an online source of information for people working to kill the
bills [HR 3753 / S 1691] — again — and keep homeschooling
from being further defined by federal legislation.
•
The Military
Homeschooler http://home.kc.rr.com/milhmschlhq/homeschooling_federalization_of_homeschooling.htm
has compiled a great deal of information on Homeschool NonDiscrimination
Act 2005 (HR 3753 / SB 1691). At this site you will have access
to the history behind this bill, why many home educators oppose
it, and why HR 3753 / SB 1691 and the amendment in HR 1815 concerning
home education is not needed and could harm homeschool freedoms.
Our
thanks to Mary Nix of Home Education Magazine and to http://hr3753.blogspot.com/
for contributing to information compiled in this email.
Back
to Past
federal homeschooling legislation.
The
information on this website does not constitute legal advice;
it is provided for informational purposes only.
|
