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 Current federal homeschooling legislation.

The information on this website does not constitute legal advice; it is provided for informational purposes only.