2/22 SB7048 updates

It wouldn't go into effect until July 1 (next school year).

Understanding the homeschooling experience can be challenging for some, even for me, someone who never anticipated homeschooling my children and still has occasional moments of uncertainty. We have one child on the UA (Down Syndrome) and two on PEP. Even now, I come across posts and initially question their classification as educational expenses. However, when discussing these items with my wife, she easily identifies at least five different ways they could serve as valuable educational tools. This highlights the essential need for genuine trust in parents when engaging with legislative frameworks.

For instance, even before the PEP program, we visited Disney and turned the experience into a multifaceted teaching opportunity. The same applies to video games—there are learning lessons in every scenario if one takes the time to examine them. While not every parent may adopt this approach, a significant number are actively incorporating these real-world experiences into their children's education. This underscores the importance of placing genuine trust in parents as the primary educators of their children. Its tough for the legislatures when fellow homeschooling parents are also questioning each others motives and uses of funds.

just clarifying i'm not questioning anything UA parents are purchasing, I think there is educational value in everything that's currently approved. What I'm saying is that the legislators logic holds no water when not unilaterally applied across the board. So it seems more like a publicity stunt, to appear fiscally responsible during an election year. And a majority of the posts that these news stories are using as "evidence" are people just asking if certain things would be approved, and the ones showing what they did get approved have all been of eligible expenses that was approved by the SFO. But the angle of these stories are vilifying what PEP parents are using tax payers funds for, when in fact it's from UA (digital devices) and again it's only an issue if it's this one group using the funds in this way.

It passed as is and they talked about wanting to add more restrictions and one mentioned looking at less overall funding per student

I believe it. Earlier esa states have done the same.

I did catch where someone said private homes are not facilities and don't require the same offerings or something to that effect. I don't think they will be loosening up to be honest. That's my takeaway form the hearing today.

The comment about less funding was not said as a suggestion for current action. That Senator's comment was that when they were having the discussions for HB1 earlier this year, she had originally wanted less funding than what was given, because she was afraid the money would attract people who aren't really putting their children's education as the priority. That particular Senator is actually very homeschool friendly. Her concerns were that this scholarship would negatively impact the hard -won respect for homeschooling Brenda and so many others have worked so hard over the last 40 years to build.