On January 10, the Senate Education and Health Committee’s Public Education Subcommittee discussed two pieces of legislation impacting local school divisions and students receiving home instruction.
SB 1021 (Black) requires any local school board that offers a driver education program to make said program available to any student receiving home instruction residing within the school division. The bill also prohibits the school board from charging a fee in excess of any fee charged to public school students. The bill was struck at the request of the patron.
SB 1275 (Black) requires any local school board that offers a Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program to make the program available to any student residing in the local school division receiving home instruction. The bill is problematic in that it prohibits the local school board from requiring any such student to enroll part or full-time in the local school division or to meet any other eligibility requirements. VACo staff shared their concerns. The Subcommittee narrowly recommended, 3-2, to report the bill.
VACo Contact: Jeremy Bennett