SB 483 would add significant restrictions on families who withdraw their child from public school to homeschool, when the student has missed 10% of their school days (even if the absences are excused).

HSLDA opposes SB 483.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

1. Visit our Legislative Action Center for important information and updates about SB 483.
2. HSLDA is not yet asking for homeschoolers to contact their senators, since the bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing. If such a contact becomes necessary, find your senator here.
3. Partner with our friends at the Indiana Association of Home Educators who also oppose this bill.

WHAT WOULD SB 483 DO?

• The bill as introduced would apply to parents whose students are “chronically absent,” which the bill defines as “enrolled in a public school; and has missed at least ten percent (10%) of the school days in a school year, including excused and unexcused absences.” Those families would not be permitted to homeschool until they present a thorough plan to the school of origin regarding the curriculum and courses the homeschooled student will complete while homeschooled.
• Additionally, the parents would have to provide a quarterly progress report by meeting with the public school superintendent not less than twice a semester in the first full school year of homeschooling (which appears be the school year after the child is withdrawn). The next year, the progress reports would be once a semester.
• If the superintendent determines that any of these progress reports are insufficient, he “shall” turn the matter over to both the prosecutor and social services for investigation of a “habitual truant.” There is no appeal of the superintendent’s determination.

WHAT’S HSLDA’S POSITION ON SB 483?

HSLDA opposes SB 483 for the following reasons.

• We are concerned that legislators unfriendly to homeschooling freedom are viewing this bill as a good first step, to be applied to more homeschoolers in the future. Thus, we as homeschoolers need to push back even on this first assault.
• There is nothing to stop a superintendent from demanding more meetings and progress reports. Even in states like Florida that allow for more scrutiny if a child withdraws from public school after a pattern of nonattendance, there is a review process at several levels before the courts or social services are involved.
• Indiana does not currently define homeschooling in law, instead treating it as a private school. This legal status has allowed for flexibility under state laws that deal with nonpublic schools. This bill would define homeschooling – and that in the context of truancy, not in a more neutral section that defines schools.

Protect Homeschool Freedom. Oppose SB 483.