Feb. 21, 2008
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
February 21, 2008
Tennessee: Calls Needed to Stop Testing Bill
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
We need your help now! Tennessee homeschoolers are facing the most
serious threat to their freedom since the homeschool law was enacted
23 years ago.
House Bill 2795 would subject non-public school students, including
homeschool students, to additional state testing. It would require
them to take subject matter tests based upon state-approved textbooks.
It would also require them to pass the Tennessee comprehensive
assessment program tests before receiving a high school diploma. These
new testing requirements would also apply to students being taught at
home through extension or satellite programs of church-related
schools. Your calls to state representatives are needed to stop this
dangerous legislation!
If House Bill 2795 passes, it will essentially mean the end of
homeschooling in Tennessee. Parents deciding to teach their children
at home would have to conform their curriculum to the material taught
in public school in order for their children to be able to pass the
state tests. The Tennessee Department of Education, not parents, would
determine whether a student taught at home was eligible to receive a
high school diploma.
Sponsored by Representative G.A. Hardaway (92nd District), this
horrendous bill is now in the House Education Committee. It is
scheduled to be heard by the Special Initiatives Subcommittee of the
House Education Committee this coming Wednesday, February 27.
Representative Hardaway and members of the House Education Committee
need to hear from you today!
Action Requested:
(1) Please call or write (both would be better) Representative G.A.
Hardaway and at least one member of the House Education Committee with
this message:
"Please oppose House Bill 2795, which would impose public school
testing on non-public school students. This bill would effectively
destroy non-public education in Tennessee by requiring private
schools, church-related schools, and homeschools to adopt the public
school curriculum for their instruction programs."
The contact information for Representative Hardaway and members of the
House Education Committee is set forth below. Members of the Special
Initiatives Subcommittee which will hear the bill on Wednesday are
indicated by an asterisk.
If your last name begins with A-I, please call the following members:
*Chair Les Winningham,
(615) 741-6852
*Vice-Chair Tommie Brown
(615) 741-4374
*Secretary Joe Towns, Jr.
(615) 741-2189
Harry Brooks
(615) 741-6879
*Jim Coley
(615) 741-8201
Barbara Cooper
(615) 741-4295
If your last name begins with letters J-R, please call these members:
Dolores Gresham
(615) 741-6890
Beth Harwell
(615) 741-0709
John Hood
(615) 741-7849
Phillip Johnson
(615) 741-7477
Ulysses Jones, Jr.
(615) 741-4575
*Ron Lollar
(615) 741-7084
If your last name begins with letters S-Z, please call these members:
Mark Maddox
(615) 741-7847
Michael McDonald
(615) 741-1980
Gerald McCormick
(615) 741-2548
Richard Montgomery
(615) 741-5981
Larry Turner
(615) 741-6954
*John Mark Windle--Chair of the Subcommittee
(615) 741-1260
To find the name and contact information for your state
representative, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at
(2) Please forward this email to other homeschooling families who are
not members of HSLDA and ask them to contact Representative Hardaway
and a member of the House Education Committee as well.
To view a copy of the bill, go to
If you have any questions or concerns about that this bill would do,
please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.
Sincerely,
Dewitt T. Black, III
HSLDA Senior Counsel
... Pat ... Share Your Thoughts!
Feb. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Suzanne
Thanks for sharing this.
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Feb. 22, 2008 - Bill #2795
orangenkitty
I have shared this info with all of my fellow TN homeschooling buddies. Myself and one other that I know of so far have made several calls. I also sent emails to many of the committee members. Is you call the names with the asterisk you will reach the committee, start there as well as with G.A. Hardaway, and lets get this bill stopped before it really damages our TN homeschooling families!!
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