Every year, OCEANetwork monitors any bills, initiatives, or rules that may negatively impact homeschool freedoms in Oregon. The need for vigilance is even greater during long legislative sessions, which happen every other year.
House Bill 2508 establishes a statewide computer data system for K-12 student records. It will be used by Education Service Districts (ESDs), which hold state data on homeschooled students. The system will have slots for:
“(a) Student name and state identification number;
(b) Student demographic information;
(c) Student statewide assessment data;
(d) Student course completion data;
(e) Student education records;
(f) Student individualized education programs, as defined in ORS 343.035, and student plans, as developed in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794, and any evaluations, reevaluations, examinations or assessments made to determine eligibility for or to provide an individualized education program or a student plan;
(g) Student daily attendance data, including data on the uses of removals of students from the classroom setting, abbreviated school days and exclusionary discipline practices; and
(h) Student medical alerts and other health data necessary for state reporting.”
HB 2508 is about student records rather than type of student. So the computer system would likely be used for ESD records on homeschooled students for efficiency purposes. There are no protections in the bill against homeschooled students being put into this system.
OCEANetwork politely asked the House Committee on Education to put a protective clause into the bill to protect homeschoolers (see my testimony here). The Committee refused our request without comment and passed the bill as-is to the full House for a floor vote.
➡️ CALL TO ACTION
Politely call or write your state Representative to state your opposition to HB 2508. In your own words, tell them why this is important to you.
You can find out who your Representative is here. (No need to contact Senators at this point, since the vote will be on the House floor.)
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Thank you for helping OCEANetwork defend the rights of homeschooling families in Oregon.
Rodger Williams
OCEANetwork Freedom Watch Team
If you have questions about this alert, please contact OCEANetwork here so we can forward it on to our Freedom Watch Team.
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