Senate committee advances bill loosening homeschooling rules after heated debate

A West Virginia Senate education committee on Feb. 11 voted to report Senate Bill 966 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, advancing a measure that would remove several existing state requirements for homeschooling.

Counsel explained the bill, saying it would allow homeschooling instruction to be conducted by parents or “other persons who are qualified to give” instruction and would strike language that currently permits county superintendents to request attendance, instruction and progress records. The counsel also said the bill removes a requirement that instructors hold a high school or postsecondary degree and eliminates the mandate for nationally normed standardized achievement tests.

Senator from Wetzel questioned whether the changes would permit parents to omit core subjects such as math, science and language arts. Counsel replied that the bill was intended to permit parental flexibility and that amendments could set parameters if the committee desired. "It is rather open ended regarding that, and an amendment can be made to adjust the parameters and the requirements," the counsel said.

Opponents raised concerns about the removal of instructor qualifications and testing. Senator from Cabell argued the bill "takes away virtually every guardrail for children whose parents decide to homeschool them," saying the state risks leaving some students without basic skills; he said he intended to vote against the bill. Supporters defended parental authority and cited research they said shows many homeschoolers outperform public school peers. Senator from Jefferson said the state's homeschooling code was "archaic" and urged trust in parents, noting that about 26 states require little more than a notice to homeschool.

Senator from Wetzel offered an amendment to reinstate the stricken language (page 2, lines 38–40 in the bill text) requiring that persons providing instruction be "qualified to give instruction" and restoring the county's ability to request records. Lawmakers debated the amendment at length, with Senators Cabell and others urging minimum standards and Senators Wood and Jefferson defending parental rights. The committee voted by voice and the chair announced "the noes have it," so the amendment failed.

Senator from Raleigh noted the bill still requires a teacher to provide a written narrative about a child's progress in parent-selected study areas and to note areas needing improvement in a professional review, and suggested that provision offers some accountability.

After discussion, Vice Chair moved that Senate Bill 966 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The bill will next be scheduled for floor consideration; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally or any floor date.