• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Democrats Object to Bill Making Technical Improvements to Iowa’s Homeschooling Law

The Iowa Senate Education Committee passed 10 to 5 a bill that updates and clarifies the law regarding private instruction and parent-taught drivers' education.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
March 3, 2021
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Westside of Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, on February 2, 2021.
Photo Credit: Shane Vander Hart

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

New report says Iowa’s property taxes are 10th highest in U.S.

AG Bird sues over alleged fraudulent door-to-door stem cell therapy treatments

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Senate Education Committee passed SSB 1219, a bill that updates and clarifies the Iowa Code regarding private instruction and parent-taught drivers’ education. The legislation that essentially only makes technical changes to the law passed 10 to 5 along party lines on Wednesday. 

The legislation clarifies the distinction between Competent Private Instruction (CPI) and Independent Private Instruction (IPI), two options for homeschooling in the state. It also changed reporting and evaluation dates for CPI students due to changes made with the state’s assessment.

When the Iowa Legislature passed parent-taught drivers’ education the bill’s language ommitted IPI students, but the legislature’s intent at the time was to include them. Also, the Iowa Department of Education has since that bill passed has allowed IPi students to utilize parent-taught drivers’ education. The bill updates the Iowa Code with the current Iowa DOT rules.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill also reduces the number of street and highway hours from 40 to 30. It states parents can work together to offer parent-taught drivers’ education since the current homeschooling law allows parents to work in tandem with other subjects. 

State Senator Jackie Smith, D-Sioux City, complained about things the legislation doesn’t do. 

“I would ask the body to resist this. With that said, we know that homeschooling can be effective. And we know education has a profound effect on people. I’m uncomfortable with combining competent private instruction along, with let me get the terms right, I believe it’s independent private instruction and removing oversight. We don’t know how many kids are in homeschool. This will further exasperate the state not having any idea of how many kids are being schooled at home,” she said.

State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Windsor Heights, questioned why the bill dropped driving hours and the number of hours for certain topics of instruction.

Bill Gustoff, the lobbyist for Homeschool Iowa, told The Iowa Torch that the Democrats in the Iowa Senate Education Committee were confused about the bill. 

“For too long, the terminology applied to the categories of homeschooling under Iowa law has been confusing even to policymakers. SF 1219 makes no changes to homeschooling law but does make important updates and clarifications, including bringing curriculum requirements of parent-taught driver education up to 21st Century online learning methods. Those who voted against it clearly don’t understand that these are benign improvements to the law, and we are confident they will support SSB 1219 once we can help them better understand this admittedly technical bill,” he said.

Americans for Prosperity joined Homeschool Iowa in support of the bill. The Iowa Department of Education was registered undecided, and no group registered opposition to the legislation.

Read the bill below:

SSB1219
Tags: 2021 Iowa Legislative Session89th General AssemblyHomeschool IowahomeschoolingIowa SenateIowa Senate Education CommitteeJackie SmithParent-Taught Drivers' EducationSarah Trone Garriott
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa House Considers Bill Seeking to Reduce Regulatory Burden for Iowans

Next Post

Grassley Files Statement of Candidacy, Still Has Not Decided If He Will Run in 2022

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

Reynolds signs bill phasing in 3.9 percent flat tax
Opinion

Hendrickson: Iowa – the gold standard leader in state tax reform

July 27, 2023
State Government

The Iowa House and Senate pass different property tax relief bills

April 20, 2023
white tiled wall with men s restroom sign
State Government

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

March 20, 2023
Iowa lawmakers approve prohibiting ‘gender transitioning procedures’ for minors
State Government

Iowa lawmakers approve prohibiting ‘gender transitioning procedures’ for minors

March 9, 2023
State Government

Iowa Senate passes government reorganization bill

March 8, 2023
State Government

Reynolds signs bill fixing 2021 property tax error

February 22, 2023
Next Post
Grassley: Big Victories for Rural Healthcare

Grassley Files Statement of Candidacy, Still Has Not Decided If He Will Run in 2022

Rogers: Before Casting Judgement on Private and Charter Schools Review the Evidence

Rogers: Before Casting Judgement on Private and Charter Schools Review the Evidence

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Hendrickson: Fiscal Conservatism Works

Hendrickson: Fiscal Conservatism Works

May 12, 2021
Iowa to Pause Administering Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

Iowa to Pause Administering Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

April 13, 2021
Hendrickson: Remembering Hoover’s Humanitarian and Conservative Legacy

Hendrickson: Herbert Hoover – Defender of the Old Order

August 2, 2023

Popular Stories

  • Reynolds Calls Biden’s Electric Car Goal ‘Short-Sighted’

    Feenstra: Combating President Biden’s electric vehicle mandates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa Schools Now Required to Lead Students in Pledge of Allegiance

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New ad features DeSantis plan for southern border

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Miller-Meeks: Putting the brakes on Biden, protecting Americans’ vehicle choice

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.