May 24, 2005
House Bill 1220: Allowing Homeschoolers to Take the MCAS
Sponsor:
Rep. Paul Loscocco
Summary:
This bill would do the following:
- Require schools to allow homeschoolers and private school students residing in their district to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam.
- Require the state to pay for the administration of the test.
- Require schools to award diplomas to homeschoolers who pass MCAS.
- Allow schools to offer "remedial" help for homeschoolers who "fail… to meet the requirements of the competency determination."
Status:
| 03/15/2005 |  | Sent to Education Committee |
Action Requested:
None at this time.
HSLDA's Position:
Oppose. The MCAS is designed to test public school students on the curriculum that they use, and, as with most direct government benefits, this one has "strings" attached to it. Homeschoolers might be able to get further services, but they would be forced to modify their curriculum to meet public school standards, reducing the freedom that is available.
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