Members of Project 535, Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) monthly lobbying group, descended on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October 26, to lobby for the Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2005 (H.R. 3753). 

The 535 ladies met in the Longworth House Capitol Building for a morning briefing before going to various appointments with House staff members and representatives on Capitol Hill.  Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colorado 4th) spoke to the ladies about the importance of H.R. 3753 to the 2 million home-schooled students around the country.  CWA applauds Rep. Musgrave for her work on this issue, and for her involvement in and support of Project 535.

CWA’s director of government relations, Lanier Swann, said, “Being able to show support for home-schooled students who contribute so much was a highlight of October’s Project 535.  The ladies were greeted with a warm reception, and were commended for their work on this issue.” 

Swann continued, “Rep. Musgrave took time out of her full schedule to discuss this issue with the members of 535, and she obviously cares about children, families and education.  We are optimistic that this legislation will gain support and will pass the House in a timely manner.”

H.R. 3753 is an important bill with bi-partisan support that will give home- schooled students the same advantages as their publicly and privately schooled counterparts. The legislation simply calls for the equal treatment of students taught at home. 

Home-schooled students are at a disadvantage because they are not considered eligible for certain forms of financial aid, savings accounts and scholarships.  These students are also not protected by important academic privacy laws.  H.R. 3753 would eliminate these disadvantages.

According to National Home School Education Research Institute, home- schooled students save taxpayers $10 billion a year because they do not attend public schools, and they repeatedly outperform public and private school students academically and socially.

Rep. Musgrave, the co-sponsors of H.R. 3753 and CWA believe it is time for these excellent students to receive the fair treatment they deserve. 

According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, H.R. 3753: 

·         clarifies the Higher Education Act to ensure that home-schooled students and the institutions that enroll them are eligible for federal financial aid;

·         ensures that home-schooled students have access to Coverdell Education Savings Accounts;

·         allows all home-schooled students to apply for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program;

·         strengthens protection of home-schooled student records under the Family Educational Records and Privacy Act;

·         amends child labor laws in recognition that older home-schooled children may work during traditional school hours, as their school day does not necessarily follow the usual schedule, and

·         clarifies that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act does not require parents to complete burdensome paperwork or undergo an evaluation when they decline special education services.

The 535 ladies articulated these points to the House staff on Capitol Hill in an effort to gather co-sponsors.  H.R. 3753 was referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee, is in the subcommittee on Military Personal, and has 65 co-sponsors.