AB 2756-WHAT BILL DOES
STATUS UPDATE: APRIL 25, 2018
This bill has failed in the Assembly Education committee
On Friday, February 17, 2018, AB 2756 was introduced by Assembly Members Medina, Eggman, and Gonzalez Fletcher. This bill would amend California Education Code Section 33190, the section that requires private schools to file annual affidavits with the California Department of Education, in several ways.
The bill would add "conventional or traditional private schools, private school satellite programs, private online or virtual schools, parents, guardians, or other individuals who operate a private home school, and certified nonpublic nonsectarian schools" to those required to file a PSA (previously was "...every person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation...".
Previously, homeschoolers were simply considered a person running a private school like any other private school. This bill would mean that homeschoolers are separated out and identified in the data collected by the California Department of Education.
The bill would also require information on the nature, or a description of the nature, of the private school to be included in the affidavit or statement.
Requirements for fire inspections of all private schools have been dropped and there will new amendments soon.
HSC POSITION
This bill started as a result of a child abuse case. Be sure to read the following press release by Assembly Member Jose Medina.
The horrific child abuse case in Perris, California raised questions about the lack of oversight of private schools. As homeschooling is included in the state’s definition of a private school, we currently have very little information on the nature of private school entities across California. My bill, AB 2756, will tighten up existing law to be inclusive of all private school learning environments and collect more information to achieve a better understanding of the private school landscape in California. I believe it is important to have different education options, such as private schools, to meet each child’s individual needs. However, the state has a responsibility to ensure that each child is in a safe learning environment. AB 2756 will provide the oversight needed to protect students and their rights.
Assembly Bill 2756 has been referred to the Education Committee and to the Governmental Organization Committee. If you would like to contact them, please be sure to first become fully informed by reading HSC's complete statement.
We have been informed that the fire inspections requirements in the bill will soon be removed. That will leave the data collection component. We have been told to expect other amendments to be announced soon.
Education Committee Members
Governmental Organization Committee Members
HSC opposes the extra data collection and identification of homeschoolers separately from other private schools because it is clearly a first step toward imposing regulations on homeschoolers separate from other private schools. This is unnecessary and costly and there is absolutely no evidence that regulation of homeschoolers results in better outcomes in any way. In fact, homeschoolers are fine. They are more successful than students in public schools on every measure. There is no problem and therefore no justification for singling homeschoolers out to impose extra requirements on them.