The measure could not only require parents who homeschool their children to teach certain government agenda issues but also effectively remove much of the decision-making authority of local school boards and districts, warns the Home School Legal Defense Association.
The organization focuses on issues affecting homeschool students and their parents in the United States and overseas but also keeps an eye on the larger picture of education policy.
Now the reauthorization plan raises concerns over "the failed 'Washington-knows-best, one-size-fits-all' approach."
One provision of the bill specifically mandates that any state taking federal funds "must put in place 'college and career ready aligned standards."
"Mandating that each state have aligned standards with aligned coursework will guarantee the creation of national academic standards, national curriculum, and national testing," this week's report on the controversy said.
"We believe this will result in the eventual requirement that homeschoolers use these national standards, curriculum, and testing," the report said.
While some specifics that could be included in a final bill remain unclear, "the trend of national standards could lead to homeschoolers losing the freedom to choose the curriculum for their children."
An earlier HSLDA report by William A. Estrada pointed out that national standards would remove control from local boards and districts and allow "unelected bureaucrats, not parents" to decide what subjects should be taught.
"National standards are a first step to a national curriculum and national testing," Estrada wrote.
"Certain federal education funds to the states would be contingent on the states adopting the standards, which would place incredible pressure on the states to accept these national standards.
And if some states resisted efforts to adopt the standards, this could easily lead to calls to make the standards mandatory in the name of being fair to all students. Furthermore, unelected bureaucrats would be able to choose what they believe every school child should be taught."
Read more: Warning: Obama Ed aims at U.S. takeover
One provision of the bill specifically mandates that any state taking federal funds "must put in place 'college and career ready aligned standards."
"Mandating that each state have aligned standards with aligned coursework will guarantee the creation of national academic standards, national curriculum, and national testing," this week's report on the controversy said.
"We believe this will result in the eventual requirement that homeschoolers use these national standards, curriculum, and testing," the report said.
While some specifics that could be included in a final bill remain unclear, "the trend of national standards could lead to homeschoolers losing the freedom to choose the curriculum for their children."
An earlier HSLDA report by William A. Estrada pointed out that national standards would remove control from local boards and districts and allow "unelected bureaucrats, not parents" to decide what subjects should be taught.
"National standards are a first step to a national curriculum and national testing," Estrada wrote.
"Certain federal education funds to the states would be contingent on the states adopting the standards, which would place incredible pressure on the states to accept these national standards.
And if some states resisted efforts to adopt the standards, this could easily lead to calls to make the standards mandatory in the name of being fair to all students. Furthermore, unelected bureaucrats would be able to choose what they believe every school child should be taught."
I believe that my grandchildren should be taught the old fashioned way...with total family involvement, an emphasis on traditional values, and absolute control of content.
Read more: Warning: Obama Ed aims at U.S. takeover
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