Home-school bill gets preliminary OK

A bill that modifies procedures for exempting minors who are home-schooled from attendance at a public or private school received preliminary approval on a second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

SB146, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, now moves to a third reading in the Senate. The vote was unanimous with no debate.

The bill would require local school boards to issue a certificate excusing a minor from attendance within 30 days of receipt of a signed affidavit stating that the minor will attend a home school.

Madsen said there has been no controversy over his bill so far, and he wasn't surprised at Tuesday's Senate action. "It's a simple bill. I think everyone supports it," he told the Deseret News after the vote.

The letter from the district allows home-school students to participate in state activities offered to public school students — everything from ski deals to space camp.

"We just want to make sure the families who choose home school have their letter so they can sign up for and participate in these great offerings," Madsen said.

— Amy K. Stewart