Relief is on the way, again

Filed yesterday by Rep. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) and Sen. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland) is a bill to overturn the arbitrary pronouncement by DOE employee Cindy Benefield that Category IV diplomas (received by many homeschoolers) aren't worth the paper they were printed on. Completely ignoring their acceptance by colleges and universities across the nation as well as military recruiters and technical schools she decided to declare that these diplomas were unsuitable for peace officers and day care workers as she made her rounds across the state and when asked during regular inspection of records. The difference this year is the House Education Committee and House Calendar and Rules Committees lean Republican.

HB0432 / SB0483

by Rep. Mike
Bell (R-Riceville) and
Sen. Dewayne Bunch (R-Cleveland)

Legislative summary: Schools, Home - As introduced, clarifies that a diploma awarded to a graduate from a home school is acceptable for all purposes of licensure and certification by state and local governmental entities. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HOUSE BILL 432

By Bell

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 49, Chapter 1, relative to recognition of certain educational accomplishments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1, Chapter 3,
Part 1, is amended by adding a new section thereto, as follows:

Section 1-3-1__. Notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or other provision of law to the contrary, a high school diploma awarded by any legal form of education in this state shall be considered by all departments, agencies, commissions or other such entities of state and local government as having all the rights and privileges of a high school diploma awarded by a public school system. This section shall not apply to state lottery proceeds as provided in title 49, chapter 4, part 9.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

See TnHomeEd's HB1652-SB1827 page for details of the two year's of hassle and battle to restore sanity to this issue.