By Jayla Ward
Although the legislative year seemed to get off to a slow start, THSC quickly found that the 87th legislative session was the most successful one yet for homeschool families. Not only did the UIL Equal Access Bill (HB 547) pass both legislative chambers and go to the Governor’s desk, but so did SB 1955, the Learning Pod Protection Act which THSC supported.
Texas saw many public, private, and governmental operations come to a screeching halt during the Coronavirus pandemic. This included schools around the state.
As a result, we saw a massive influx in homeschooling around both the nation and here in the State of Texas. However, with restrictions in general rising during quarantine, many homeschooling communities found themselves unable to meet in person.
SB 1955, authored by Senator Larry Taylor, was drafted to protect learning pods from being regulated by local governments not only during a pandemic but also on an everyday basis.
What exactly is a learning pod?
According to the bill language, a learning pod specifically refers to groups of children who meet at various times for the purpose of education (e.i. Homeschooling communities, co-ops, groups of public school students meeting after school, or even traditional private schools).
The bill does three main things:
- Exempts learning pods from any requirements a local government may put on local public schools. This would include exemptions from rules regarding staff-to-child ratios, educator certifications, or daycare licensing that might be required for public schools.
- Prevents an agent of a local government from initiating any type of investigation or cite inspection of a building because of the presence of a learning pod in the building.
- Prevents a local government or school district from requiring a learning pod to register with the local government or school district in any way.
While Texas has not seen an epidemic of learning pods and homeschool co-ops being bullied by local governments, some communities have experienced these problems. Additionally, with the explosion of learning pods in the post-Covid era, the Learning Pod Protection Act will help to ensure that this does not become a widespread problem going forward.
These protections help ensure the freedom of families to educate their children as they see fit. We firmly believe that parents should decide what way that their children learn best! Help us in our mission of Keeping Texas Families Free as we keep watch over these rights and others like them.
Text “TXHOMESCHOOL” now to 919191 to receive legislative alerts!
By Jayla Ward
Although the legislative year seemed to get off to a slow start, THSC quickly found that the 87th legislative session was the most successful one yet for homeschool families. Not only did the UIL Equal Access Bill (HB 547) pass both legislative chambers and go to the Governor’s desk, but so did SB 1955, the Learning Pod Protection Act which THSC supported.
Texas saw many public, private, and governmental operations come to a screeching halt during the Coronavirus pandemic. This included schools around the state.
As a result, we saw a massive influx in homeschooling around both the nation and here in the State of Texas. However, with restrictions in general rising during quarantine, many homeschooling communities found themselves unable to meet in person.
SB 1955, authored by Senator Larry Taylor, was drafted to protect learning pods from being regulated by local governments not only during a pandemic but also on an everyday basis.
What exactly is a learning pod?
According to the bill language, a learning pod specifically refers to groups of children who meet at various times for the purpose of education (e.i. Homeschooling communities, co-ops, groups of public school students meeting after school, or even traditional private schools).
The bill does three main things:
- Exempts learning pods from any requirements a local government may put on local public schools. This would include exemptions from rules regarding staff-to-child ratios, educator certifications, or daycare licensing that might be required for public schools.
- Prevents an agent of a local government from initiating any type of investigation or cite inspection of a building because of the presence of a learning pod in the building.
- Prevents a local government or school district from requiring a learning pod to register with the local government or school district in any way.
While Texas has not seen an epidemic of learning pods and homeschool co-ops being bullied by local governments, some communities have experienced these problems. Additionally, with the explosion of learning pods in the post-Covid era, the Learning Pod Protection Act will help to ensure that this does not become a widespread problem going forward.
These protections help ensure the freedom of families to educate their children as they see fit. We firmly believe that parents should decide what way that their children learn best! Help us in our mission of Keeping Texas Families Free as we keep watch over these rights and others like them.
Text “TXHOMESCHOOL” now to 919191 to receive legislative alerts!
