UPDATE – this bill has passed the education subcommittee of the appropriations and budget committee, and has been recommended to be heard in the full committee. Homeschool Oklahoma’s general opinion on this bill is mixed – it does not specifically endanger homeschooling freedom, but it does muddy the process for homeschoolers engaging in higher education. We greatly prefer HB-2950, as it removes discrimination in test scoring while still providing a means by which homeschoolers can be evaluated against other students. So, while we are not ideologically opposed, we think this bill has practical problems that are better solved by other bills. Because HB-2950 is gaining traction, we are OPPOSED to this bill for practical purposes.
HB-2963 removes the ACT as an entrance criteria for Oklahoma higher education. Homeschool Oklahoma is not fully opposed to this bill; we do have concerns about its impact on homeschooling families.
The ACT itself has become a problematic test over the past few years. While historically it measured student aptitude, the rigor and independence of this test has degraded over the years. Nevertheless, the ACT remains a common tool by which all students regardless of background and education method can be evaluated. While scoring standards vary greatly between schools and even individual teachers, the ACT can be used as a common (if now increasingly flawed) measuring stick for incoming students.
If HB-2963 passes, it is possible that higher education organizations will find other standardized means of determining student qualification and standing. Some colleges already have placement exams which can be used. Nonetheless, we think that banning a test which is commonly used as a standardized measuring stick does not help homeschoolers in the long run.
