H.r. 3221

(You can read the second half of this important and informative post over at SpunkyHomeSchool's Blog: http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/09/just-say-no-to-hr-3221.html

Over a decade ago, I called a journalist from the Wall Street Journal to discuss the expanding federal role in education and the move toward national curriculum and standards in America. He didn't want to hear about it. In fact, he laughed loudly in my ear and said, "It'll never happen. The American people would never stand for it." He was wrong.

This week, in the House of Representatives, is scheduled to consider and possibly vote on H.R. 3221, The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). HR 3221 expands the federal role in education and includes a provision which allows the Secretary of Education to develop and disseminate a free online national curriculum and establish Pre-K learning programs and standards.

RedState calls the bill unprecedented and unecessary. Indeed, it is.

The Constitution provides for no federal role in education; Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan previously stated that education was a "state and local issue." When the Department of Education was formed ( 20 U.S.C. § 3403) the statute prohibited the department from "increasing the authority of the Federal Government over education" and did not authorize the Secretary to "exercise any direction, supervision, or control over curriculum." HR 3221 does both.

 

And this is an alert from Home School Legal Defense Association on this issue.

http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/National/2009/H.R.3221/default.asp