HB 209: Homeschool Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/20/2025 09:02:377 → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces the previous homeschool affidavit system with a new letter of intent notification process, removes criminal background checks for homeschooling parents, and eliminates liability protections for school boards after students withdraw from school. The changes simplify homeschooling requirements and reduce administrative burdens on families while shifting oversight responsibilities.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility by removing criminal background check requirements for parents and changes the notification timing from an annual affidavit to a one-time letter of intent when withdrawing from school or not enrolling.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for parents to submit annual homeschool affidavits, replacing them with a one-time letter of intent notification when withdrawing from school or not enrolling.

Changed notification timing from an annual affidavit process to a one-time initial notification that may include a letter of intent when a parent withdraws a child or chooses not to enroll them.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement for parents to attest to criminal background history, eliminating the affidavit provisions that prohibited parents convicted of child abuse from homeschooling.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed liability protections for local school boards after students withdraw from school, meaning school boards are no longer shielded from liability for education or services after unenrollment.

TECHNICAL

Made technical formatting changes to the bill text, including renumbering subsections and updating effective date references.

Amended Excerpts 2/20/2025 09:02:377 → Amended 2/20/2025 09:02:377 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's homeschooling laws to clarify notification requirements, remove the affidavit requirement for students starting homeschooling at the beginning of an academic year, eliminate the criminal background check requirement for parents, establish procedures for local school boards to process letters of intent, and limit liability for school boards after students unenroll. The changes aim to simplify the homeschooling process while maintaining oversight through alternative notification mechanisms.

Scope change

The bill applies to all school-age children in Utah who are exempt from mandatory school attendance through homeschooling, affecting both new and existing homeschooling families.

REQUIREMENT

Changed notification requirement from 'letter of intent' to clarify when parents must notify the school board about homeschooling.

Eliminated the requirement for parents to submit a formal affidavit when starting homeschooling at the beginning of an academic year.

Removed the requirement for parents to attest to their criminal background history when homeschooling.

Established procedures for local school boards to process letters of intent for homeschooling.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed liability from local school boards after a student unenrolls from school.

TIMELINE

Changed the timeframe for school boards to acknowledge receipt of homeschooling notifications from 30 days to unspecified timeline.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/20/2025 09:02:377 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill amends Utah's homeschooling laws to clarify notification requirements, remove the affidavit requirement for students starting homeschooling at the beginning of an academic year, eliminate the requirement for parents to attest to criminal background history, and establish procedures for local school boards to process letters of intent instead of affidavits.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of required documentation for homeschooling by replacing the affidavit system with a simpler notification process and removes criminal background checks for parents filing for homeschool exemptions.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the requirement for parents to submit a homeschool affidavit with a one-time notification that may include a letter of intent to the local school board.

Eliminated the requirement for parents to submit a signed affidavit for students who begin homeschooling at the start of an academic year.

Removed the requirement for parents to attest to their criminal background history when filing for homeschool exemptions.

Established that local school boards must acknowledge receipt of homeschool notification within 30 days and maintain a record of the notification.

TIMELINE

Clarified that local school boards cannot require notification if parents provided notification on or before May 7, 2025, including through a homeschool affidavit.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces the requirement for parents to file a formal affidavit with a simpler letter of intent to homeschool. It removes criminal background checks for parents and eliminates liability for school districts when students leave school to homeschool. The changes aim to reduce administrative burdens on families while maintaining oversight through school district acknowledgment of the letter.

Scope change

The bill applies to all school-age children who begin homeschooling, but specifically clarifies that no letter of intent is needed for students who start homeschooling at the beginning of an academic year.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for parents to submit a signed affidavit to homeschool, replacing it with a letter of intent to home school.

Established a 30-day timeline for local school boards to acknowledge receipt of a letter of intent to home school.

Clarified that a letter of intent is not required for students who begin homeschooling at the start of an academic school year.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement for parents to attest to their criminal background history or be free of child abuse convictions to homeschool.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed liability from local school boards and schools of enrollment when a student unenrolls to homeschool.

TECHNICAL

Deleted the definition of 'child abuse' and related subsections regarding criminal background checks, as these requirements were removed.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitutes a new version of HB 209 that shifts the homeschooling process from requiring a formal affidavit to requiring a letter of intent. The changes remove criminal background checks for parents, eliminate liability for school districts after students leave, and clarify that parents starting homeschooling at the beginning of a school year do not need to submit an affidavit. These changes simplify the homeschooling process and reduce administrative burdens on families and school districts.

Scope change

The bill now applies a letter of intent requirement only to students who are already enrolled in public education at the start of an academic year, while removing the affidavit requirement for those beginning homeschooling at the start of a school year.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for parents to submit a signed affidavit to homeschool their children.

Added a requirement for parents to submit a letter of intent to home school to the local school board when withdrawing an enrolled child.

Removed the requirement for parents to attest to criminal background history regarding child abuse convictions.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility so that parents do not need to submit an affidavit if the child begins homeschooling at the start of an academic school year.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions that remove liability from local school boards after a student's unenrollment from school.

TIMELINE

Modified the timeline for school boards to issue certificates, now requiring acknowledgment of receipt within 30 days.

TECHNICAL

Added Senate Sponsor name (Daniel McCay) and updated formatting for the substitute bill.

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's homeschooling laws by removing the requirement for parents to submit affidavits when starting homeschooling at the beginning of an academic year, eliminating the requirement for parents to attest to their criminal background history, and clarifying when notification to school districts is required. The changes reduce administrative burdens on families while maintaining oversight for those with child abuse convictions.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of affidavit requirements to only apply to mid-year homeschooling transitions, removing the requirement for all parents to file affidavits annually or when starting at the beginning of a school year.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for parents to file signed and notarized affidavits when withdrawing a child from school to homeschool at the start of an academic year

Removed the requirement for parents to attest on a child abuse disclosure form regarding their criminal background history

Clarified that affidavit requirements only apply when a child is already enrolled in public education at the beginning of an academic school year

Established procedures for local school boards to process letters of intent for homeschooling

Changed the effective date of the bill to May 7, 2025

ENFORCEMENT

Removed civil liability protections for local school boards regarding parent misrepresentations of child abuse convictions

Homeschool Amendments

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