Senate unanimously supports Sen. Stevens’ resolution honoring home-school families

April 9, 2009

Olympia…Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, today honored home school families through a personal message to her colleagues and a resolution that received accolades from other senators and a unanimous vote on passage. 

“Home-school students have proven the success of parents who choose to teach their children and be a true partner in their learning experiences,” Stevens said. 

Stevens shared these important points from a survey of more than 7,000 adults who had been home schooled:

• 95 percent were familiar with politics and government, compared to 65 percent of public school educated adults;

• 79 percent participate in ongoing community service activities, including politics, compared to 37 percent of other adults;

• 88 percent are members of community groups, church, or professional organizations compared to 50 percent of other U.S. adults;

• 76 percent voted in a national or state election within the past 5 years, compared to 29 percent of other adults

"On a personal note,” Stevens told her colleagues, “I have noticed over the years that when home-schooled youngsters come to Olympia to page for the Senate they stand out as courteous, enthusiastic and respectful. I also find they have an exceptional attention span and are highly motivated to learn.”

The National Home Education Research Institute estimates there are as many as 48,000 home-school K-12 students in Washington. Nationally, home school students have grown from 2.5 million in 1999 to 4 million today.

"I believe our future leaders will come from those families who have cared enough to home-school their children, and it is for this reason I honor them today," Stevens said during consideration of Senate Resolution 8606. 

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Video of Senate consideration of SR 8606 is available on Sen. Stevens’ Web site at: http://www.src.wa.gov/stevens/.

Sen. Stevens represents the 39^th Legislative District,
which includes part of rural King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

For more information contact Penny Drost
at (360) 786-7522