Home-School Pitch Pits Personal Choice Vs. Government Role

Posted on: Sunday, 24 February 2008, 06:00 CST

By Jeffrey Robb, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Feb. 24--When school is in session for the Conrad kids, the living room of their northwest Omaha home is often their classroom.

Lessons last as long as needed to complete the day's tasks.

Mother Natalie Conrad is the teacher to her three school-age children.

Natalie and Chris Conrad's family is part of the 6,000-student home-school network across Nebraska. And the family is a small part of a debate in the Nebraska Legislature pitting personal choices and religious freedoms against state government's educational responsibilities.

State Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln has proposed a bill to recast Nebraska's generally loose regulations over home-school students.

Her bill would require home-school students to take state-mandated tests or have their schoolwork assessed by an outside evaluator. If students' progress falls short academically, they would be sent to public or private schools.

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