SENATE RESOLUTION

                               8620

By Senators Stevens, Kastama, Winsley, Hewitt, Carlson, Long, Parlette, Rossi, West, Hale, Rasmussen, Roach, Benton, McDonald, Sheahan, Hargrove, Johnson, Morton, Sheldon,T.,  Zarelli, Honeyford, Oke, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Swecker, Haugen, Kohl-Welles and Gardner

     WHEREAS, The state of Washington recognizes the critical importance and fundamental right of parents to be actively involved in the direction of their children's education and character development; and

     WHEREAS, Home schools can provide families the opportunity for their children to receive a sound academic education and reinforced by the at-home educational process; and

     WHEREAS, The state of Washington is committed to excellence in education and student achievement; and

     WHEREAS, Studies confirm that children who are educated at home score exceptionally well on nationally normed achievement tests, exhibit self-confidence and good citizenship, and are fully prepared to meet the challenge of today's society; and

     WHEREAS, The state of Washington appropriately recognizes, by law, the right to home education as a legitimate and viable educational alternative; and

     WHEREAS, Teaching children at home was the predominant form of education for much of America's early years; and

     WHEREAS, Many notable Americans have been the product of home education, including George and Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Douglas MacArthur, Pearl S. Buck, Franklin Roosevelt, Patrick Henry, John Marshall, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, and Woodrow Wilson; and

     WHEREAS, Washington now has more children being educated at home schools than ever before in the history of our state; and

     WHEREAS, Some parents of students who home school have accepted an additional financial responsibility to provide for their children's education, while at the same time paying taxes which support Washington's public school system; and

     WHEREAS, Some parent educators devote countless hours to helping their children attain academic excellence, a deep sense of patriotism, and civic responsibility and prepare them to become productive citizens; and

     WHEREAS,  It is appropriate that Washington's home-educating families be recognized for their selfless contribution to the quality of education in this great state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the state of Washington hereby honor, thank, and celebrate the home-educating families in the state.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2001-8260,

adopted by the Senate February 23, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate