Children in one area of Virginia who want to be homeschooled are going to have to appear before the Board of Education to justify their religious beliefs. It’s a policy one homeschooling family in Goochland County intends to fight.
Kevin and Katrina Hoeft, who homeschool their children, are contesting the idea that kids aged 14 and up have to give a statement on their religious beliefs to a government entity. The policy was passed by the school board in 2013.
“We believe the public schools have really departed from teaching kids about the role of God in life,” Kevin Hoeft told CBS 6 in an interview.
The Home School Legal Defense Association told CBS 6 the policy violates Virginia law, which they say allows children to undergo religious training at home without having to defend their beliefs.
School Board Chairperson Michael Payne said the board was advised that the policy is ‘legally sound’ and that they were ‘doing the right thing’ by implementing the policy. The board is encouraging comments at their meeting Tuesday, and the Hoefts said they plan to challenge the policy.
Watch this WTVR report: