Gov. Dave Heineman opposes a bill in the Legislature that would require home-schooled students to take standardized tests, he told more than 600 home-schooled students and their parents at the Capitol Wednesday.

“If that bill comes across my desk, then I will veto it,” he said. “But I think if we all do our homework, then it won’t make it to my desk.”

Heineman spoke during the Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association annual Home Educators Legislative Day.

Other state officials who spoke included State Auditor Mike Foley and state Sens. Carol Hudkins of Malcolm, Tony Fulton of Lincoln and Phil Erdman of Bayard.

The event was held to teach home-schoolers about how legislation works. Home-schooling families also got to meet senators from their districts to talk about LB1141, a bill introduced by Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln that would require standardized testing of home-schooled students.

Schimek’s bill says children in all exempt schools must be evaluated annually using a nationally recognized standardized test or another assessment developed or approved by the state commissioner of education.

Instead of the annual test, a parent could offer all of these: a book of lesson plans or other written records of subjects and activities; a portfolio of the child’s work including a curriculum outline; copies of homework or class work and projects; and other tests taken by the student. The information would be reviewed and reported to the state by a certified educator.

The annual assessment would be conducted by the commissioner or a designee.

If the student has failed to make adequate progress, he or she would have to attend an accredited school at the beginning of the next school year.

Jeff Collins, 38, of Lincoln, attended the Legislative Day. He said he has eight children and home schools five of them with his wife, Julie, 40.

“I am very much opposed to the state regulating our teaching,” Collins said. “I think education is more than just standardized testing.”

Reach Argenis Villa at 473-7438 or avilla@journalstar.com.