'Most shocking': State insists it needs 'surveillance state' for homeschoolers

[rangerrebew]

'Most shocking': State insists it needs 'surveillance state' for homeschoolers
'A significant shift in how homeschooling families are treated under the law'

By
WND Staff

March 23, 2026
 
A lawyer for the Home School Legal Defense Association has posted a column at the Federalist that essentially describes how lawmakers in Connecticut are pursuing a "surveillance state" for homeschool families.

It's because lawmakers there are calling for vast new restrictions on homeschool families, new demands for them to meet, and much more.

Ralph Rodriguez of the HSLDA described how the state would force families to provide annual notification paperwork, education portfolios, and data that the government would collect and record.

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"Most shocking of all the proposals, the bill would also require parents to obtain permission to homeschool from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in certain circumstances," he warned in a statement at the association's web page.

https://www.wnd.com/2026/03/most-shocking-state-insists-it-needs-surveillance-state/

[rangerrebew]

Will that apply to Muslims or will they be exempted?

[verga]

 

[PeteS in CA]

Striking: CT Moves to Increase Regs While NH Removes Them

https://hslda.org/post/striking-ct-moves-to-increase-regs-while-nh-removes-them

In New Hampshire, the House passed H.B. 1268, legislation that would remove nearly all mandatory administrative requirements currently imposed on homeschool families. If enacted, the bill would eliminate requirements such as notification to the state, portfolios of student work, and annual evaluations. The proposal reflects a simple reality: homeschooling families do not need layers of bureaucracy to educate their children successfully.

Just a few hours away in Connecticut, however, lawmakers were considering the opposite approach.
...
On Wednesday, the Connecticut Joint Education Committee held a 19-hour public hearing on H.B. 5468, a bill that would impose new regulatory burdens on homeschooling families in a state that has historically respected homeschool freedom. Rodriguez has been monitoring developments in both states and was in Hartford on Wednesday to stand with Connecticut homeschooling families as they spoke out against H.B. 5468.

The proposal would make sweeping changes to the Connecticut homeschool law. It require significant additional oversight when parents withdraw their children from public school. Families would be required to submit annual notification paperwork and education portfolios, and the government would collect and record data on homeschool families.

Most shocking of all the proposals, the bill would also require parents to obtain permission to homeschool from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in certain circumstances.

“One of the most troubling aspects of the proposal is the idea that parents could need permission from a child welfare agency before teaching their own children at home,” noted Rodriguez. “That represents a significant shift in how homeschooling families are treated under the law.”

That last mentioned provision may be contrary to existing USSC decisions.

In the real world, on average homeschooled students do better academically than PS students. This has been shown in years past with homeschooled students doing better on the ACT, and many universities welcome (= not just admit) homeschooled students. All the extra oversight would be useless, burdening bureaucrats, accomplishing zero, burdening homeschooling parents, and intimidating and discouraging parents considering homeschooling. IMO, those last two are the true intent of the legislation, suppressing homeschooling.

I have had a horse in this race in years past. My wife and I homeschooled our munchkins "K-12" and we started and for several years led a homeschooling support group that grew to 120 families in our last year of leadership. Between the support group, various activities for homeschooled students, and volunteering at conventions, we were acquainted with over a thousand homeschooling families.

[DB]

Just trying to shield the teacher's union from competition. It is always about power and money, not the students.