Connecticut State Alert: Oppose H.B. 5468

We are forwarding the following message from HSLDA staff attorney Ralph Rodriguez regarding legislation in Connecticut, because we share these concerns and believe they have been clearly articulated:

AT A GLANCE

• PRF's and HSLDA’s Position: Oppose
  
• Why It Matters: This bill makes a family’s ability to homeschool conditional on a state review tied to DCF involvement and expands oversight mechanisms.
• Bill Status: A substitute bill has been drafted and is advancing in the legislature.
• Take Action: Contact your state representative and ask them to oppose H.B. 5468.

A substitute version of H.B. 5468 has been introduced. While some provisions have been removed, the bill continues to move in a direction that raises serious concerns for homeschool families in Connecticut.

We encourage you to contact your state representative and urge them to oppose H.B. 5468.

HOW WE GOT HERE

Earlier versions of this bill included requirements that families submit portfolios or standardized test results to demonstrate educational progress. Those provisions have been removed.

However, the substitute bill retains and expands the core regulatory framework. It also changes the terminology used to describe homeschooling, replacing “equivalent instruction” with “parent-managed learning.” This reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of home education. Homeschooling is not something parents “manage” on behalf of the state. It is something they own as a matter of responsibility and right.

WHAT STILL RAISES CONCERN

The most significant concern is the bill’s expanded connection between homeschooling and the Department of Children and Families.

Under this proposal, a parent’s decision to withdraw a child from public school to homeschool is not immediately effective. Instead, the withdrawal is delayed while the school district requests a review from DCF. That review now extends beyond the parent or guardian to include all adults residing in the household. It also includes checks not only for substantiated findings, but for broader forms of DCF involvement.

If the state determines that certain conditions are met, the withdrawal is deemed ineffective, and the child may not be withdrawn for homeschooling. This creates a system where a lawful educational decision is conditioned on a state determination unrelated to academic instruction.

The bill also introduces new enforcement mechanisms. If a parent fails to submit required continuation paperwork, the school district must make multiple attempts to contact the family and, if unsuccessful, notify the Department of Education. This formalizes a process of escalation that did not previously exist.

In addition, while the portfolio review requirement has been removed, parents are still required to retain educational records, and the Department of Education is given authority to develop guidance governing homeschooling practices. This maintains a framework for ongoing oversight even in the absence of a formal annual review.

Taken together, these provisions represent a shift away from Connecticut’s longstanding approach of trusting parents and toward a system of monitoring and conditional approval.

It is also important to note that there is no evidence that homeschooling as a form of education is predictive of child abuse or neglect. Policies that link educational choice to child welfare systems should be carefully scrutinized and grounded in evidence.

ACTION NEEDED

Please contact your state representative and respectfully ask them to oppose H.B. 5468.

Let them know:

• This bill makes a parent’s ability to homeschool conditional on state review tied to DCF involvement.
• It expands oversight to include all adults in the household and broader categories of DCF contact.
• It introduces escalation and reporting mechanisms that did not previously exist.
• Homeschooling is a fundamental parental right and should not be treated as a basis for additional scrutiny.
• Existing laws already allow the state to intervene when there is evidence of abuse or neglect.

Your continued engagement is critical as this bill moves forward.

BIG PICTURE

Homeschooling has long been protected as a fundamental aspect of parental responsibility and authority. Connecticut’s current framework reflects that principle by allowing families to educate their children at home while preserving the state’s ability to act when there is evidence of harm.

This bill moves away from that balance by linking homeschooling to systems designed for child protection, even where there is no evidence that such a connection is warranted.

We are grateful for the many families who have remained engaged throughout this process.