Chairpersons, Ranking Members, and distinguished members of the Education Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding HB 5468.
While I respect the legislature’s responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of children in our state, I must respectfully oppose this proposal because it places an unnecessary and inequitable burden on families who choose to homeschool their children.
Beyond the logistical burden, this requirement effectively establishes a statewide registry of homeschooling families. The creation of such a registry raises legitimate concerns about privacy and government overreach and may have a chilling effect on families who otherwise would exercise their lawful right to educate their children at home.
As drafted, HB 5468 would require parents to personally appear each year at their local school district office to attest that they are providing homeschool instruction. For many families, this requirement creates a real and recurring barrier. Parents who homeschool often do so because they have chosen a more flexible educational model—one that allows them to tailor instruction around work schedules, family needs, or special educational circumstances. Requiring them to travel annually to a government office simply to reaffirm that decision imposes a bureaucratic hurdle that other parents are not asked to overcome.
Connecticut has long recognized the principle of “equivalent instruction,” trusting parents to take responsibility for their children’s education. That framework has worked for decades without subjecting homeschooling families to unnecessary administrative oversight.
To be clear, the state unquestionably has a duty to protect vulnerable children, particularly those under the supervision of the Department of Children and Families. But that objective can and should be pursued through targeted measures focused on children who are already known to be at risk. Broad new requirements that apply to every homeschooling family—most of whom are law-abiding and deeply committed to their children’s education—are neither the most effective nor the most appropriate solution.
At a time when many Connecticut residents already feel that personal liberties are steadily shrinking, we should be cautious about imposing additional mandates that expand government tracking of lawful family choices.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to reject HB 5468 or substantially revise it to avoid creating unnecessary barriers and privacy concerns for homeschooling families.
Thank you for your time and consideration, Erin E. Stewart