Connecticut governor signs controversial homeschooling law

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, on Tuesday signed Public Act 26-37 into law, greatly expanding the state’s regulation of homeschooling. The law requires parents to submit annual forms disclosing their intent to educate their children at home, which feeds a state registry. The law also mandates a list of subjects to be taught at home, including reading, writing, math, geography, and the history and government of the students’ town, state, and nation.

If a parent wants to withdraw his or her child from public school to begin homeschooling, the law also says that withdrawal can’t occur until the school superintendent’s office conducts a background check. If a parent or other adult in the home is listed on state child abuse or neglect registries, or is under investigation for such conduct, his or her child won’t be allowed to withdraw from public school.

Some provisions of the law take effect in 2027, though most begin in July 2028.

What did proponents of the law say? The Coalition for Responsible Home Education commended Connecticut for passing the law, saying that the new requirements would diminish risks of child abuse. The law provided basic accountability, the coalition said.

What about critics? The Home School Legal Defense Association wrote that the law’s background check requirement removed the longstanding legal tradition of assuming that parents act in their child’s best interest. Instead, the law treated every family as a potential threat to kids, the organization argued.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Nebraska’s recent law banning parents with abuse convictions from homeschooling.