HSLDA stands for Home School Legal Defense Association.

HSLDA is an advocacy organization committed to making homeschooling possible. We defend homeschool freedom, provide legal protection to homeschool families, offer grants to homeschool families who are facing hard times, and provide educational resources and support for homeschoolers. Learn more about what we do here.

Yes. HSLDA’s leaders, directors, and employees are Christians who seek to honor God by providing the very highest levels of service in defending homeschool freedom and equipping homeschoolers. And because of our beliefs, we want every family to have the freedom to direct their children’s education, no matter their background or religious affiliation. Therefore, we do not make religious beliefs a condition of membership or any other service we offer. You can learn more about HSLDA here.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, HSLDA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

Our sister organization, HSLDA Action, is a 501(c)(4) organization and is permitted to endorse political candidates and engage in lobbying that is germane to its purposes. HSLDA Action’s Political Action Committee endorses candidates who support homeschool freedom and lobbies on behalf of homeschool freedom.

HSLDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, religious, membership organization that advocates for homeschooling, defends the civil rights of homeschoolers, and provides assistance to homeschoolers in hard times. We are governed by a board and no profits inure to the benefit of any employees or board members. Membership dues are not tax-deductible, but as a 501(c)(3), we are able to receive tax-deductible donations. Learn more about HSLDA here.

HSLDA was founded in 1983 by Mike Farris at a time when homeschooling was almost nonexistent and even illegal in many states.

As a homeschool dad and attorney, Farris realized that there was a need to defend homeschool families’ right to direct their child’s education. He rallied the support of Mike Smith—who was also an attorney and homeschooling father—around the idea of starting a nonprofit membership organization aimed at making homeschooling legal in every state. Smith joined as a member of the founding board of directors of Home School Legal Defense Association. Together with the growing HSLDA staff, they worked to fight for homeschool freedom and meet the needs of their member families.

Today, homeschooling is legal in every state—but that doesn’t mean our work is done. We continue to protect and advance the freedom to homeschool, defend member families facing legal challenges, and equip homeschooling parents to give their children the best possible educational experience.

Learn more about the history of the homeschool movement and HSLDA here.