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Jan. 13 | Introduced and assigned to the Assembly Education Committee
A.1886 was introduced on January 13 by Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker and referred to the Assembly Education Committee. There are currently no hearings scheduled for this bill.
Please urge Assemblywoman Tucker to withdraw the bill if you live in her district (District 28, Essex County).
Summary of A. 1886
Assembly Bill 1886 would create a new annual reporting requirement for homeschool families in New Jersey.
Under the bill, parents would be required to submit a letter each year—by August 15—to the superintendent of their local school district stating their intent to homeschool for the upcoming school year. The bill would also require school districts to maintain a record of each homeschooled child’s name, age, and place of residence.
New Jersey law currently does not require homeschool families to file an annual notice with school districts or require districts to keep records of homeschooled students. A.1886 would mark a departure from that long-standing framework.
HSLDA opposes A.1886 for the following reasons:
- Creates government oversight where none is justified. The bill assumes homeschool families must be tracked by school districts despite no evidence of widespread educational or child-welfare concerns.
- Establishes a registration-style system. While described as “notice,” the bill would require annual reporting to the school district and formal recordkeeping, effectively creating a homeschool registry.
- Sets the stage for future regulation. History shows that once reporting systems are put in place, additional requirements often follow, expanding what families must submit and what districts may request.
- Undermines New Jersey’s long-standing approach to homeschooling. Homeschooling has thrived in New Jersey without mandatory annual notification or district recordkeeping. A.1886 shifts the state away from trust in families toward routine administrative oversight.