Latest Updates

Mar. 18 | Bill passed by House Education Committee

H.B. 5468 was voted out of the Joint Education Committee by a narrow margin of 6 votes. It will now move to the full House of Representatives.

Thank you to everyone who engaged on House Bill 5468—whether by testifying, submitting written comments, or contacting your legislators. Your efforts made a real impact and ensured that lawmakers heard directly from the families affected by this bill.

While this is not the outcome we were hoping for at this stage, it is important to remember: The process is not over. Your voice matters at every stage of this process! Legislators are paying attention, and your outreach will make a difference as this bill moves forward.

There is still time to stop this legislation. Please reach out to your representative and respectfully ask them to oppose H.B. 5468.

Mar. 17 | Bill to be voted on March 18 @ 10 a.m.

We have just received word that CT HB 5468 will be voted on at 10 a.m. on March 18 by the House Education Committee. Here's what you can do:

  1. Respectfully ask your legislators to vote no. (Find members of the committee here).
  2. If you are able, please come to the Legislative Office Building at 10:00 am to show your support of homeschool freedom: Room 1D, 300 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106
  3. Watch the hearing

Mar. 12 | Bill heard in committee; waiting on a vote

The public hearing on H.B. 5468 began at 10:15 a.m. on March 11 and lasted nearly 19 hours, with hundreds of parents, students, educators, and advocates testifying. An overwhelming number of speakers voiced serious concerns about the bill and the impact it would have on homeschooling families across the state.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to the many homeschool families who took the time to travel, wait for hours, and testify. Your voices mattered. Legislators heard directly from the families who would be affected by this proposal, and your thoughtful testimony helped highlight the real-world consequences of expanding government oversight of home education.

We are also grateful to the over 3,000 people who submitted written testimony, and the many who followed the hearing online.

While the hearing has concluded, the process is not over. Members of the Education Committee will now consider the testimony they received before deciding whether to advance H.B. 5468.

Your continued engagement is vital:

1. Contact your legislators

Please respectfully ask your state senator and state representative to oppose H.B. 5468, regardless of whether they are on the Education Committee. 

Let them know that:

  • Homeschool families should not be subjected to unnecessary regulatory oversight.
  • Connecticut’s current framework already allows the state to intervene when legitimate concerns arise.
  • Reforms aimed at protecting children should focus on strengthening the child protection system rather than regulating families who are lawfully educating their children.

In particular, you can contact the chairs of the Education Committee:

2. Thank legislators who raised concerns

If your legislator expressed concerns about the bill during the hearing, take a moment to thank them. Encouragement from constituents helps reinforce thoughtful leadership.


We will continue monitoring developments and will keep you informed about next steps. If the bill advances, additional action will be needed.

Mar. 5 | Bill waiting to be scheduled for a hearing

H.B. 5468 was introduced on March 5 by the Joint Committee on Education and is scheduled to be heard on March 11. Watch the committee hearing here.

Two ways to take action:

1. Attend the hearing or give written testimony (see details)

If possible, plan to attend the hearing on March 11 at 10:15 a.m. in opposition to H.B. 5468. Review helpful tips for attending a public hearing from our friends at TEACH CT.

Room 1E
Legislative Office Building
300 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106

You can submit written testimony against H.B. 5468 or you can register to speak and give verbal testimony during the hearing (in person or over Zoom).

2. Contact your legislators (see details)

Please contact the members of the Education Committee to ask them to vote no on H.B. 5468. Include a few reasons why you oppose the various oversight mechanisms on homeschool families presented in the bill.

If your legislator is on the Education Committee, it is particularly helpful to contact them. (Not sure who your legislator is? You can find them here.)

If your legislator is not on the committee, please reach out to the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the committee.


Watch a brief video update from Ralph Rodriguez.

Summary of H.B. 5468

House Bill 5468 would drastically expand government oversight of homeschooling in Connecticut. The bill would require families to register with their school district, submit annual continuation forms, and demonstrate their child’s education through state-approved methods. Together, these changes would establish a system of registration, reporting, and government oversight of homeschooling that Connecticut law has historically avoided.

What HB 5468 Requires

House Bill 5468 would establish a new statutory framework governing families who provide “equivalent instruction,” commonly known as homeschooling. H.B. 5468 would:

  • Require parents to file an in-person intent to educate form with their local school district before providing equivalent instruction.
  • Require homeschooling families to submit an annual continuation form confirming that they are continuing to homeschool.
  • Require parents to demonstrate their child’s education annually through a portfolio review, standardized testing, or another approved method.
  • Direct the state to collect and maintain information about children receiving equivalent instruction.
  • Trigger automatic coordination with the Department of Children and Families when students are withdrawn from public school.

Taken together, these provisions would create a system of registration, annual reporting, and government oversight of homeschooling that Connecticut law has historically avoided.

Why HB 5468 is Problematic

Connecticut has long trusted parents to direct their children’s education without unnecessary government interference. HB 5468 would represent a major shift away from that approach.

Connecticut law currently affords parents the freedom to provide home education without mandatory registration, annual government filings, or state evaluation of their child’s education. HB 5468 would mandate each of those steps and place homeschooling families under a system of ongoing government oversight and scrutiny.

The bill also creates significant potential for uneven enforcement and inconsistent interpretation across school districts. As seen in other high regulation states, districts may apply the law differently when determining whether a family has demonstrated compliance. This could lead to confusion, disputes, and uncertainty for families who are trying to educate their children.

Homeschooling is effective precisely because it allows parents the freedom and flexibility to tailor education to each child’s needs. Families choose to homeschool so they can adapt curriculum, teaching methods, pacing, and support to the individual strengths and needs of their children. A system that requires families to satisfy government reviewers about whether their educational approach is acceptable undermines that freedom and flexibility.

Parents should not be treated as though they require government supervision simply because they have chosen to educate their children at home. Policies that broadly regulate all homeschooling families must be met with zealous opposition.

Conclusion

H.B. 5468 would fundamentally change Connecticut’s longstanding approach to homeschooling by replacing trust in parents with a system of registration, reporting, and government oversight. Lawmakers should reject this bill and preserve the freedom Connecticut families have long relied on to direct their children’s education.

Read H.B. 5468 »