Connecticut’s new homeschool law treats every homeschool family in the state like a suspect. Even though the law doesn’t go into effect until 2027, we aren’t going to wait until then to challenge the law.
Public Act 26-37, signed by Gov. Lamont on May 26, requires local school districts to automatically refer any family that withdraws a child from public school for homeschooling to the state's Department of Children and Families. No allegation of wrongdoing. No court order. The mere decision to homeschool triggers a government records check.
That's not just bad policy—we believe it's illegal. HSLDA has filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Education, arguing that Connecticut's mandatory disclosure scheme violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal law that protects your children's education records from being shared without your consent.
"This law treats every homeschooling family as a suspect," said HSLDA President Jim Mason. "No individualized concern, no allegation of wrongdoing, no court order. Simply a parent's decision to educate their own child triggers a government records check. That is not what FERPA permits, and we have asked the US Department of Education to enforce federal privacy laws."
Our complaint lays out three core problems: the law forces disclosure of protected student and family information, the records check isn't an educational function FERPA allows for, and the law goes far beyond the narrow exception Congress created for sharing information with child welfare agencies. It also imposes a 14-day waiting period before a withdrawal takes effect and permanently bars homeschooling for any family with a household member on the state's abuse and neglect registry—even when that placement is later overturned, which happens often.
HSLDA is committed to defending your freedom to educate your children at home. That's why we're here. We'll keep you updated as this complaint moves forward, and we won't stop working to protect your right to homeschool.