Invest in Freedom: Attend Your State’s Capitol Day

Homeschool Iowa’s Capitol Day

On March 4, more than 1,200 parents and children gathered in Des Moines, Iowa’s state capital, to participate in their state’s largest field trip—Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day!

A tradition for three decades now, this year’s capitol day was uniquely timed. In early February, the Iowa Department of Education published proposed changes to Chapter 31, the part of Iowa State Code that deals with private instruction, including homeschooling. By the time a February 27 hearing was held on the regulations, more than 750 comments had been submitted by homeschoolers to the Iowa Department of Education advocating for Homeschool Iowa’s (HI) and HSLDA’s requested changes.

The story gets better. Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day was held the same day the legislature’s rules review committee was slated to consider the proposed rules. While the committee meeting was eventually postponed, the presence of over 1,000 homeschoolers at the capitol definitely captured the attention of legislators and administrators involved with these proposed rules.

The state of Iowa enjoys immense homeschool freedom, and yet they continue to invest annually in a very effective, strategic capitol day. Publicized on its website as an “entertaining, educational, impactful experience,” Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day lives up to the billing.

These are just some of the 1,000 parents and children who attended Homeschool Iowa’s Capitol Day on March 4!

The impact comes as real-life homeschoolers meet with their legislators to make a connection and develop a positive relationship. The education occurs as parents and children learn more about the legislative process in a hands-on environment. HI provides training workshops, tours of the capitol, and engaging speakers during the course of capitol day—all designed for the entire family.

Having families attend is an essential element of HI’s Capitol Day. As coordinator Jeremy Vos says, “We get comments every year from capitol security, legislators, and tour guides who love our homeschool capitol day because the kids are so engaged, the families are happy, and they are passionate and positive about the homeschool message.”

Another highlight of this year’s capitol day was an address given by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to the entire group of homeschooling families in the capitol rotunda. Brenna, who was herself homeschooled, spoke of attending capitol days as a teenager and the importance of working for homeschooling freedom. Brenna and her husband are now homeschooling their own child. As HSLDA’s founder and former president Mike Farris says, “This is a generational win.”

Many who are intimidated by the thought of being active in the legislative process find attending a capitol day an “easy entry point,” providing a relaxing and enjoyable way to become familiar with what is involved.

One homeschooling mom put it this way:

When I first started coming to capitol day, I wasn’t sure what to do or what the purpose was. Now I understand that just showing up matters. The senators and representatives see you there and know that homeschoolers care about what is happening at the capitol. You don’t need to be nervous. Legislators are regular people, and they want to meet you!

Tennessee—then and now

1985 was a threatening time for homeschooling families in Tennessee to meet publicly, let alone at the state’s capitol.

Homeschooling in Tennessee was considered illegal, the state had no homeschool law, and five families were embroiled in costly legal battles. One family lost their home due to massive legal fees and heavy fines; others were jailed for truancy.

Yet Claiborne and Lana Thornton, founders of Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA), purposely chose this particular time, March 26, 1985, to host the first Homeschool Rally Day in their state.

Amazingly, more than 200 brave people showed up at the capitol in Nashville to make their voices heard.

“Our printed Rally Day invitations, delivered to our legislators in advance, invited them to our reception in the capitol cafeteria,” Claiborne recalls. “On that first Rally Day, mamas, daddies, and children welcomed our legislators into their cafeteria to see our curriculum and be served our homemade food. We definitely made an impact.”

I would agree, as just two months later, the Tennessee legislature legalized homeschooling, ending the intense hostility that had surrounded homeschooling families in that state.

The Thorntons, along with a host of volunteers, have continued to build on the legacy of that first Rally Day over the past 39 years.

Their consistent message resonates in their slogan: “Bringing the Good Report of Home Education in Tennessee to Our Lawmakers.” The Tennessee Rally Day remains an event that homeschoolers, legislators, and their staff look forward to annually.

Each year, THEA has an impressive opening ceremony with special speakers. In 2022, Rally Day began with prayer, followed by a homeschool choir singing The Star-Spangled Banner. Several legislators and outstanding students were recognized before Governor Bill Lee rose to address the gathered homeschoolers.

A choir and string quartet provided music, followed by another group of impressive students and speakers. A 16-page program for the event included photos and bios of over a dozen outstanding high school seniors—highlighting the success of homeschooled students.

As in 1985, Tennessee homeschoolers continue to provide food at their Rally Days. They host a catered luncheon for 400 people, including legislators, their staffs, the security detail, and the janitorial team—literally everybody in the building. Vibrant, engaging homeschooled teens (all members of the same choir) serve the meal.

During the day, families deliver gift bags with homemade cookies* and copies of the Rally Day program to every legislative office. Students set up displays of their work and discuss them with a host of legislators and their staff, who often want to talk to the kids more than the parents. Each family also meets with their own legislator, bringing an important, personal touch.

“They’re happy to see you,” Claiborne says. “They’re there to represent you, and almost invariably they will spend time with you.”

“It’s critical to sit down and talk with them, so that when issues come up about homeschooling, they will ‘see’ your face and your family as they cast their vote,” he adds. “This can be crucial to maintaining homeschool freedom for the long run.”

The Tennessee Rally Day has come a long way since 1985. But the goal remains the same—to provide a forum for homeschooling families that fosters positive interactions and relationships with their legislators.

Lana describes Rally Day as “an opportunity to celebrate our freedom and the vibrancy of home education in Tennessee. It is a day of thankfulness for God’s protection.”

The Thorntons are the first to encourage those who want to start a capitol day in their state to jump in and do it. Don’t be afraid to start with what you have and watch it grow.

“Don’t despise the day of small beginnings,” Lana says.

South Carolina is a case in point.

*Homeschooling families baked over 2,000 cookies to fill the gift bags!

South Carolina’s Capitol Day

Several years had passed since South Carolina Home Educators Association (SCHEA) had hosted its annual Homeschool Day at the Capitol. COVID-19 and other obstacles seemed to conspire against the event. In 2023, board members Janie Gibson and Kelly Rowe determined it was time to resurrect the tradition.

During past capitol days, SCHEA hosted speakers and workshops, provided meals for legislators, and created activities for the kids. This time, they decided to keep it simpler and focus on three main goals:

1. Tell the history of homeschooling to an entirely new generation of homeschooling families.
2. Introduce homeschooling families to our state representatives.
3. Provide an engaging opportunity for children and teens to get involved in civics and understand more fully the rights and duties of citizenship.

“We must cherish our freedom,” Janie says. “If we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it. Capitol day is the perfect time to see our beautiful State House, picnic on the grounds, and tour the Governor’s Mansion . . . to meet the legislators elected to represent us, to take time to pray for them while we’re there and to be encouraged as we gather with homeschoolers from all across the state,” she added. “There is truly power in numbers!”

Janie and Kelley invited me to speak at South Carolina’s 2023 capitol day because I am part of the history we don’t want to forget.

When I began homeschooling in 1984, the state superintendent of education threatened me with jail. Miraculously, I never went to jail, but the trauma of that experience propelled me to work for homeschool freedom for all parents in our state.

The next eight years for South Carolina homeschoolers were filled with the labor-intensive work of grassroots legislative efforts, as well as an unrelenting load of lawsuits filed and tried by Mike Farris, HSLDA’s then-president, and DeWitt Black, HSLDA’s longtime attorney for South Carolina. Families across the state now enjoy tremendous homeschool freedom, thanks to the grace of God, the hard work of dozens of families, and the perseverance of HSLDA.

North Dakota homeschoolers host a Tea Party

In the 1980s, North Dakota had one of the most restrictive laws in the country, requiring teacher certification of all homeschooling parents.

“Their legislature was out of step with the rest of the country, and it was obvious that they needed to change the homeschool law,” says Mike Farris. “The best way to prove this was to bring leaders from all over the country to rally at the state capitol.”

While planning his speech for the rally, Mike struck on a phrase: The consent of the governed should apply to homeschoolers too. “The idea of a tea party hit me.”

Mike Farris, brandishing a tea bag, speaks at the North Dakota Tea Party in 1989.

Mike shared the idea with Clinton Birst, then-president of the North Dakota Home School Association, and he immediately embraced it.

When Mike arrived in Bismarck on February 20, 1989, a homeschool mom took him to Kmart, where he proceeded to buy every box of Lipton^® tea in the store. Then they stapled a little blue slip of paper to each tea bag with the message: “The consent of the governed for homeschooling too.”

The next day, Mike, together with North Dakota homeschooling families and leaders from around the country, handed out 3,000 tea bags to not only every legislator but also every person in the building, including those in the Department of Licensing and the Department of Agriculture. (The only exceptions were the Supreme Court justices.)

The North Dakota Tea Party was a very creative—and effective—capitol day.

“The legislature was embarrassed, and the Tea Party broke the log jam,” Mike says. “Later that year, North Dakota passed a much more reasonable law.”

Idaho’s Pie Day

Not all capitol days look alike, nor should they.

“You have to know your state and what your legislature is like,” says Linda Patchin, president of Homeschool Idaho. “Our legislators did not like rallies or loud people and speakers on the capitol steps. They preferred one-on-one interactions and quiet events. And so ours is a more formal event.”^[1]

In 1992, Representative Fred Tilman was appointed as the Chairman of the House Education Committee. He was a homeschooling dad, a rarity in state legislatures in the early 1990s. Realizing he often heard about homeschooling, but not from homeschooling families themselves, he encouraged Res and Barry Peters to begin a lobbying organization, which became known as the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators (ICHE).^[2]

In 1993, ICHE decided to host an event at the capitol where legislators and homeschooling families could meet each other face-to-face.

In Idaho, almost every sponsored event involved food, but ICHE didn’t have the money for catering. Rep. Tilman pointed out, “These legislators are away from home, and they would go nuts for some homemade food.” Agreeing that something homemade fit the bill, they wondered what would be unique and nostalgic.

“Nothing speaks as eloquently of downhome goodness as homemade pie,” someone said.

And Pie Day was born.

Homeschoolers rolled up their sleeves and started baking.

But who would serve all the pie at the capitol?

There was one homeschooling mom whose father and father-in-law both served as senators in the Idaho legislature. Both sets of grandparents (the senators and their wives) were supportive of their grandchildren being homeschooled, and these grandmothers became the designated pie servers. Here’s how Linda sets the scene:

The “two grandmas” were charming, beloved women who had magnetic personalities that drew people in. They cut and served pie for hours, greeting legislators by first names, with hugs and expression of genuine interest in their lives. They were even able to bring in the most ardent opponent of home education.

Legislators made their way up to the fourth floor because they wanted to chat with these dear women, and while they were at it, they might as well try a piece of pie. They felt foolish grabbing pie and running, so they made the circle around the rotunda to meet the kids. And before they knew what was happening, they found themselves engaged in conversation with some bright homeschooled students.

Today, it requires 300 pies to serve everyone. Moms, dads, and kids continue to bake pies, including gluten-free and sugar-free options, and slices are available for everyone who comes by.

At capitol days, homeschoolers are often grappling with bad legislation and other serious concerns. It can be hard to fathom that something as simple as pie can be a game changer. (Although there is nothing simple about baking 300 pies.)

But according to Linda, everybody loves Pie Day.

“At the beginning of the legislative session, they all ask, ‘When’s Pie Day?’” she says. “And they write it on their calendars. They can’t wait for it.”

Legislators with access to freezers even bring their own ice cream in anticipation of Pie Day.

The pie draws in legislators, who then meet and interact with homeschoolers—from student musicians who play throughout the day in the rotunda to students who display projects about a subject they are studying or are passionate about. It’s an amazing opportunity for legislators to engage in meaningful conversations with homeschooling students, who are more than willing to talk to them and answer their questions!

Homeschool Idaho continues to approach Pie Day with one simple message: “We ask for nothing but our freedom!”

Just 15 minutes can change minds

Nathan Pierce, the Executive Director of Family Protection Ministries (FPM) in California, says that that capitol days are of critical importance because they bring in families. “Nobody else brings families to the capitols,” he said. This makes homeschool capitol days unique—and effective. Legislators across the country comment on how refreshing it is to see parents flock to their state houses with children in tow.

Homeschooling families in California meet their representatives and learn how to defend homeschool freedom at FPM’s Capitol Day 2023.

Nathan understands that when a legislator meets a homeschool family and has a chance to interact with the children, it can be a game changer.

“There are so many stereotypes out there, so many stories floating around the capitol about what homeschooling is like,” he says. “And most of them are total mischaracterizations. We’ve had legislators make a full 180-degree turnaround in their position on homeschooling from just a 15-minute meeting with a child, a teen, or a parent.”

Preparation builds confidence

Civic and legislative involvement can be intimidating, so many state organizations that host capitol days offer homeschoolers some type of training to prepare them.

FPM, for example, offers a wide variety of training opportunities for families and their children. The California capitol day experience prepares parents and children to meet their legislators and to follow up with them afterwards.

FPM also offers Homeschool Freedom Day, another advocacy training opportunity where Nathan and special speakers talk about homeschool freedom and how to protect it. Other topics include information on the legislative process and how to engage, how to effectively speak with a legislator or a staff member, and why families’ civic involvement is crucial.

In 2023, Homeschool New York (HSNY) invited me to participate in their Legislative Day.

The night before the Legislative Day, Generation Joshua, along with experienced young adults from HSNY, provided the training for teens. HSLDA Senior Counsel Tj Schmidt, New York board member Jen Snyder, and I provided training for the adults.

Instruction for both groups helped participants better understand the legislative process in New York, as well as the current bills that were being supported or opposed. More importantly, HSNY wanted to help those attending “understand the history of our movement, where we stand today, and what the future may hold.”^[3] This is particularly important for New York families who are under restrictive homeschool law.

Capitol days are for everyone

Homeschoolers in New York consider Legislative Day an integral part of their ongoing quest for a less restrictive homeschool law. On the other hand, based on my conversations with homeschool leaders in states like Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, and Florida, they view their capitol days as a means to protect the freedoms they currently enjoy.

Capitol day organizers and volunteers have cooked thousands of meals and baked thousands of pies and cookies. They have rented facilities, hired caterers, and encouraged hundreds of students to put together displays of their work for legislators to enjoy. And—somehow—this feels like only the tip of the iceberg.

They have volunteered an untold number of hours to create capitol days that provide a platform for families like yours to engage with their legislators on a personal level.

If you add only one field trip to your school schedule next year, choose your state’s capitol day. What an amazing learning adventure it will be! There will always be reasons not to go—inclement weather, other obligations, or a long drive.

We need to remember that freedom isn’t free and it certainly isn’t convenient. Make an intentional investment in homeschool freedom and plan now to attend your state’s capitol day in 2025.

The state of homeschool freedom today

The tides have turned for homeschooling freedom since the mid-1980s. HSLDA President Jim Mason has seen it happen firsthand. 

“In the capitol days I attended in the early years, we would seek out a legislator who supported homeschooling,” he says. “Then, a little bit later, we would find a legislator who was homeschooling his own children.”

“In the course of time, we began to see more state legislators around the country who were homeschooled themselves and are now homeschooling their own kids,” he continues.

Homeschool freedom has flourished over the past 40 years in the United States, but that doesn’t mean the homeschooling movement no longer has opponents. To find out more, read Homeschool Freedom: How It Works and Why We Must Protect It—a collection of essays written by HSLDA attorneys and edited by Mason and former HSLDA President J. Michael Smith. This book is available from the HSLDA Store.

And remember Linda Patchin’s warning: “You have to keep a presence at your state legislature every year, or they can forget you in one election cycle.”

Capitol days have been a driving, pivotal force in gaining and maintaining homeschool freedom for almost 40 years—and they remain essential today. Every capitol day represents an opportunity for homeschooling parents, teens, and children to engage in the legislative process, build relationships with their representatives, and ensure that their voices are heard—to preserve the principles of freedom we hold so dearly.

To find out the date for your state's capitol day, visit homeschoolfreedom.com/capitol-days.