Latest Updates

May 8 | Amendment Failed

The home study amendment was debated on the Senate floor but was ultimately defeated.

While we are glad that this last-minute amendment was defeated, it is a sobering reminder that threats to homeschool freedom can strike anywhere, at any time. Additionally, the original language in H.930 (which the House did pass) calls on the Agency of Education to submit a written report to the legislature on recommendations for Vermont’s home study programs in the future—so this is unlikely to be the last time efforts are made to restrict homeschool freedom.

May 8 | Amendment Scheduled for Consideration in the Senate

H. 930 was introduced on February 5 by the House Committee on Education to address chronic absenteeism, but it did not impact home study families. A new amendment proposed by Senator Gulick would add an additional, vague step to the home study enrollment process.

This amendment is going to be discussed by the Senate today! Please contact your Senator and ask them to reject the proposed home study amendment to H.930. Click here to contact your Senator.

Summary of H.930

In its current form, H. 930 addresses chronic absenteeism and does not directly impact home study families. The proposed amendment by Senator Gulick would impact home study families as it would require the Agency of Education to notify the superintendent of the student’s resident school district about the home study enrollment application. It would also direct the superintendent and the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to notify the Agency if there are “documented and unresolved concerns” related to child welfare, educational neglect, or truancy involving the student.

Under current law, once a family submits a complete home study enrollment notice, the Secretary of Education must send the family a written acknowledgment within 10 business days. This acknowledgment serves as sufficient verification of enrollment. The proposed amendment would add a new step before that acknowledgment is issued.

It would condition home study acknowledgment on a vague pre-enrollment review involving both the school district and DCF. Families who submit a complete home study notice should not be placed in legal limbo because of undefined “documented and unresolved concerns” that may be unrelated to their ability to provide instruction.

The amendment also fails to address several important concerns. It does not define what qualifies as a “documented and unresolved concern,” identify who makes that determination, explain how old a concern may be, or clarify whether an unsubstantiated allegation would be enough. It also does not explain what happens after the agency receives such a notice, whether the family may begin home study while the concern is reviewed, or whether parents would receive notice, an opportunity to respond, a hearing, or an appeal.

Parents have a constitutional right to direct the education of their children, including the right to home educate. Agency staff should not be placed in the position of restricting that right based on vague standards and without due process protections, especially when this language has not been fully vetted by the committee.

In addition, enrollment in a home study program is already a statutory solution to truancy. If a child is not properly enrolled in school, home study enrollment is one of the lawful ways a parent can bring the child into compliance with Vermont’s compulsory attendance law. This amendment risks making it harder for families to resolve attendance issues by creating a new barrier before home study acknowledgment is issued.

Amendment Text:

Sec. 7a. 16 V.S.A. § 166b(b) is amended to read:

(b) Enrollment.

 “(1) Prior to acknowledgement of enrollment as required pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Secretary or designee shall provide notice of the enrollment application to the superintendent of the student’s resident school district. The superintendent and the Department for Children and Families shall notify the Agency if there are documented and unresolved - 2503 - concerns related to child welfare, educational neglect, or truancy involving the student, to the extent allowed by law.”