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Generally, yes. HSLDA’s mission of making homeschooling possible extends to helping families whose decision to homeschool subjects them to suspicions of abuse or neglect.

Many reports to child protective services (CPS) arise from a misunderstanding about homeschooling—a neighbor may see children playing outside during school hours and think that the parents are allowing them to be truant. CPS investigators and law enforcement personnel then insist they be allowed to interview the children and search the family’s home without a warrant. And if the parents are hesitant about allowing the interview or home visit, the investigators may use threats of removing the children to get the parents to comply.

We agree with what the US Court of Appeals said in the Calabretta case: “The government’s interest in the welfare of children embraces not only protecting children from physical abuse, but also protecting children’s interest in the privacy and dignity of their homes and in the lawfully exercised authority of their parents.”

Because the right to be secure in your home is essential to your right to homeschool, we generally assist our members in an initial contact with CPS investigators to ensure that their constitutional rights are protected.

Once the initial contact is over, HSLDA’s ability to continue assisting you depends on several factors, including whether the investigation is predominated by nonhomeschooling issues outside our mission. As with all litigation matters, we assess these factors on a case-by-case basis.

NEWS

Official Fails to Notice Homeschool Notice … Files Charges

Even though this brand-new homeschool family followed the rules for filing a notice, they still received a summons to court. And then they called HSLDA.
ARTICLE

CPS Pays $700,000 to Homeschool Mom

Vanessa and her children had been homeschooling for seven years, when a CPS investigator took her children. HSLDA got them reunited—then we filed a lawsuit.
NEWS

NEWS

NEWS

Attorney General Agrees with HSLDA On Right to Take Public School Classes

Unlike many other states, South Dakota permits homeschool students to enroll part-time in public school classes.
NEWS

HSLDA Asks Supporters to Send Letter to Their Superintendent Immediately

As we point out in our letter, officials at several public school districts have told homeschooling parents that if they do not provide this information their children will be considered truant.
NEWS

Social Security vs. Homeschoolers: The Battle Intensifies

The number of families requesting help in having Social Security benefits restored for students has tripled in the last five years.
NEWS

COVID-19 Panic Leads to False CPS Report

A perfectly normal trip to the bank ended in this family being investigated by CPS.
VIDEO

Handcuffed in her kitchen—Josilyn’s story: Worcester, MA

Although Josilyn had been legally homeschooling her son since January—and she had submitted all the right paperwork—the school district marked him as truant and turned Josilyn over to DCF. HSLDA has filed a lawsuit on her behalf. Watch her story.
VIDEO

Suddenly truant: the problem in Worcester, MA

When this school district changed its homeschooling requirements without telling anyone, CPS started showing up at homeschooling families’ doors. Here’s how it has affected the local homeschool community. Watch their story.
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