Following the March 11–12, 2026 Connecticut Education Committee hearing on homeschooling legislation, several national advocacy organizations and officials presented testimony supporting increased government oversight of homeschool families.
Several of these witnesses represent national organizations and are not Connecticut residents. While outside perspectives can contribute to policy discussions, Connecticut lawmakers must ultimately evaluate proposals based on the needs, laws, and experiences of families within this state.
The Connecticut Homeschool Network reviewed the testimony and prepared the following responses to examine the claims presented and provide additional context for lawmakers and the public.
Notably, none of the witnesses presented Connecticut-specific data demonstrating a systemic problem with homeschooling in this state.
Instead, the testimony largely relied on speculation, selective framing of research, and narratives that shift attention away from documented institutional failures within existing child protection systems. The result is a policy proposal that places new scrutiny on law-abiding homeschool families without clear evidence that such measures would address the tragedies cited in support of the legislation.
Testimony Responses
The Connecticut Homeschool Network reviewed several testimonies presented at the March 11–12 Education Committee hearing regarding proposed homeschooling legislation. CHN responses to those testimonies can be found below:
• Sarah Eagan – Center for Children’s Advocacy
former Office of the Child Advocate (OCA)
https://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/sarah-eagan
Further, the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) has released reports – not to be confused with scientific demographic studies, that utilized unprofessional data that misleads anyone who reads it and does not understand statistics. CHN and NHELD utilized real professionals, Ph.D. statisticians from UConn. They reviewed the reports and told us that the data is irrelevant and cannot be used for any serious study and certainly not for a basis in passing legislation.
That report is here.
• Christina Ghio – Office of the Child Advocate (OCA)
https://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/christina-ghio
• Tess Ulrey – Coalition for Responsible Home Education
Part 1 – https://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/tess-ulrey-2
Part 2 – https://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/tess-ulrey
• Jonah Stewart – Coalition for Responsible Home Education
https://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/jonah-stewart
These responses examine the claims made in testimony, review the research cited, and provide additional context for lawmakers and Connecticut families as they evaluate proposals that would significantly change homeschooling policy in the state.