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Read the laws regulating home education in {{state}} and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.

Cato Institute

The Cato Institute was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane. It is a non-profit public policy research foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Cato Institute seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.

Homeschooling Litigation: Preparing the Way

The greatest obstacle pioneering homeschoolers faced two decades ago was daunting: in most states home education wasn't legal. This article details five of the most significant cases that have become landmark decisions in the move towards homeschooling freedoms: the DeJonge case in Michigan, the Jeffery case in Pennsylvania, the Diegel case in Ohio, the Triple E case in South Carolina, and the Calabretta case in California.

We Stand For Homeschooling

The "We Stand for Homeschooling Statement and Resolution” is a grassroots effort created by an ad hoc group of homeschoolers from all over the United States. The list of original signers includes homeschoolers and their allies from diverse religious, political and philosophical perspectives. The list is also geographically diverse. This statement addresses the issue of state control of homeschooling and the growing movement of using government funding to run emerging educational programs. You can read the statement and add your name to it at this website.

Political Influence

Every important movement or trend in this country was followed by an onslaught of legislative actions which resulted in some legal stipulations that controlled the trend. What is really of concern is that this legislative control is not static, but very fluid, subject to change (meaning more restrictions in many cases). These changes occur through either more legislative actions on the part of the government or through interpretation in the judicial system. Currently, the homeschool movement is being closely monitored by various teacher unions, the public and legislative bodies throughout the United States, resulting in more and more laws being passed to control or monitor the movement. If the homeschool movement is to survive in a manner which we feel would be beneficial to us and society as a whole, we have to be more and more diligent in protecting our rights. The only way we can do this is to be more active in the political process. The question now becomes, how do we do this?

How to Withdraw Your Child from School in Vermont

If you want to start homeschooling during the school year and your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, HSLDA recommends that you formally withdraw your child from that school. If you are going to start homeschooling after the school year is over, and your child is considered enrolled for the following year, we recommend that you withdraw your child before the next school year begins, so that the school does not mark your child as absent or truant.

The Legal Side of Homeschooling: An Overview of the Legal Risks and their Solutions

Families homeschooling for the first time inevitably have questions about legal challenges or threats that they might face from local or state education authorities. Those who do seek an answer to these questions are often faced with a confusing array of laws, policies, and regulations that not only vary from state to state, but also between school districts, and school officials within the same state or district.

The Rutherford Institute

The Rutherford Institute is an international legal and educational organization dedicated to preserving human rights and defending civil liberties. Deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people, The Rutherford Institute has emerged as a prominent leader in the national dialogue on civil liberties and equal rights. Parents have a constitutional right to direct and control the upbringing of their children, and laws or governmental actions that unreasonably infringe the rights of parents to raise and educate their children according to their own values are constitutionally suspect. The Rutherford Institute responds to over one thousand requests for assistance annually from parents whose rights were placed in jeopardy.

On Jumping Through Hoops

Most books and articles on home education are quick to point out that homeschooling is legal--in one form or another-- in all fifty states. Parents might have to jump through more hoops in one state than in another, but, as long as they're willing to jump through those hoops, they are allowed to teach their own children at home. But are these hoops actually necessary?

Connecticut Statute, Chapter 168, Section 10-184, 10-184a, 10-184b

The following are Connecticut Statues relating to home education: Section 10-184 (School Attendance and Employment of Children--Duties of Parents. School attendance age requirements.); Section 10-184a (Refusal of certain parents to consent to use of special education programs or services.); Section 10-184b (Waiver provisions not applicable to equivalent instruction authority of parents.)

Pierce v. Society of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

In Pierce v. Society of the Sisters, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the creature of the state."

Primer on Individual Lobbying

This is a list of tips for effective lobbying. Includes ways to lobby, things you can do now, and how to connect with other lobbyists.

Social Security's New Home School Flow Chart

For some years, the Social Security Administration has permitted home schoolers to receive benefits in some cases. The agency used a fuzzy test involving several different factors. New documents from the Social Security Administration indicate that the agency has a much better defined policy in place now.

An Act Concerning The Mandatory School Attendance Age (Public Act No. 00-157)

Public Act No. 00-157 (Mandatory School Attendance Age) changed the age under which a child is subject to compulsory attendance from sixteen to eighteen, effective July 1, 2001.

Connecticut Homeschooling Guidelines

This is a listing of the guidelines issued by the Connecticut Department of Education regarding how they think the home education laws should be implemented.

An Act Concerning Revisions to the Education Statutes (94-245)

An Act Concerning Revisions to the Education Statutes (94-245) contains the following provisions: Special Education and Private School or Home Schooling. The act exempts students from the state's special education requirements, if their parents or guardians provide equivalent instruction at home or in a private school and refuse to consent to special education services for their children. Limitation on Commissioner's Waiver Authority. The act prohibits the education commissioner from waiving any law if doing so would limit parents' authority to provide for equivalent instruction for their children instead of having them attend public school.

The Politics of Survival: Home Schoolers and the Law

Twenty years ago, home education was treated as a crime in almost every state. Today, it is legal all across America, despite strong and continued opposition from many within the educational establishment. How did this happen? This paper traces the legal and sociological history of the modern home school movement, and then suggests factors that led to this movement's remarkable success.

State Laws Concerning Participation of Homeschool Students in Public School Activities

This is a list of states that have addressed issues of homeschooler participation in public school classes, sports, activities, etc.

Free Folly: Five Reasons Why Black Families Should Resist Free Virtual Charter Schools

Virtual charter schools are popping up all over the country, providing free computers, textbooks and educational materials to any family who would like to enroll in their program. Jennifer James takes a hard look at how these schools are detrimental to black homeschoolers.

Stand for Freedom

Some veteran home educators seem to take a firm stand on principles that others don't even recognize as issues. Is it that they are just stubborn, rebellious, or cantankerous? Probably not.

Connecticut Attorneys Helping Homeschoolers

Where to find legal advice in Connecticut. Homeschooling families can find contact information for several attorneys around the state who work with homeschoolers.

Law & Policy

In Connecticut there are two things homeschoolers need to understand; the law, and the Guidelines. The two sometimes cause confusion for people, and sometimes the Guidelines are mistaken for being law, but they are not law. The Guidelines are part of the Suggested Procedure on Home Instruction in CT. This analysis includes information on state laws, state guidelines, sample forms, and more.

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI)

Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. PJI provides free representation to parents who are unlawfully denied the right to homeschool their children. PJI also provides legal counsel to those parents wishing to homeschool, but do not know their legal options or obligations.

Connecticut Home School Laws

The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Connecticut. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Connecticut.

AHSA-USA Email List

This list is an opportunity for homeschoolers to contact homeschooling attorneys and experts about homeschooling legal and litigation issues. It is an informal network of attorneys and legal experts that are concerned with litigation pending and threatened against homeschoolers. Its primary purpose is to exchange legal information within the profession, and to educate and support attorneys and experts involved in homeschool litigation.

Notice of Intent: Filing Is Voluntary

The State Department of Education's C-14 Guidelines give two different messages -- in the Introduction and elsewhere it reads, "Suggested Procedure" and in section 3 it reads, "parents must file..." To add to the confusion, school officials often give misleading or false information when parents ask about homeschooling. Because the wording of the Guidelines is inconsistent and poorly written, school officials and parents may be unsure of their responsibilities and their rights.

Compulsory School Age in Vermont

The laws in Vermont state that you must enroll your child in school from the day he or she turns 6 years old until he or she turns 16. This HSLDA article details the Vermont state compulsory school age regulations.

Connecticut Homeschool Laws and Procedures

Summary of the laws pertaining to home education in Connecticut. Includes text of the laws and state Board of Education guidelines.

National Charter School Watch List

This list is created to be a means of informing, documenting and evaluating available information concerning the impact of virtual/charter schools on the homeschooling community. This information consists of and is not limited to news items, articles from various sources, legislative information (bills, law changes), documented efforts and experiences and other information that may give weight to whether home-based charter schools or virtual schools are having an impact in any negative way on homeschooling.

How to Comply with Vermont's Homeschool Law

Vermont law specifically refers to homeschooling in 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(21) and 16 V.S.A. § 166b. To homeschool under this statute, you’ll need to follow these guidelines. Necessary steps include sending in a written enrollment notice, submitting a narrative describing the content to be provided in each subject area, obtaining acknowledgement of compliance, teaching the required subjects and assessing your child annually.