Oppose Mandatory Registration of Homeschoolers

TEACH CT opposes SB 874, scheduled for Public Hearing in the Education Committee on March 1, 2019, which contains provisions calling for mandatory in-person registration of all homeschoolers.

WHY WE OPPOSE We are currently a no-notice state, with a voluntary option to file a notice of intent. Section 17 would amend 10-184 to require in-person registration of homechoolers. There is no reason to place this burden on innocent families who statistically are safer than those who are in public school, and consistently score higher academically than public school students.

Additionally, Section 18 would amend 10-16oo by “offering” model curriculum to homeschoolers from kindergarten through 4th grade. This will be aligned with common core, and will open the door to more regulation in the future. There is no need to incorporate the curriculum into the bill because information is available on the state website now. The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom of choice in curriculum. That freedom is maintained by staying separate from public schools.

BILL LANGUAGE - scroll to page 20 for Section 17- can be viewed here.

TESTIFYING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING This bill has been scheduled for public hearing on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Sign-up to testify in the LOB atrium from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Sign-up is first come, first served. People will begin lining up early, so the earlier you can arrive, the better.

TIPS FOR TESTIFYING ARE here. A map of the capitol campus area is here. A map of area parking is here. NOTICE: Elm Street in Hartford is closed for construction. Please check your maps and make your driving plans now.

Submit your testimony - preferably in a pdf format- to vog.tc.agc@ynomitsetde. If you cannot send in a pdf, please attach a word document. When you email your testimony, please include the bill number in the subject line and your full name. Submitted testimony is public information, available on the cga website. Deadline for emailed testimony is 3:30 Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Tips on talking with your legislators can be found here.

Action: In addition to testifying, please contact the Ed Committee members to ask them to Vote No on SB 874. Your message needn’t be long–simply the bill number and that you oppose it. You can find contact information for the Committee members here and click on Committee Membership. This will bring up a page that includes a list of Committee Members. If you click on the name, it will bring up an email window for that legislator. If your legislator is an Education Committee member, it is particularly helpful to contact them. You can find your legislator here.

The following Education Committee Members are especially key - please make every effort to contact them if they represent your district:

Representative Robert Sanchez, Co-Chair
(860) 240-8585 | 1-800-842-8267
vog.tc.agc@zehcnaS.ybboB

Senator Doug McCrory, Co-Chair
860-240-8600; 1-800-842-1420
vog.tc.agc@yrorCcM.guoD

Representative Kathleen McCarty, Ranking Member
(800) 842-1423 or (860) 240-8700
og.tc.agc@ytraCcM.neelhtaK

Senator Eric Berthel, Ranking Member
1-800-842-1421 or 860-240-8800
vog.tc.agc@lehtreB.cirE

Representative Jill Barry, Vice Chair
1-800-842-8267 | (860) 240-8585
vog.tc.agc@yrraB.lliJ

Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams, Vice Chair
860-240-0584, 1-800-842-1420
vog.tc.agc@smarbA.yraM

Your involvement does make a difference! Large participation by homeschoolers contacting their legislators and coming out for a public hearing has preserved our homeschool freedoms in the past and recently in other states.

Thank you for standing with us to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in CT. Every voice makes a difference!

The TEACH CT Board