Tensions flared at the Connecticut State Capitol on Monday as lawmakers, state officials, and homeschooling families gathered for a public hearing on the state’s homeschooling laws. The debate follows a disturbing case in Waterbury, where police say a 32-year-old man was held captive since childhood and set fire to his room earlier this year to escape years of alleged abuse.
The case has reignited calls for tighter oversight of homeschooling in the state. At the same time, many parents say they feel unfairly targeted and blamed for one tragic, isolated incident.
The legislature’s Education Committee and Committee on Children held a joint informational hearing to review Connecticut’s current homeschooling policies. Outside the hearing room, dozens of homeschooling parents protested, chanting and holding signs that read, “Hands off homeschool,” “Hold agencies accountable, not families,” and “My kids, my choice.”
The protests came just hours after Acting Child Advocate Christina Ghio released a report urging stricter regulations. Ghio warned that the current lack of oversight allows some parents to withdraw children from school, isolate them from society, and avoid scrutiny from child protection services.
At the hearing, Ghio said the goal is to strike a balance between parents’ rights to homeschool, the state’s duty to ensure all children receive an education, and children’s right to live free from abuse.
“What we are looking for is balance,” Ghio said. “Without regulation, some children are at risk of being neglected or abused.”
Her report recommends that parents who withdraw children from public school must provide proof of enrollment in a private school or show progress if homeschooling. It also calls for annual documentation to confirm the child’s safety and learning progress.
But Republican lawmakers and many parents strongly opposed these proposals.
Sen. Heather Somers, a Republican from Groton, said the Waterbury case was a tragic outlier and not reflective of the broader homeschooling community. She blamed state agencies for failing to intervene sooner and warned against overreach.
“This is not a homeschooling issue,” Somers said. “This is a government failure. Homeschooling is not the problem.”
Many parents at the hearing agreed. Jill Small, a parent from the Greater Hartford area, said increased oversight would penalize responsible families.
“We’re being used as scapegoats for a case that does not involve us,” Small said. “The beauty of homeschooling is flexibility. We don’t need more regulations. We need the government to stay out of it.”
State officials, however, argued that oversight gaps allow some vulnerable children to fall through the cracks.
“This is not about blaming homeschooling parents,” said Jodi Hill-Lilly, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families. “It’s about closing loopholes that can put children in danger.”
Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker joined Hill-Lilly in explaining current laws and outlining what future legislation might look like.
Rep. Sarah Keitt, a Democrat from Fairfield, said the concern is not with most homeschooling families, but with a very small number who exploit the lack of oversight.
“Our concern is with that small minority who abuse the system,” Keitt said.
Despite strong opinions on both sides, no formal legislation was proposed during Monday’s hearing. State Rep. Jennifer Leeper, a Democrat from Fairfield, emphasized that the session was for gathering information and understanding the existing framework.
“Our goal today is to learn more about the policies in place and explore how we can better protect every child,” Leeper said.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding criticized the hearing for excluding public comments. He argued that families most affected by the proposed changes should have had the opportunity to speak directly.
As the debate continues, state officials confirmed that discussions are underway about possible future legislation to address homeschooling regulations.
