Are you inspired by our efforts and hope to continue effective advocacy against illegitimate or overly expansive interpretations of PA 26-37? Then please prayerfully consider a donation to the Family Institute of Connecticut this summer. All donations postmarked or submitted before July 31 will be “matched” by a private donor! So, double your gift today by following this link.
As you may know, Governor Lamont signed HB5468 which became Public Act 26-37 on May 26, 2026. Despite this disappointment, the new Act is a shadow of the original HB5468. This partial victory is thanks to the efforts of FIC Action, many brave legislators, legislative allies including CHN, NHCLC, NHELD, HSLDA, TEACH and thousands of FIC members and homeschool families across the state who showed up at the rallies, press conferences, public hearings and daily at the CT State Capitol.
Thanks to our donors, we also organized t-shirts, lapel stickers, written and in-person testimony, contact information, email campaigns, YouTube videos, public hearing details, a press conference and multiple professional lobbyists working behind the scenes on behalf of Connecticut families against the original bill.
Below is an analysis of some key provisions of the act and our best answers to some of the most pressing questions we’ve seen on social media. Also, updates on what our next moves are as an organization, and how you can help.
Do I have to submit a portfolio or test scores to my local education authority under PA 26-37?
No, under the original bill, homeschool parents had to annually submit testing results or a portfolio to a designated entity, including the State Education Resource Center (SERC). SERC is a quasi-state agency with mandated reporters that pushes false gender ideology and oppressor/victim narratives for school children in public schools. THEY were going to review your nice homeschool curriculum to determine if it was satisfactory. Thanks to advocacy by FIC Action and other organizations, thousands of parent testimonies, and the hard work of our legislative allies, this provision was removed from the final bill.
Will homeschoolers have their personal information reported and shared with DCF and other agencies?
Yes, all parents will have their information shared and stored with DCF if they withdraw a child from public school after 7/1/2027 (Sec. 1(e)) to homeschool. Personally identifiable information, including the names, ages, addresses and gender of all residents of the home, is expected to be shared through a portal with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) (time stamp 398:07 of House Transcript).
This is not just a local school accessing a DCF database to run a query on families with no probable cause, which is bad enough.
DCF will get the information and likely keep a record. The legislative transcript states that an “authentication key” will be used by local public school staff (time stamp 396:48 of House Transcript). This indicates a CCWIS database will be accessed, which is regulated by the federal government. In accordance with federal law, a record of who and what is accessed must be maintained and may be shared with other agencies. So, in all likelihood, the personally identifiable information, including a list of all the residents of your home and their personal information, will be keyed into the query and a record of that information kept by DCF and available for sharing with other state and federal agencies as required or permitted by federal law. In June, an attorney for Family Institute of Connecticut sent letters to federal regulators asking for preemptive investigations into application of PA 26-37 and potential violations of governing laws, including FERPA.
For current public school families, the applicable provision, section 1(e)(2)(A), becomes effective July 1, 2027. If your child is enrolled in a public school, and you plan to withdraw your child, and you wish to avoid, at least on paper, the reporting to DCF of your personally identifiable information and possible restrictions on withdrawing your children, withdraw your child before July 1, 2027. We say, “on paper” because having a written law and adherence to those laws by school boards, superintendents and school administrators is another story. We already have reports of school officials refusing to “approve” a withdrawal without DCF reporting.
So, read the law and, as has been customary in CT with regard to our homeschool rights, be prepared. Until July 1, 2027, we recommend as a courtesy, to use the withdrawal procedures previously utilized which involve at least sending a letter (certified, return receipt is best) to the local Superintendent of Schools. Pro-tip, also send a letter by “regular first class mail”, in case there is nobody to accept your letter and sign for it, or if it is rejected.
Are there state and federal constitutional and statutory issues with this law?
Yes. These issues are not likely to be resolved soon as lawsuits take suffering and willing plaintiffs, attorneys, time and financial resources. Family Institute of Connecticut has submitted letters to several offices within the Federal Department of Health & Human Services asking for intervention and review of PA 26-37, but resolution with those letters, if any, are bound to be narrowly tailored and not likely to affect the broad universal registration requirements for “parent managed learning” under this law. Family Institute of Connecticut is also planning to file notices under Connecticut’s Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, which may involve a need for homeschoolers to file additional testimony or to testify at an administrative hearing, so please be on our mailing list and stay engaged.
Are currently homeschooled children “grandfathered”?
Yes, according to the legislative record and language of the Act, on paper (see above), parents of currently homeschooled children do not need to comply with this law with regard to their currently homeschooled children . . ever, as long as you continue to homeschool (and don’t move to another CT town – see sec. 1(c)(3)). Year after year, from now through high school graduation, these children are not subject to PA 26-37 reporting requirements. It makes no sense except as a successful political tactic to get the bill passed. According to the drafters of the bill, currently homeschooled children are “grandfathered”, and the language supporting this “grandfathering” appears to be section (1)(c)(1) (page 3 of 17) by applying the section to children who turn five “on or before” 9/1/2028 for “the” 2028/29 school year and thereafter.
“for the school year commencing July 1, 2028, and each school year thereafter, on or before October first of each school year, the parent or guardian of a child (A) enrolled in a public school, (B) attending a nonpublic school, (C) being instructed through parent-managed learning and (i) who will be five years of age on or before September first of the school year, . . ” (italics added)
Below is very important legislative intent laid by Senators Doug McCrory and Eric Berthel of the Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly and also an exchange between Senators McCrory and Heather Somers establishing that currently homeschooled children (as of the effective date of the law) need not comply. FIC Action worked behind the scenes to help lay this legislative intent for our members and the families of Connecticut and we are grateful to our legislative allies for their good work on this floor debate. Legislative intent is expected to be used by any Judge (and others) when interpreting PA 26-37 . . .
And in the House of Representatives floor debate transcript, legislative intent established by Co-Chair of the Education Committee, State Representative Jennifer Leeper and Ranking Member Lezlye Zupkus . . .
What reporting requirements will there be for parents utilizing “parent managed learning”?
In accordance with section 1(c), each parent subject to the reporting requirement provisions of PA 26-37, starting July 1, 2028, “shall annually cause to be completed an intent to educate form to indicate whether such child will be enrolled in a public school, attending a nonpublic school or instructed through parent-managed learning for the school year”. These forms are to be developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) before July 1, 2027 in accordance with section 2 of the Act. FIC Action will expect the CSDE to utilize the Connecticut Uniform Administrative Procedures Act for the development of these forms and may file appropriate notices to ensure that the UAPA is followed.
Please know that some local school boards have already been developing their own forms. It is important that each family know their rights and become familiar with PA 26-37.
Are current homeschoolers still required to complete the old “Notice of Intent” forms suggested by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)?
No, Senators Berthel and McCrory established a legislative record that homeschoolers do **NOT** need to comply with the “current guidance” provided by the CSDE, including the “notice of intent” forms. See the Senate Transcript below.
Thanks to the Connecticut State Senate Office, we have more images from our fight at the legislature on behalf of homeschooling parents and Connecticut families.
Any success is only through God’s Providence and the generous support of our members. Please prayerfully consider a donation to the Family Institute of Connecticut this summer. All donations in the months of June and July will be “matched” by a private donor. So, double your gift today by following this link.
