Sen. Gordon Applauds Defeat of Overreaching Homeschool Legislation

HARTFORD, CT – Sen. Gordon (R-Woodstock), issued the following statement today in response to the news that controversial legislation aimed at imposing new restrictions on Connecticut’s law-abiding homeschooling families will not move forward in the 2025 legislative session.

“This is a victory for parental rights, educational freedom, and grassroots advocacy. I’m proud to have stood with my colleagues, and with the parents and students who showed up in force, to stop this misguided proposal in its tracks.”

Efforts to push sweeping state oversight over homeschoolers were met with intense resistance from families across the state who felt blindsided and unfairly targeted. Sen. Gordon noted that the proposal was being rushed forward without proper public hearing input from those it would affect most: The families who have chosen to educate their children at home.

“This bill was drafted in response to a horrifying and isolated case of abuse. But instead of focusing on accountability within our child welfare system, the majority party attempted to saddle thousands of loving, law-abiding families with burdensome government oversight,” Gordon said. “We should be addressing system failures, not punishing innocent parents who are doing everything right. That includes enforcing and strengthening the laws that are already on the books, rather than creating new mandates that unfairly target responsible families.”

Throughout the legislative process, Sen. Gordon and his colleagues advocated for transparency, fairness, and the right of families to make educational decisions free from unwarranted state interference. The strong public outcry from Connecticut’s homeschool community, coupled with united opposition from several lawmakers, ultimately led to the bill’s withdrawal.

“This outcome is proof that when families stand together and make their voices heard, we can protect what matters most. I want to personally thank every parent, every student, and every advocate who came to the Capitol, wrote in, or spoke out. You made this possible.”

Sen. Gordon reaffirmed his commitment to protecting parental choice in education and pledged to remain vigilant against future attempts to erode those rights.

“Let this be a reminder: we serve the people, not the bureaucracy. And the people have spoken.”