More than 2,000 Connecticut families protest report seeking increased homeschool regulations

After a government report calling for more restrictions on homeschool families in Connecticut, more than 2,000 people demonstrated at the state capitol.

“We are here because we are a homeschooling family, and we are greatly appreciative of the homeschooling freedoms that Connecticut has historically had,” Justin Bennett told Gray Media’s WFSB.com.

The protesters arrived May 5 in response to an informational hearing after a 32-year-old man accused his stepmother of holding him in captivity for 20 years, according to the local NBC affiliate.

Law enforcement officials have arrested the 56-year-old woman, Kimberly Sullivan, and charged her with inhumane treatment, abuse, neglect and starvation.

‘Nobody really did anything to help’ 

The chair of the children’s committee, State Sen. Ceci Maher (D-Wilton), framed the situation as a balancing act between homeschooling and child safety. 

“What we are looking at is how do we thread this needle, keeping children safe and supporting homeschooling?” she said, “because we have no desire to undo homeschooling.” 

However, Republicans and homeschool advocates pointed to the lack of follow-through from state government officials, including the Department of Children and Families (DCF). 

“That child was in public school for five years and DCF had been involved, but nobody really did anything to help that child,” homeschool mom Rebekah Farrington told the NBC affiliate. 

The news outlet also noted the department had drawn criticisms over its approach toward the multiple allegations of abuse, visiting the house but not finding anything to start a case. 

“Many would agree the system failed the victim in Waterbury,” wrote Susan Raff and Zoe Strothers. “The school principal says he contacted DCF more than 20 times and nothing was done.” 

The report proposes multiple changes to Connecticut law, including an annual visit where homeschool children would need to be “independently evaluated annually for academic progress.” 

Meanwhile, parents would be required to “provide initial and periodic assurances that the child is in good health.” 

Sarah, a homeschool mom and one of the protesters, expressed her concerns over these regulations as making it more difficult for her to teach her children. 

“We feel that homeschooling is an excellent way of schooling,” she told journalists, “and it’s very important to stand up for our rights.”