Colorado lawmakers wrapped up a months long fight over homeschool enrichment funding, choosing to hold the current per student rate while adding new guardrails on the cooperative driving program growth. Then we head to the kitchen table with a simple, screen free way to make today's lesson stick: Charlotte Mason style narration. Host Silas Penn breaks down what the news means for your family and your calling.

In this episode:

- Colorado keeps its homeschool enrichment funding rate (about $6,000 per student) but adds guardrails that curb the ERBOCES cooperative and could close some programs

- A biblical worldview on public funding and parental authority (Deuteronomy 6)

- It's homeschool convention and curriculum planning season, plus a Charlotte Mason narration method you can use today

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a 10 minute read aloud and narration with your child

Links:

- Colorado Public Radio: https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/26/no-funding-cuts-to-homeschool-enrichment/

- Chalkbeat Colorado: https://www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/2026/05/19/lawmakers-make-homeschool-enrichment-changes-but-not-to-funding-rate/

- NCHE Thrive! Conference: https://nche.com/thrive/

- Charlotte Mason narration (Simply Charlotte Mason): https://simplycharlottemason.com/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-27&mt=8

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Connecticut House Bill 5468 is on Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, with mandatory background checks and in-person annual filings ahead for homeschool families. Meanwhile, Iowa just removed the four-student cap and the tuition ban for independent private instructors, freeing co-ops to grow. Plus, a 10-minute Charlotte Mason habit your school day can actually use.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 heads to Gov. Lamont with the state's first homeschool regulations

- Iowa removes the four-student cap and tuition ban for homeschool co-ops

- Your Homeschool Win Today: ten minutes of read-aloud after lunch

Links:

- CT Mirror, Connecticut education bills 2026: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/12/education-bills-legislative-session-2026/

- Fox61, Gov. Lamont set to sign homeschool bill: https://www.fox61.com/article/news/education/connecticut-governor-lamont-set-to-sign-bill-regulating-homeschooling-for-first-time/520-9e1dbe6b-af6c-495b-8f6b-9780fb812d17

- Iowa Public Radio, new charter and homeschool law: https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2026-05-14/charter-schools-public-schools-homeschooling-law

- Iowa Capital Dispatch, Reynolds signs HF 2754: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/12/iowa-gov-kim-reynolds-signs-charter-school-homeschooling-bill-into-law/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-15&mt=8

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On May 12, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2754 into law, removing the four-student cap on independent homeschool instructors, allowing tutors and small academies to charge for services, and granting homeschool-issued diplomas the same legal weight as public school diplomas. We unpack what that means for families inside and outside Iowa, then turn to one of the most quietly powerful practices in classical and Charlotte Mason education: narration.

In this episode:

- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs HF 2754, the homeschool and charter expansion bill (signed May 12, 2026)

- How Charlotte Mason narration trains attention, composition, and comprehension at once

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a five-minute Bible verse narration before lunch

Links:

- Iowa Capital Dispatch coverage: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/12/iowa-gov-kim-reynolds-signs-charter-school-homeschooling-bill-into-law/

- AmblesideOnline (free Charlotte Mason curriculum): https://amblesideonline.org/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot — the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-14&mt=8

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Today on The Homeschool Briefing: Colorado's late-session amendments aim to rein in publicly funded homeschool enrichment programs, and HSLDA reminds families that the right to homeschool is anchored in 250 years of American liberty.

In this episode:

- Colorado House passes amendments to limit ERBOCES and homeschool enrichment programs (Chalkbeat Colorado)

- HSLDA marks the 250th anniversary of American freedom by tracing homeschool rights from Pierce v. Society of Sisters to Wisconsin v. Yoder

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a one-sentence learning journal

Links:

- Colorado homeschool enrichment amendments: https://www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/2026/05/12/lawmakers-pass-amendments-restricting-homeschool-enrichment-erboces/

- HSLDA, 250 Years of Freedom Includes the Freedom to Homeschool: https://hslda.org/post/250-years-of-freedom-includes-the-freedom-to-homeschool

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-13&mt=8

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Two New England states moved in opposite directions on homeschool oversight in the same week. Connecticut's HB 5468 sits on Governor Lamont's desk after a 22-14 Senate vote on May 4 and would require annual in-person registration plus a child abuse and neglect registry check for every adult in the household. Two states north, the New Hampshire Senate voted on May 8 to lift the state's homeschool notification rule, recordkeeping duty, and annual evaluation. Then to your kitchen table: a free Charlotte Mason narration practice that doubles as retrieval practice, and a homeschool win you can pull off before the second cup of coffee.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 awaits Governor Lamont's signature or veto

- New Hampshire Senate moves to dissolve homeschool state oversight

- Charlotte Mason narration: the rule of one telling

- Your Homeschool Win Today: one paragraph, one tell-back, before breakfast is over

Links:

- CT Mirror, homeschool bill passes Senate (May 4): https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- CT Mirror, 2026 bill wrap-up (May 11): https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/11/ct-2026-bills-that-didnt-pass/

- HSLDA on Connecticut HB 5468: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

- New Hampshire Public Radio, Senate lifts homeschool oversight (May 8): https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-05-08/homeschool-education-senate-bill-lifts-nh-state-oversight

- AmblesideOnline, Charlotte Mason narration intro: https://www.amblesideonline.org/cm-intro

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-12&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Connecticut HB 5468 is on Governor Ned Lamont's desk after the state Senate passed it 22-14 on May 4. If signed, the bill imposes Connecticut's first formal homeschool regulations in 276 years, including annual intent-to-educate forms, DCF records checks for adults in the home, and portfolio or test-based progress reviews. Meanwhile, Tennessee's Education Savings Account application for the 2026-27 school year closes May 26. We close with a Charlotte Mason narration tip you can use at your kitchen table this morning.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 awaits Gov. Lamont's signature; what the bill actually does

- Deuteronomy 6:7 and the parent's calling that no statute can grant or revoke

- Tennessee ESA deadline May 26 (and a nudge to check your own state)

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a 10-minute narration exercise

Links:

- HSLDA on Connecticut HB 5468: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

- Connecticut Mirror coverage: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- Tennessee ESA program: https://www.tn.gov/education/esa.html

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-11&mt=8

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On today's Homeschool Briefing: Connecticut's HB 5468 has cleared both chambers and now waits on Governor Ned Lamont. We walk through what the bill would do, why HSLDA is sounding the alarm, and why Deuteronomy 6 still answers the underlying question. Then to the kitchen table: a new study on reading aloud for just fourteen bedtimes shows measurable gains in empathy and creativity for kids ages six to eight.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 heads to Governor Lamont's desk after a late-night Senate vote

- New research: fourteen bedtimes of read-aloud boosts empathy and creativity in children ages six to eight

- Your Homeschool Win Today: read one chapter aloud tonight, no quiz, no narration sheet

Links:

- Connecticut Mirror coverage: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- HSLDA on the wave of state homeschool legislation: https://hslda.org/post/homeschool-freedom-takes-a-hit-after-wave-of-bad-legislation

- Reading aloud research summary (The Conversation): https://theconversation.com/reading-to-young-kids-improves-their-social-skills-and-a-new-study-shows-it-doesnt-matter-whether-parents-stop-to-ask-questions-274926

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot — the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-08&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Connecticut's Senate has passed a bill requiring annual in-person registration and background checks for homeschool parents, with HSLDA warning it creates a surveillance state. Meanwhile, a new Mississippi State University study explains why so many pandemic-era families decided to stay home after schools reopened, and what that reveals about the future of homeschooling in America.

In this episode:

- Connecticut Senate passes first-ever homeschool regulation bill, 22-14, heading to governor's desk

- HSLDA attorney warns the framework creates a 'surveillance state' for compliant families

- New research from The Conversation and Washington Post: 43% of homeschool parents say benefits outweigh public school, and work flexibility is the strongest predictor of who stays

- Your Homeschool Win Today: write out the actual rhythm of your week and protect what your kids will remember in twenty years

Links:

- CT Mirror coverage of the homeschool bill: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- HSLDA on homeschool legislation: https://hslda.org/legal/legislation

- The Conversation on the lasting appeal of homeschooling: https://theconversation.com/the-lasting-appeal-of-homeschooling-what-motivated-families-to-continue-after-schools-reopened-post-pandemic-280118

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-07&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Connecticut's House Bill 5468 cleared the State Senate late Monday night and is now on Governor Ned Lamont's desk. If signed, it would replace a 276-year-old equivalent-instruction standard with an annual intent-to-educate form for every family and a mandatory DCF records check before any parent could withdraw a child to homeschool. We unpack what is in the bill, the biblical case for parental authority, and a practical word for May-weary homeschool moms.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 passes the Senate 22-14 and heads to Governor Lamont

- Why Deuteronomy 6 still answers the 'who teaches the children' question

- A veteran-mom survival plan for finishing the homeschool year without burning out

- Your Homeschool Win Today: anchor next year's plan in two minutes

Links:

- CT Mirror coverage: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- HSLDA on HB 5468: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

- Bill text: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05468-R00-HB.PDF

- Treehouse Schoolhouse end-of-year reflection: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/blog/end-of-homeschool-year-reflection-and-celebration-ideas

- Proverbial Homemaker on finishing well: https://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/finishing-the-homeschool-year.html

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-06&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Connecticut's Senate passed the state's first homeschool oversight bill late Monday night and sent it to Governor Lamont's desk. New Johns Hopkins research shows nine out of ten homeschool families now lean on outside support. We connect both stories to your kitchen table.

In this episode:

- Connecticut Senate passes HB 5468 (22-14), sending the state's first-ever homeschool reporting law to Governor Ned Lamont

- Johns Hopkins / Rand survey: 88% of homeschool families use additional educational resources beyond what mom and dad teach

- Your Homeschool Win Today: pick one subject to outsource this week

Links:

- Connecticut Mirror: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/

- CT News Junkie: https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/05/04/senate-passes-homeschool-oversight-bill-in-late-night-session/

- HSLDA on the bill: https://hslda.org/post/is-connecticut-s-homeschooling-bill--repugnant--to-american-tradition

- The 74 on the Rand / Johns Hopkins survey: https://www.the74million.org/article/exclusive-most-homeschoolers-also-use-an-array-of-resources-data-shows/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-05-05&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.