The Homeschool Briefing

On today's Homeschool Briefing, host Silas Penn breaks down Connecticut's new homeschool law (HB 5468) and what it means for families, then turns to a practical, biblical strategy for keeping your kids learning all summer long through the simple power of reading aloud.

In this episode:

- Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs HB 5468, adding annual intent-to-educate forms and a one-time DCF background check for homeschool parents, as HSLDA challenges the law as unconstitutional.

- The summer slide is real, but the family read-aloud is a proven, joyful antidote.

- Your Homeschool Win Today: choose one read-aloud book and read the first chapter out loud tonight.

Links:

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

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

- All About Learning Press, Beat the Summer Slide: https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/blog/summer-slide/

- Reading Rockets, Summer Reading Loss: https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/summer-reading/articles/summer-reading-loss

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot — trusted AI for Bible study. Not generic AI. Ask anything about any passage — geography, culture, original Hebrew or Greek, theology, apologetics — and get an instant, verse-backed answer. Scripture interprets Scripture, rooted in 2,000 years of orthodox Christian thought. Free in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-06-03&mt=8

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Connecticut's new homeschool law is now in effect, and the Home School Legal Defense Association says the courtroom fight is just beginning. We break down exactly what Public Act 26-37 requires of families, why supporters and critics see it so differently, and what Scripture says about who holds the first authority over a child's education. Then we head to the kitchen table for a two-minute Charlotte Mason habit that can sharpen your child's thinking starting with today's read-aloud.

In this episode:

- Connecticut enacts Public Act 26-37, adding annual intent-to-educate forms and DCF background checks for new homeschool families, as HSLDA pledges legal action.

- The quiet comeback of narration, the Charlotte Mason method's simplest and most powerful reading tool.

- Your Homeschool Win Today: close the book and ask four words, tell me what you heard.

Links:

- HSLDA on Connecticut: https://hslda.org/legal/connecticut

- Gov. Lamont signs the homeschool bill (CT News Junkie): https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/05/28/lamont-signs-gun-homeschool-bills-that-generated-controversy-during-legislative-session/

- Narration and the Charlotte Mason method (AmblesideOnline): https://www.amblesideonline.org/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot - trusted AI for Bible study. Not generic AI. Ask anything about any passage - geography, culture, original Hebrew or Greek, theology, apologetics - and get an instant, verse-backed answer. Scripture interprets Scripture, rooted in 2,000 years of orthodox Christian thought. Free in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-06-02&mt=8

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Connecticut just became the latest flashpoint in the homeschool freedom debate. Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 5468 into law, the first regulation of home education in a state tradition that had stood for more than 270 years. We cover what the law requires, why supporters and homeschool advocates are sharply divided, the biblical case for parent-directed education from Deuteronomy 6, and a simple record-keeping habit that turns new documentation rules into an easy daily rhythm.

In this episode:

- Connecticut signs HB 5468, requiring a yearly declaration of intent and a one-time DCF background check to homeschool, with HSLDA president Jim Mason calling it a significant regression in homeschool freedom.

- A practical look at keeping a living record using Charlotte Mason narration, plus free and structured curriculum frameworks (Ambleside Online and The Alveary).

- Your Homeschool Win Today: start a one-notebook learning log in five minutes.

Links:

- Connecticut governor signs HB 5468: 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

- HSLDA statement on the new law: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/28/3302974/0/en/HSLDA-Condemns-Connecticut-s-New-Homeschooling-Law.html

- CT Mirror coverage: https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/29/ct-politics-eversource-homeschool-campaigns/

- Charlotte Mason narration and curriculum: https://www.amblesideonline.org/ and https://joyfullydomestic.com/2025-2026-classical-charlotte-mason-curriculum-picks/

Proudly sponsored by Bible Copilot, trusted AI for Bible study. Not generic AI. Ask anything about any passage, geography, culture, original Hebrew or Greek, theology, apologetics, and get an instant, verse-backed answer. Scripture interprets Scripture, rooted in 2,000 years of orthodox Christian thought. Free in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-copilot-ai-bible-study/id6758913373?ct=hsb-2026-06-01&mt=8

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On Tuesday, Governor Ned Lamont signed Connecticut House Bill 5468 into law, making the state the latest to require background checks and DCF approval for homeschool families. Meanwhile in Texas, the second wave of Education Freedom Account notifications reached more than 53,000 students. We unpack what both mean for the family at the kitchen table, anchor it in Deuteronomy six, and finish with a simple end-of-year affirmation you can do tonight.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 signed by Governor Lamont, with HSLDA condemnation and a Deuteronomy six bridge

- Texas ESA second round reaches 53,000+ students; Arizona crosses 101,000 enrolled, with a Charlotte Mason warning against overbuying

- Your Homeschool Win Today: an end-of-year affirmation that outlasts any state law

Links:

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

- HSLDA condemnation statement (May 28, 2026): https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/28/3302974/0/en/HSLDA-Condemns-Connecticut-s-New-Homeschooling-Law.html

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

- FutureEd 2026 Legislative Tracker: https://www.future-ed.org/legislative-tracker-2026-state-private-school-choice-bills/

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-2026-05-29&mt=8

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Today on The Homeschool Briefing: Connecticut's sweeping homeschool regulation bill, HB 5468, lands on Governor Lamont's desk, and new Johns Hopkins / RAND data shows most homeschoolers now combine home education with co-ops, online classes, and microschools.

In this episode:

- Connecticut House Bill 5468 lands on Governor Ned Lamont's desk as Public Act 26-37, with HSLDA pushing for a veto.

- New Johns Hopkins / RAND data via The 74 shows 88 percent of homeschoolers now combine home education with outside resources, and 68 percent use or would use state ESA funds.

- Your Homeschool Win Today: open one tab and put one outside resource on your calendar by Friday.

Links:

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

- Standing for Freedom on the Connecticut bill: https://www.standingforfreedom.com/2026/05/26/connecticut-homeschool-bill-parental-rights/

- The 74 on the RAND / Johns Hopkins homeschool 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-2026-05-28&mt=8

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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.