The Homeschool Briefing

In Monday briefing: Connecticut House passed HB 5468, sending the homeschool registration bill to the state Senate before the May 6 session deadline. Texas sent the first wave of Education Freedom Account award notices, and the tier two lottery runs this week. Plus a small, doable step for the parent who is feeling the late-April weight.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 passes the House 96-53, heads to the Senate before May 6 deadline

- Texas TEFA: 42,600+ award notices sent, tier 2 lottery starts this week

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a 20-minute read-aloud finishing strategy

Sources:

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

- CT Mirror, House passes homeschool bill: https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/23/ct-homeschool-bill-hb-5468-approved-house/

- Texas Comptroller, first TEFA awards announced: https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20260422-first-round-of-texas-education-freedom-accounts-awards-announced-1776776603367

- Community Impact, 42K Texas families awarded: https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/texas-legislature/2026/04/23/42k-families-awarded-funds-in-first-round-of-texas-education-freedom-accounts/

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-2026-04-27&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Two state legislatures, two visions of the parent's role. Connecticut's HB 5468 just cleared the House and is sitting in the Senate with a May 6 deadline. New Hampshire is moving the other way, with a Senate committee giving a warm reception to a bill that would end notification, recordkeeping, and annual evaluations. Then a 10-minute Sunday-evening prep ritual that lets you walk into Monday with a plan, not a panic.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468 clears the House 96-53 and heads to the Senate; clock ticking to May 6

- New Hampshire Senate committee hears the case for loosening homeschool rules

- The 10-minute Sunday-evening prep: one math focus, one read-aloud on the table, one verse on the fridge

- Your Homeschool Win Today: pick the verse, write it down, stick it on the fridge

Links:

- CT Mirror, CT homeschool bill passes House, heads to Senate: https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/23/ct-homeschool-bill-hb-5468-approved-house/

- HSLDA, HB 5468 tracker and action center: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

- NHPR, NH bill to loosen homeschool requirements gets warm Senate hearing: https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-21/nh-newhampshire-homeschool-homeschooling-regulations

- HSLDA, CT moves to increase regs while NH removes them: https://hslda.org/post/striking-ct-moves-to-increase-regs-while-nh-removes-them

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-2026-04-26&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

The Connecticut House passed HB 5468 yesterday 96 to 53, sending the state’s first homeschool oversight framework in more than two centuries to the Senate. We unpack what survived the rewrite, the DCF background-check provision, and the May 6 deadline. Then a practical Charlotte Mason narration tip you can run at the kitchen table today.

In this episode:

• Connecticut HB 5468 clears the House; heads to Senate with 12 days on the clock

• Charlotte Mason narration — the 5-minute habit that replaces a stack of worksheets

• Your Homeschool Win Today: one short passage, one simple ask, zero correction

Links:

• CT Mirror — CT homeschool bill passes House, heads to Senate: https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/23/ct-homeschool-bill-hb-5468-approved-house/

• HSLDA — HB 5468 tracker and action center: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

• AmblesideOnline — Introduction to Charlotte Mason and narration: https://amblesideonline.org/cm-intro

• Simply Charlotte Mason — Curriculum Guide: https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/

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-2026-04-24&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Texas Education Freedom Account notifications begin for Tier 1 families, and we pair the policy headline with a simple Charlotte Mason style Earth Day lesson rooted in Psalm 19 that you can run in twenty minutes before lunch.

In this episode:

- Texas TEFA award notifications begin April 21, 2026 for Tier 1 families. Homeschool students may receive up to $2,000 per year for approved expenses.

- A Charlotte Mason style Earth Day nature study, grounded in Psalm 19.

- Your Homeschool Win Today: a ten-minute outdoor lesson in Bible, science, and awe.

Links:

- Texas Education Freedom Accounts: https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/

- Texas Comptroller news release: https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20251222-hundreds-of-texas-schools-already-enrolled-in-education-freedom-accounts-program-1766422819758

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-2026-04-22&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Today on The Homeschool Briefing: Connecticut House Bill 5468 is headed to a floor debate Thursday, poised to rewrite 276 years of parent-directed education law. On the practical side, Charlotte Mason's narration method gives you a simple tool to lock in learning with any reading you do with your kids this week.

In this episode:

- Connecticut HB 5468: what the rewrite keeps and what it drops

- HSLDA's warning on child welfare agency approvals

- Why narration works, and how to start with oral before moving to written

- Your Homeschool Win: a 10-minute narration exercise before dinner

Links:

- CT Mirror on the HB 5468 rewrite: https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/17/ct-homeschooling-bill-rewrite/

- HSLDA analysis (CT vs NH): https://hslda.org/post/striking-ct-moves-to-increase-regs-while-nh-removes-them

- AmblesideOnline narration guide: https://www.amblesideonline.org/narration

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-2026-04-21&mt=8

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Today on The Homeschool Briefing: Connecticut lawmakers advance a bill that could require child-services approval before parents can homeschool, while New Hampshire rolls back reporting rules and Arkansas EFA applications surge 23 percent. Plus a Charlotte Mason tip on narration you can use today.

—— TODAY'S SPONSOR ——

The Homeschool Briefing is brought to you by Bible Copilot — the free app that makes daily Bible study a family habit.

Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6758913373?pt=128532000&ct=gospelbriefing&mt=8

—— IN THIS EPISODE ——

• Connecticut "equivalent instruction" bill and the HSLDA alert

• New Hampshire homeschool deregulation update

• Arkansas EFA applications up 23% YoY

• Charlotte Mason narration — three practical rules

• Your Homeschool Win Today

Keep teaching, keep trusting.

Connecticut advances a bill requiring state approval to homeschool, and HSLDA sounds the alarm. Plus a Charlotte Mason spring nature study plan you can run this week.

Texas ESA funding crunch: 270k applied, ~90k slots — what it means for homeschool families weighing state money vs. state strings. Plus a spring Charlotte Mason nature-study tip you can start today.

Tennessee ESA applications open today and Texas ESA awards begin rolling out this month. Plus a Charlotte Mason tip that will change your homeschool mornings: keep lessons short.

Floridas ESA program update, the Charlotte Mason narration method, and why spring field trips count as school.