The Home School Legal Defense Association and nine Wyoming state representatives are backing a bill known as the “Homeschool Freedom Act” to amend the state’s homeschool law to make it easier for parents to decide how their kids are educated.
HSLDA Senior Counsel William Estrada said the state already has a “pretty good law” but the proposed legislation, House Bill 46 will make homeschooling less of a “hassle.” It will also make Wyoming’s law similar to several other states in the nation.
The bill was referred to the House Education Committee on Friday.
Wyoming’s law now requires homeschool parents to submit their planned curriculum to the local school board. The proposed bill would remove that requirement.
“This is our bill, and we worked very closely with Homeschool Wyoming and the sponsors on it,” Estrada said. “We are absolutely thrilled that this bill has been introduced.”
The bill’s sponsor is Rep. Tomi Strock, R-Douglas.
Letter Sometimes ‘Flash Point’
Homeschoolers now need to file a letter of intent that includes a curriculum with the local school district every year. Estrada said in past years, that has been a “flash point” in some local districts.
“I would characterize it as harassment and they would characterize it as dotting their “I’s” and crossing their “Ts,” he said. Estrada said districts would “harass” families by telling them they had to use the district’s particular form or give them a “detailed curriculum” list or additional information not required by Wyoming law.
“We always have to push back on that,” Estrada said. “And it’s always stressful on homeschool families.”
Estrada said the revised language will make it easier on both public schools and homeschoolers because public schools won’t have to devote staff time to homeschoolers.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder agreed.
"I fully support this bill as it removes unnecessary bureaucracy from both the homeschool student family and the school district,” she said. “Not only does school choice mean providing more options for parents, but it means making these options more accessible as well."
Homeschool Wyoming President Brenna Lowry of Cheyenne, who has homeschooled and graduated five children, said what happens now represents “a process without an outcome.”
“The school district has no authority to approve or disapprove our curriculum,” she said. “The values we hold in Wyoming are based on our independence and freedom. I feel this is an area in homeschool education that we are not among the freest states. Idaho is the nearest of those that requires no letter of intent.”
Lowry said her organization has worked with HSLDA to craft the bill and helped reach out to Strock to sponsor the proposed legislation.
States With Similar Laws
Should the revised language become law, Estrada said, Wyoming in addition to Idaho would join Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey and Connecticut in giving more freedom to homeschoolers.
The HSLDA, Estrada said, has seen an increase in homeschooling after the pandemic and with the increase came “flash points” with a few districts in Wyoming.
If passed, the act would become effective July 1.
Homeschool parent Crystal Olson of Lusk, in her eighth year of teaching at home, said filing the letter of intent with Niobrara County Schools is “not that big of deal” in one sense, but she is rooting for the legislation to pass.
“My biggest thing is I am pro freedom, pro keeping the government out of our homeschool,” she said. “I feel (the bill) is one step closer to not having to have their involvement. One of the reasons we enjoy homeschooling is to have our religious freedoms and teach the curriculum that we choose.”
Strock did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
