Please contact your state senator and members of the Senate Education Committee before 11AM on Thursday, June 5.
We express strong opposition to S1796 and the concerning direction it represents for homeschooling families in New Jersey. Our objection is not simply to the specifics of the bill itself, but to the broader implications of where this legislation leads.
New Jersey has long been a homeschool friendly state, providing thousands of children with the opportunity to learn in a home education environment tailored to their needs. Families turn to homeschooling for various reasons, including religious and moral objections to certain public school curricula, such as gender ideology introduced at an early age, as well as the need to offer a safe learning space for students who have experienced severe bullying, harassment, and intimidation in public schools.
According to official state data, New Jersey has reported the highest levels of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) incidents since the state began collecting data. In the 2021-2022 school year, there were 7,672 confirmed HIB incidents and 19,138 investigations—a deeply concerning trend that continues to affect school-aged children. Additionally, WalletHub recently ranked New Jersey fourth in the nation for the highest number of bullying incidents. These troubling statistics make it clear that public school environments are failing many students, and homeschooling remains a critical option for families seeking safety and quality education.
However, rather than addressing these urgent concerns, this bill appears intent on creating a false narrative—suggesting that parents who choose to homeschool may be unfit or even abusive. This misleading and harmful assumption places unwarranted suspicion on loving, dedicated families who have made the best decision for their children’s education. It begs the question: What real-world problem does this bill solve?
Furthermore, we strongly oppose any efforts by the State to incrementally infringe upon homeschooling rights by imposing subject and curriculum mandates. The regulatory burden on homeschooling families in New Jersey has historically remained low, and it should continue to remain that way—ensuring parents retain the freedom to educate their children in the manner best suited to their values, beliefs, and individual learning needs.
Please urge your state senator and members of the Senate Education Committee to oppose this bill and advocate for policies that support educational freedom and parental rights. Families should not be subjected to unnecessary government intervention that disrupts a well-established system that currently serves thousands of students successfully.
