This is time to contact Senators - especially Democrats - who have not had this bill on their radar until now. In fact we have heard that the debate may be regaining traction.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP!

If your state senator is a Democrat, PLEASE CALL THEM NOW – even if you already have, and even if they have not responded in the past. You can find their phone, email and the towns they serve on this list.

WHY NOW?

• Legislators often don't have time to focus on issues from other committees until it is time to vote. That time is now.
• It is a legislator’s job to represent their constituents, and in order to do that they need to know that this is important to you.
• They are very busy, but ALL of them can give you 10 min for a call. Keep calling and leaving messages until you get a response. If you get their aide, you may leave a message with them, but politely insist on also speaking directly with your senator, or (even better) arranging to meet with him/her at the Capitol. Even if your efforts do not succeed, they will still be getting the message, and it WILL make an impact. After the call, you may want to follow up with an email, thanking them for their time, recapping your message and providing any supportive resources.

SO…WHAT DO I SAY?

1) Provide your name, town and bill # and action you want them to take. “I am calling to ask you to please oppose HB5468” Always use a respectful tone.

2) Beginning with questions helps start the conversation, while also revealing their understanding of the bill, or what they may have been told about it's purpose.

Example:

• How are you planning to vote on HB5468? If voting yes, why?
• How well do you think that the provisions in this bill address its stated purpose?
• Can you think of other approaches that might better address these issues?
• Can you foresee any negative or unintended consequences from this bill?



You may think of others. Their response can then guide you in providing more information (see list below) but if nothing else it provides them with good questions to ask during debate. If you are unsure about how to answer a question they ask you, tell them you will find out and get back to them. Then do. We would be happy to provide you with any resources you may need - email: teachct@teachct.org 

PROBLEMS WITH THE BILL 

1) Despite the removal of the portfolio review requirements, the intent to educate forms remain in the bill. Because public and private school students fulfill this requirement via attendance records, these are effectively required only of homeschoolers. 

2) Worse is the retention of the DCF check, which checks every person over age 18 in the home to see if they are in the abuse and neglect registry or have an open DCF investigation. Seventy two percent of investigated cases do not result in a finding of abuse or neglect. Yet the bill will halt them from withdrawing from public schools. 

It also means that someone withdrawing from public school due to a harmful school environment, such as bullying, is forced to remain in the school while the process proceeds.

Some parents remove their children from public school because of failures of academic or special needs are not being met. This bill adds barriers instead of solutions.

3) Private school students do not face the same DCF checks.

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Hot off the presses from Richard Wexler Executive Director of the NATIONAL COALITION FOR CHILD PROTECTION REFORM, pointing out the disproportionately negative impact of HB5468 on children of color, given the rapid growth in homeschooling among black and Hispanic families.

“The bill [HB5468] also would ban from homeschooling anyone who shares a household with someone who has an open case with the Department of Children and Families. In Connecticut, 25% of all children, 34% of Hispanic children and 42% of Black children will, at some point, be living in such a household – and overwhelmingly the reports leading to those investigations will be found to be false."  Read full press release 

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See HERE for a fact sheet on homeschooling and abuse. You can print this out and share it with the Senators.

See HERE for a Press Release from the Coalition of TEACH CT, Family Institute of Connecticut and CHN, outlining the many legal problems with this bill. 

ACTION:


Please CALL YOUR DEMOCRAT SENATOR. If your senator is not a Democrat, then please consider choosing 1 or 2 from the list above to call anyway.

They need to hear from homeschoolers and calling communicates urgency.

Please also call Governor Lamont's office: 860.566.4840 and his COS Matthew Brokman: 860.509.6200 requesting that the governor VETO HB5468 should it pass.

Ideally, tomorrow or whatever day the bill is heard, we would like to schedule a rotating watch of 2 or 3 homeschoolers stationed outside the Governor's office, so that neither he nor his staff can go in or out without encountering concerns about the bill. If anyone would like to organize that effort please contact TEACH at: teachct@teachct.org

This information will also be available on our Facebook page, TEACH CT, and in our Facebook group, TEACH CT Homeschoolers.

Your involvement makes a difference! Many Senators don't know the contents of the bill. You can educate them. Let them know you vote and you will remember their vote.

Please continue to pray, and ask friends and family to join you.

Thank you for standing with us to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in CT. Every voice and every body makes a difference!

Prayerfully yours,



Pam Lucashu, Legislative Liaison

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing.