By: William D. Slicker
The number of families opting for homeschooling is increasing. It is estimated that between 6% to 11% of school-age children are homeschooled in the United States.[1]
The vast majority of homeschooling families do so for valid reasons: the child may be very smart and bored in regular school, the child may be fat and teased or bullied at school, or the family may want to teach religious beliefs. A 2022 survey found that there is no statistical difference in abuse rates between homeschool and conventionally schooled children.
However, a 2014 study found that nearly half of child torture victims had been pulled from school to be homeschooled. In addition, a series of high-profile cases of child abuse deaths of homeschooled children has given rise for more regulations of homeschooling.
In 2025, the remains of 11 year old Jaclyn “Mimi” Torres Garcia were found in a plastic bin in New Britain, Connecticut. An autopsy showed that at the time of her death she weighed 27 pounds and had a single blueberry in her stomach. She had starved to death.[2] In 2024, the child’s mother removed her from school to homeschool her. Less than two months later she was dead.[3]
In response, Connecticut passed HB 5468 which provides regulations on homeschool, including not being able to withdraw a child from public school to homeschool during a Department of Children and Families child abuse or neglect investigation.[4]
In 2018, 8 year old Raylee Jolynn Browning died in West Virginia. She had suffered multiple beatings and her femur had been broken. She had been refused food and water. Due to lack of water she had drank from the toilet and became septic and died.[5] Her stepmother had removed her from public school to homeschool her.
In 2024, 14 year old Kyneddi Miller died in West Virginia. The police report described her as in a “near skeletal state.” Her mother had pulled her from public school to homeschool her.[6]
In response, the West Virginia Senate passed HB 5537. However, the bill died in the House of Delegates and never made it to the governor.[7] The West Virginia bill, like the Connecticut bill, provided regulations on homeschooling, including not being able to withdraw a child from public school to homeschool during a pending child abuse or neglect investigation.[8]
Utah has passed similar legislation.[9] As has Nebraska.[10]
Illinois tried, but the legislation failed to pass.[11] In Hawaii, a bill that would have required homeschooled children to take a test at public school failed.[12]
The main lobbyist for more homeschooling legislation is the Coalition for Responsible Home Education. It has a model act on its website.[13]
The main lobbyist against more homeschooling legislation is the Home School Legal Defense Association.[14]
The positions that the competing organizations are lobbying for should not be mutually exclusive. The Home School Legal Defense Association should be able to advocate for those who want to homeschool due to religious beliefs or to protect their children from being bullied at school. While on the other hand, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education should be able to advocate for protecting those children who are homeschooled from abuse. I believe that more and more states will follow the path of Connecticut, Utah, and Nebraska.
[1] Luck, Anneliese, et. al. “Homeschooling and child maltreatment: A review of the regulatory context and research evidence in the United States.” PubMed (May, 2025) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40120165/
[2] Monk, Ginny and Tillman, Laura, “Autopsy confirms, ‘Mimi’ Torres-Garica’s cause of death was starvation.” CT Mirror (Jan. 15, 2026) https://ctmirror.org/2026/01/15/mimi-torres-garcia-cause-of-death-autopsy-starvation/
[3] Monk and Tillman, supra.
[4] Bouley, Kimberlyn and Stansfield, Anna, “Bill to regulate homeschooling heads to Connecticut governor’s desk.” WFSB (May 5, 2026) https://www.wfsb.com/2026/05/05/connecticut-senate-passes-bill-regulate-homeschooling/
[5] Coalition for Responsible Home Education, “The Story of Raylee Jolynn Browning A Homeschool Homicide and Torture Case.” CRHE https://crhe.org/the-story-of-raylee-jolynn-browning-a-homeschool-homicide-and-torture-case/
[6] Heaney, Briana, “Death of Kyneddi Miller Sparks Policy Conversations Around CPA and Homeschooling.” West Virginia Public Broadcasting (June 18, 2024) https://wvpublic.org/story/economy/death-of-kyneddi-miller-sparks-policy-conversations-around-cps-and-homeschooling/
[7] Schulz, Chris, “Lawmakers analyze how Raylee’s Law Failed in Final Hour.” WV Public Broadcasting (Mar 18. 2026) https://wvpublic.org/story/government/lawmakers-analyze-how-raylees-law-failed-in-final-hour/
[8] Knisely, Amelia Ferrell, “WV House approves homeschool changes, includes addressing parents in child abuse cases.” West Virginia Watch (April, 1, 2025) https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/04/01/wv-house-approves-homeschool-changes-includes-addressing-parents-in-child-abuse-cases/
[9] Utah Sec. 53A-11-02
[10] Coalition for Responsible Home Education, “Nebraska Passes Landmark Legislation to Protect Homeschool Children.” CRHE (April 17, 2026) https://crhe.org/nebraska-passes-landmark-legislation-to-protect-homeschooled-children/
[11] Smylie, Samantha, “Illinois tried to regulate homeschooling. But the backlash was huge.” Chalkbeat Chicago (July 10, 2025) https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/07/10/illinois-homeschool-act-bill-tried-to-regulate-homeschooling
[12] Calo, Raquel, “Lawmakers shelve bill requiring homeschooled students to test at public schools.” Hawaii News Now (Feb. 17, 2026) https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/02/18/lawmakers-shelve-bill-requiring-homeschooled-students-test-public-schools/
[13] Coalition for Responsible Home Education https://crhe.org
[14] Home School Legal Defense Association https://www.hslda.org
