On June 24th, 2025, The Breakthrough Show Network broadcasted a special live episode in response to a pivotal “working group” meeting held at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Organized by Representative Patrick Biggins (House District 11), the meeting was designed to explore the possibility of introducing homeschool legislation in the upcoming session, a move that has stirred deep concern among Connecticut’s homeschool community.
As a long-time homeschooling mother, media producer, and advocate for transparent dialogue, I hosted the broadcast from our studio in Southeastern Connecticut, while our on-the-ground correspondent provided live updates from inside the Legislative Office Building.
What Sparked This Meeting?
The homeschool community in Connecticut has been on high alert since earlier this year when a disturbing case involving a man allegedly held captive in Waterbury sparked rumors about homeschooling abuse, even though the case had no actual ties to home education. This incident, along with another unrelated tragedy, became a flashpoint for renewed legislative interest in regulating homeschoolers.
Despite over 4,000 people rallying at the Capitol in May to oppose such measures, Representative Biggins’ office quietly initiated this follow-up meeting with limited notice, no livestream access, and originally, limited public access. This lack of transparency prompted a swift response, one that brought together advocates, parents, and media partners to ensure the public could witness and respond to the proceedings.
Connecticut Law: Misunderstood, Misrepresented
Early in the broadcast, I revisited a past conversation with Diane Connors, President of the Connecticut Homeschool Network (CHN), where she clarified the often-misunderstood Connecticut General Statute 10-184. Contrary to popular belief, this statute begins by affirming a parent’s duty to educate their children, not the state’s. Only if a parent chooses does enrollment in public or private schooling come into play.
This foundational truth, frequently overlooked in public discussions, became a central theme throughout the day.
“At its core, homeschool is about choice… It’s the ability of parents to direct the education of their children in a way that best fits their learning styles, interests, views, values, and individual needs.” – Representative Anne Dauphinais (June 4th, 2025 Press Conference)
A Turning Point in the Conversation
Thanks to the efforts of CHN, NHELD (National Home Education Legal Defense), and dedicated families, homeschoolers were eventually allowed into the meeting room. There, a surprisingly open dialogue unfolded. Representatives like Anne Dauphinais, Lezlye Zupkus, and Irene Haines advocated for homeschoolers, acknowledging that recent tragedies were not homeschooling failures but agency failures — namely DCF (Department of Children and Families).
Attendees repeatedly emphasized a crucial distinction: these heartbreaking cases had nothing to do with homeschooling. They were rooted in false rumors used to scapegoat homeschoolers and justify increased government control over families.
A Clear Message to Lawmakers
“The law says we have the duty to instruct our own children. Why are state agencies ignoring that?” – Attorney Deborah Stevenson
Throughout the meeting, Attorney Deborah Stevenson of NHELD and other speakers underscored the real issue: agency accountability. Over and over, it became evident that DCF, SDE (State Department of Education), and even legislators themselves lacked a full understanding of current laws, or ignored them entirely.
Key concerns raised included:
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- Misuse of truancy laws to threaten compliant homeschoolers.
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- Referrals, and threats to refer to DCF based solely on lack of “Notice of Intent” filings, which are not only not required by law, but are illegal according to coercion and false reporting statutes.
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- Skewed DCF data used to justify oversight that has no legal basis.
One particularly powerful moment came when attendees reminded lawmakers that when homeschoolers are falsely reported to DCF, not because of abuse but due to district misunderstanding, it distorts statistics, leading to faulty policy proposals.
The Spirit in the Room
Despite the tense topic, the energy from those in attendance was overwhelmingly positive. Homeschooling families were engaged, informed, and united. Signs were held high. Voices were clear. Advocacy was strong.
“We flipped it. We flipped it. I think we turned the spotlight where it deserves to be turned — on the issues with DCF.” – Parent
Our corespondent captured these sentiments perfectly in her interviews with families after the meeting. Rebecca Farrington, a second-generation homeschool mom of seven, said it best: “We don’t need to be legislated. Everybody needs to leave us alone. We’ll be happier that way.”
Moving Forward
While Representative Biggins expressed an interest in continuing these discussions and gathering data from agencies like DCF and SDE, many disagreed and left the meeting hopeful that the focus would shift away from homeschoolers and toward the real root of recent tragedies — systemic failures within the state.
The day after the Capitol meeting, The Breakthrough Show Network hosted another important broadcast featuring Attorney Deborah Stevenson of NHELD and Diane Connors, President of the Connecticut Homeschool Network. In this powerful follow-up conversation, both leaders offered their direct responses to the working group meeting and spoke clearly about the pristine laws already in place regarding homeschooling in the state of Connecticut. Their message was consistent and unequivocal: the current statutes, particularly CGS 10-184, already provide the legal foundation needed to ensure accountability and educational standards — no additional regulation is necessary.
Further validating the concerns raised by homeschool families, an article was released that same day by the CT Post revealing serious issues within the Department of Children and Families (DCF). According to a new audit, DCF was repeatedly faulted for failures in oversight, recordkeeping, and ensuring the safety of children in its care, including cases involving children running away from state placements. This report highlights exactly why so many advocates believe the state’s focus should be on fixing existing agency dysfunction, not targeting law-abiding homeschool families.
Still, advocates like CHN and NHELD remain vigilant. The homeschool community has made it clear: We are watching. We are informed. We are ready. And should another attempt arise to regulate where it is not needed, the community is prepared to stand strong once again.
Learn More & Stay Connected:
📌 Connecticut Homeschool Network – cthomeschoolnetwork.org
📌 National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD) – nheld.us
📧 Questions? Reach out to me directly: Jessica@TheBreakthroughShow.com
Thank you to everyone who tuned in, stood up, and spoke out. This is what advocacy looks like.
— Jessica Dugas, The Breakthrough Show Network
For the full transcript and meeting audio visit: Google Docs