New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would require new oversight of homeschooling, prompting concerns from parents and political leaders who say the proposal could significantly alter how families educate their children at home.
The legislation, still in the early stages of consideration, would mandate that homeschooled students submit an annual year-end portfolio of their schoolwork.
They think they own your kids. pic.twitter.com/ZmHeQdXViU
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) September 6, 2025
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The portfolio would be reviewed by either a licensed teacher or a psychologist to ensure compliance with state education standards.
Proponents of the bill argue that the measure is aimed at ensuring educational accountability and protecting children from potentially abusive situations.
Critics say the proposal would interfere with parental rights and open the door to ideological requirements, such as mandates to teach subjects like gender identity, diversity and inclusion programs, and climate-related studies.
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These issues have been a focal point of political debate in the state’s education system, where past legislation has required public schools to integrate LGBTQ curriculum.
The bill comes as Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., prepares to face Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the November gubernatorial election.
Sherrill, who secured the Democratic nomination earlier this year, has supported progressive education policies and backed the inclusion of LGBTQ material in public school instruction.
ATTENTION NJ VOTERS
Mikie Sherill, the Democrat nominee for NJ Governor, says that she will push an LGBTQ agenda in schools and WILL NOT allow parents to opt out.
She wants schools to groom your children.
BEWAREpic.twitter.com/19EVUFm9H4
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 5, 2025
Critics argue that if elected, she would expand similar requirements to homeschooling families through state legislation.
Polling shows Sherrill holding a lead of nearly nine points over Ciattarelli, though surveys also indicate strong support for the Republican candidate among independent voters.
Ciattarelli is expected to perform well among black and Hispanic voters, groups that supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election and were less favorable to Sherrill during the 2025 Democratic primary.
Ciattarelli, who previously ran for governor in 2021 and lost to Democrat Phil Murphy by only three points, has positioned himself as an advocate for parental rights in education.
He has voiced opposition to measures that increase state control over homeschooling and pledged to prevent what he calls unnecessary oversight of families choosing alternative education paths.
According to national statistics, homeschooling has been steadily rising in popularity, with an estimated 4.2 million children now receiving their education at home.
Advocates for homeschooling cite concerns about public school curriculum and a desire for greater parental involvement in their children’s education.
Supporters of the New Jersey proposal maintain that oversight is necessary to ensure children receive adequate instruction and to provide safeguards against abuse.
Opponents counter that the plan is intrusive and would allow political agendas to influence what parents teach their children.
The outcome of the gubernatorial race could play a significant role in determining whether the bill advances.
If Sherrill wins in November, observers say the legislation may gain traction in the state legislature. A Ciattarelli victory would likely mean the proposal would face strong opposition from the governor’s office.
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As the debate continues, New Jersey parents and educators are closely watching the legislature and the campaign trail, aware that the election outcome may shape the future of homeschooling policy in the state.
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NJ is a Democrat state. The Department of noEducation is run by the teacher’s union and the union owns the politicians. They always get what they want and they want to get rid of the home schooling competition.
These people are despicable.
That’s an understatement, they are far worse than despicable.
They are Luciferians and even if they don’t realize it, they are worshipping and feeding their god, Satan.
I worked in public schools in a variety of positions and I can assure you that they are cesspools of waste, fraud, and political indoctrination. My wife and I opted to homeschool rather than give up our children to the deepstate in Vermont. We educated our two children for a total of nearly 25 years. When we started an end of year report was mandatory. I can assure you that an EoY report is not invasive and not the “in road” to state control. An EoY report is a valuable tool and should be welcomed by any honest homeschooler. If you did the work, you should not fear proving it. I would object to a psychologist review. There is no place for psycho-babble in education and their participation is part of why schools are so bad. Guidelines for homeschool should always be part of the deal, they help new homeschoolers figure out what is needed, but they should also be minimal and general. Democrats are tools of the Education Industry and like all industry, it exists not to teach but to employ teachers. This is why bad and predatory teachers never get fired, they just get shuffled around to other schools. Education needs to be taken away from The State and returned to parental control at the local town level. Parents should run school boards and decide on teacher hirings and firings and school policy. When we had that in the past, we had the best education system on the planet. When we started thinking of teachers as important people, we gave them control and we lost control. Teachers are useful but they aren’t “front line heroes.” Anyone can teach.
Wrong. The state has no “right” to educate children that supersedes a parent’s legitimate and God-given right to educate the children He gave them. What kind of lunacy would lead one to justify this on any level, federal, state or local. I hope your kids turned out ok. And you’re welcome to have anyone you like review your homeschool work. But NO ONE should have a right to infringe on something so basic as educating one’s own children.
They will never stop trying to gain footholds into children’s lives. Enough.
That’s because they consider the families disproportionately white.
Obviously.
Parents should look at this as an opportunity to make their children aware of evil and how governments can be corrupt.
Learning how to live as a Christian in a corrupt world.
Time to face reality. Affirmative Action was ruled unconstitutional because it was discrimination, pure and simple. So the Progressives/Left/Communists/Socialists renamed it DEI and continued the same ole’ “do-do.”
IMHO its all part of Obama’s “Fundamental Transformation,” aka destruction of the Western Culture.
This has been going on since the 60’s, unfortunately. When I was in High School in the 60’s, they started busing kids in to mix us up. It didn’t really solve anything because the mostly Black kids they brought in didn’t want to be there and didn’t mix up with us very often.