An Editorial/Opinion piece

By Faithalee Goclowski, Waterbury, Connecticut

published by The Waterbury Times|Mar 10, 2026

House Bill 5468 would require Connecticut families who homeschool to notify schools and the state, giving officials more oversight of homeschooling—even for families who are already responsibly educating their children

Waterbury- My name is Faithalee Goclowski, and I am a resident of Waterbury, Connecticut. I am a homeschooling grandparent raising and educating my granddaughter. I am deeply concerned about House Bill 5468 and the precedent it sets for government overreach into the lives of families who are responsibly educating their children outside of the public school system.

My granddaughter is homeschooled through an accredited online program that provides a structured and rigorous curriculum. Her education is not casual or unregulated. It is intentional, organized, and academically challenging. In fact, her educational level already exceeds that of many students in our local public school system.

In addition to her academic studies, she participates in dance classes, saxophone lessons, summer recreation programs through the Derby Recreation Department, and horseback riding at a local farm. These activities provide socialization, discipline, and personal development — all of which are often cited as concerns about homeschooling but are clearly addressed in our case.

I did not make the decision to homeschool lightly. Unfortunately, the conditions within our local public schools — including inconsistent policies and a shortage of highly qualified professional teachers — made it clear that homeschooling was the best educational choice for my granddaughter.

House Bill 5468 appears to impose additional oversight and regulation on homeschooling families who have done nothing to warrant such intrusion. Responsible families should not be treated as if they are suspect simply because they have chosen a different path for educating their children.

Opinion & Editorials | Waterbury Times – Local Perspectives and Analysis

Parents and guardians have a fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children. Excessive government regulation of homeschooling undermines that right and erodes the educational freedom that families in Connecticut have long relied upon.

Connecticut has long been known as the Constitution State. That title should reflect a commitment to protecting the rights of families, not expanding government authority over them.

I urge legislators to reconsider House Bill 5468 and to protect the rights of responsible homeschooling families who are working hard to provide their children with a strong education and a supportive learning environment.

Respectfully,
Faithalee Goclowski
Waterbury, Connecticut

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