In late January 2018, CHOH became aware of several bills in the House and Senate that would have significantly restricted parents’ right to homeschool their children. One such bill was Senate Bill 2323. Parents would be required to go through a background check with Child Welfare Services before being allowed to homeschool their children.
CHOH jumped into action. The Board held a phone conference with our Home School Legal Defense Association attorney to plan a strategy. We also spoke with a homeschool researcher for information on homeschooling and child abuse.
Parents were encouraged to email and call their senators and members of the education committee to express opposition to SB 2323. Homeschoolers were asked to submit testimony opposing the bill.
The Senate Education Committee scheduled the public hearing for SB 2323 for February 14, 2018. Despite inclement weather and a power outage, over 400 homeschool supporters gathered together at the State Capitol.
God was working. TV monitors were set up in the hallway to accommodate the unexpected number of families. Over a hundred testimonies, overwhelmingly in opposition to the bill, were submitted by parents and even their children. In less than two hours, Senator Kai Kahele – the author of the bill – spoke and acknowledged that he needed to heed the cries of the parents. He withdrew the bill. The room and halls erupted with cheers of jubilation and praise to God! God gave homeschoolers the victory!
Do you think our sovereign God has a sense of humor? He chose February 14 – a day when we especially express love to our beloved – to show His love to homeschoolers. Let us continually offer praise and thanksgiving to God! We must faithfully ask the Lord to protect families so that they might peaceably homeschool and disciple their children for His glory!
