By a Texas Homeschool Mom, on behalf of the Homeschool Freedom Coalition
As a Texas homeschool mom who cherishes the liberty to educate my children my way, the passage of Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) in the 89th Texas Legislative Session feels like a gut punch. Marketed as a win for “school choice,” this bill’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program threatens the very independence that defines homeschooling in our state. The Homeschool Freedom Coalition stands firmly against SB 2, and as a mom speaking in their voice, I’m here to expose its risks – especially the alarming state testing requirements and the monopolistic grip of approved vendors. This is a call to protect our freedom before it’s lost.
SB 2: A Trojan Horse for Homeschoolers
SB 2 establishes an ESA program, administered by the Texas Comptroller’s office, that offers families funds—backed by $1 billion for the 2026-27 biennium – to cover educational expenses like curricula, tutoring, or therapies. For homeschoolers, who often bear these costs alone, the idea of financial support sounds appealing. However, the Homeschool Freedom Coalition sees through the facade: government money always comes with control. In Texas, where homeschoolers operate with minimal oversight – requiring only a curriculum covering basic subjects taught in good faith – SB 2 introduces regulations that could dismantle our autonomy.
The Alarming Updates: Testing and Vendor Monopolies
The final version of SB 2, refined from earlier proposals, doubles down on measures that threaten homeschool freedom. Here’s why these updates are so troubling:
Mandatory State Testing Requirements: SB 2 imposes state-approved testing for students using ESAs, a direct assault on our independence. As a homeschool mom, I tailor my children’s education to their unique pace and style – some excel in hands-on projects, others in deep reading. Standardized tests, designed for public schools, don’t reflect the richness of homeschooling and could force us to “teach to the test.” The HFC warns that this requirement risks aligning our homeschools with state standards, eroding the flexibility that lets us nurture our kids’ individuality.
Frankly, I don’t want my kids to be able to take a standardized test based on their supposed grade level. I want them to excel as far as they can in certain subjects and be free to grow gently in other areas. Standardized testing is…well… standardized.
One of the main points of homeschooling is embracing uniqueness in each of your children.
Having Approved Vendors is A Path to Monopoly: SB 2 restricts ESA funds to preapproved vendors, subject to state oversight. While framed as a safeguard, this creates a system ripe for monopolization. Only large, well-funded vendors with the resources to navigate the state’s approval process are likely to dominate, sidelining small businesses, local tutors, or niche curriculum providers. As a mom, I rely on eclectic resources – a local artist for lessons, a small publisher for history books. These providers may struggle to gain approval, leaving us with cookie-cutter options from big players who prioritize profit over quality.
HFC sees this as a chokehold on choice, funneling homeschoolers toward a state-sanctioned marketplace that stifles innovation.
Reporting and Bureaucratic Oversight: Beyond testing, SB 2 mandates rigorous reporting to track ESA spending. This invites state scrutiny into our homeschools, potentially requiring us to justify every purchase or lesson plan. HFC fears this could evolve into broader regulations, like curriculum audits, that undermine our freedom to educate without interference.
In Texas, homeschooling parents have appreciated not having to have tons of reporting rules, like taking attendance. That is gone if you take the SB 2 money.
Long-Term Risks: The vendor approval system and testing requirements set a precedent for creeping control. What starts as “accountability” could morph into mandates dictating what we teach and how. HFC has long warned that government programs expand over time, and SB 2’s $1 billion infrastructure lays the groundwork for a future where homeschoolers are tethered to state oversight.
How Approved Vendors Become a Monopoly
The vendor approval process in SB 2 is a masterclass in creating a monopoly under the guise of oversight. By requiring vendors to meet state criteria – likely involving costly compliance, paperwork, and background checks – SB 2 favors large corporations with deep pockets. Think big-name curriculum companies or online education platforms that can afford legal teams to secure approval. Small-scale providers, like the homeschool co-op leader offering math workshops or the independent publisher crafting specialized science guides, may lack the resources to compete. Over time, these smaller voices are squeezed out, leaving homeschoolers with a handful of state-approved giants.
I heard through the homeschool grapevine that certain curriculums have been fighting to be on the “approved” list for Texas years even before this bill was passed! It means big money for them and a natural crowding out of their competition.
This monopolistic system limits our options and stifles the diversity that makes homeschooling vibrant. As a mom, I treasure the ability to mix and match resources – maybe a Christian worldview science curriculum for one child and a Montessori-inspired program for another. But if only a few vendors dominate, I’m stuck with their one-size-fits-all offerings, often aligned with public school standards to appease the state. Worse, these vendors could raise prices, knowing families have nowhere else to turn, draining ESA funds while delivering less value.
HFC sees this as a betrayal of the “choice” SB 2 claims to offer, replacing parental freedom with a state-controlled marketplace.
What This Means for Homeschoolers
SB 2 is a direct threat to the heart of Texas homeschooling: our right to educate without government intrusion. The state testing requirements force us to conform to metrics that don’t capture the depth of our teaching. The vendor monopoly narrows our choices, pushing us toward homogenized resources that may not reflect our values or our kids’ needs. And the broader oversight – reporting, approvals, centralized administration – invites the state into our homes, chipping away at the independence we’ve built.
The Homeschool Freedom Coalition has always championed parents as the ultimate authority in their children’s education. SB 2, despite support from figures like Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, undermines this principle.
It’s a seductive trap: take the money, lose your freedom. As a mom, I’d rather scrape by to fund my kids’ education than surrender control to a system that could dictate their learning.
A Call to Stand Firm
Texas homeschoolers, we must reject SB 2’s false promises. The Homeschool Freedom Coalition calls on every family to protect our legacy of freedom by saying no to ESAs. We’ve thrived without government handouts, relying on community, creativity, and conviction. Let’s keep it that way.
Here’s how we fight back:
Educate Yourself: Read SB 2’s analysis here to understand its risks.
Advocate Loudly: Tell legislators to preserve homeschooling’s independence and reject regulations disguised as “support.”
Strengthen Our Community: Support small vendors, co-ops, and local resources to keep our options diverse and free from state control.
Donate to the Cause: I trust the team at HFC to promote my values and fight to keep homeschoolers across the nation free, not just in Texas. They constantly watch what is going on across the US and keep parents informed, plus giving them ways to help their voice be heard by those in power. Help them with their mission.
As a homeschool mom, I’m committed to teaching my children in a way that honors their God-given potential. SB 2, with its testing mandates and vendor monopolies, threatens that mission.
Join the Homeschool Freedom Coalition in standing firm for our rights, our kids, and the future of homeschooling in Texas.
For freedom, for our families,
A Texas Homeschool Mom
On behalf of the Homeschool Freedom Coalition
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