At the Homeschool Freedom Coalition, we stand resolute with homeschooling families across Texas and the nation, fiercely defending your right to educate your children free from government overreach.
Led by Executive Director Emily Fort, a sixth-generation Texan and lifelong homeschooler, our Texas-headquartered national organization has been sounding the alarm on Senate Bill 2 (SB2), the most dangerous school choice bill to threaten Texas homeschoolers.
On April 17, 2025, the Texas House voted 86-61 to pass SB2, followed by the Senate’s approval on April 24, 2025, sending the bill to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. Abbott has vowed to sign it, all but sealing its fate. This devastating blow introduces unprecedented regulations for homeschoolers, but we are far from defeated.
Here’s what happened, how we got here, and how we’ll fight back.
SB2: A Threat to Homeschool Autonomy
SB2 establishes a $1 billion private school voucher program through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), allowing families to access up to $10,000 per student in taxpayer funds for private school tuition or homeschooling expenses. Set to launch in the 2026-27 school year upon Abbott’s signature, it’s marketed as “school choice” but comes at a steep cost for homeschoolers.
Unlike HB3, its House counterpart, which spared homeschoolers from mandatory testing, SB2 imposes curriculum restrictions and standardized testing on homeschoolers who opt into the ESA program.
For the first time in Texas history, a subset of homeschoolers will face government oversight – a direct assault on the autonomy that defines our community.
This was not the will of Texas homeschoolers. As Emily Fort learned while meeting with legislative aides in Austin, feedback was overwhelmingly against SB2, with aides reporting a 7-to-1 ratio of opposition. Texas already offers robust educational choices: homeschooling, private schools, co-ops, and more.
SB2 didn’t arise from grassroots demands but from a calculated push backed by tens of millions in campaign spending.
While the Homeschool Freedom Coalition supports rescuing children from failing government schools, we reject government-controlled homeschooling as a solution. SB2’s poorly worded provisions trade one bureaucracy for another, and its imminent enactment marks a dark day for Texas homeschooling.
The Texas Home School Coalition’s Betrayal
How did we reach this point? The blame falls squarely on the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), an organization that has utterly failed its duty to protect homeschoolers. With reported annual revenues of $1.5 million, THSC should be a formidable defender of our freedoms. Instead, they’ve betrayed us, year after year, celebrating legislation that undermines the very community they claim to represent.
THSC not only failed to oppose SB2 but actively celebrated its passage as a “great victory” for homeschoolers, echoing their support for the T-Bill years ago, which thousands opposed.
Their pattern is clear: rather than fight for unregulated homeschooling, THSC endorses bills that invite government intrusion. Their actions suggest either deliberate betrayal – cutting backdoor deals for influence – or gross incompetence. Neither is acceptable from an organization funded by homeschoolers to shield us from this very overreach.
By celebrating SB2, THSC provided political cover for legislators, enabling groups like the Texas Public Policy Institute to falsely claim homeschoolers’ support. Texas deserves leadership that fights for us, not fake protection that trades our freedoms for a seat at the table.
Lessons Learned: Grassroots Power Shines
SB2’s passage is a painful setback, but it has revealed the strength of Texas homeschoolers. You rose to the challenge, sending thousands of emails, making phone calls, and texting legislators to make it clear: THSC does not speak for us.
Your voices were so powerful that legislative aides reported overwhelming opposition to SB2. This grassroots uprising has likely deterred lawmakers from piling on aggressive new regulations in the next session – they’d be reckless to ignore your resolve.
Yet, the long-term threat looms. Texas’s political landscape is shifting. Recent elections, like the competitive Senate race between Colin Allred and Ted Cruz, signal a drift in urban areas toward blue districts. If this trend continues, the political climate in 10, 15, or 20 years could empower leadership eager to regulate homeschooling.
SB2, with THSC’s endorsement, has opened the door to that future. Their shortsightedness ignores the risks our children and grandchildren face if Texas’s conservative values erode.
A New Era of Grassroots Advocacy
The era of trusting establishment organizations like THSC is over. SB2’s passage, fueled by millions in campaign spending, proves that big-money interests can overpower complacent leadership. But it also marks the rise of authentic, grassroots advocacy.
At the Homeschool Freedom Coalition, we’re building a powerful, tech-savvy force to protect homeschooling in Texas and beyond. We’ve partnered with trusted allies like Texans for Homeschool Freedom, led by our friends for over a decade, to amplify your voices.
Nationally, we see a storm brewing. The decline of the U.S. Department of Education and the spread of poorly worded school choice bills signal a wave of regulatory battles. Many state-based homeschool organizations, founded to guide families rather than wage legislative wars, are unprepared. Some, like THSC, have turned against their own. Others fight valiantly but lack the infrastructure to counter big-money campaigns.
The Homeschool Freedom Coalition is here to fill that gap, wielding digital ads, texting campaigns, and primary election strategies to stop bad bills before they gain traction.
Your Call to Action
With SB2 now awaiting Governor Abbott’s signature, our focus shifts to preparing for future battles to prevent further regulations and preserve homeschooling freedom.
Here’s how you can act now.
Demand Accountability: Make it clear everywhere you can that THSC does not represent us as homeschoolers, and we’ll hold lawmakers accountable in primaries and elections.
Spread the Truth: Share this blog post, our videos, and email alerts with your homeschooling networks. Your co-ops and friends need to know about SB2’s impact and THSC’s betrayal.
Stay Engaged: Sign up for our email alerts, follow our Facebook page, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We’ll keep you updated on SB2’s implementation and emerging threats in future sessions.
Support True Advocates: Redirect your donations from THSC to organizations like the Homeschool Freedom Coalition and Texans for Homeschool Freedom.
We’re here to fight, not dine with the establishment.
A National Fight, A Texas Heart
Headquartered in Texas, we’re fighting a national battle. Poorly worded school choice bills are spreading, and the decline of federal education oversight will shift regulatory fights to the states. We’re ready to help homeschoolers nationwide build the infrastructure to win legislative and electoral battles, ensuring your children’s right to a free education endures.
Texas homeschoolers, your thousands of emails and calls shook Austin, and they’ll do it again. SB2’s passage is a wound, but it’s ignited a movement. Together, we’ll build a grassroots force that no campaign cash can silence.
Stay free, stay informed, and stay the course.
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