They say everything is bigger in Texas and that applies to homeschooling, as well!
Some estimates put the number of homeschoolers at 10% of all Texas students, coming to 500,000 students! Texas has seen a 69% year-on-year homeschool boost for the past few years (source). What Texas does in the realm of homeschooling tends to lead the pack and drive change in other states.
As the legislative session progresses, the Homeschool Freedom Coalition has been actively following the developments around Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) and House Bill 3(HB 3) in Texas.
Here’s an updated, in-depth look at where the bills stand.
The Texas Legislature is pushing two bills – HB3 and SB2 – that could forever change homeschooling as we know it. These so-called “school choice” bills, cloaked as help for families, are advancing fast.
As of today, April 7, 2025, HB3 has cleared the House Public Education Committee and is headed to the full House for a vote any day now…
SB2, already passed by the Senate, got its own House committee approval on April 3 and is also awaiting a floor vote.
Why should you care? These bills offer $2,000 in Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for homeschoolers, but the strings attached are a trap. They require testing (like STAAR or normed assessments) and expense reporting – bureaucratic overreach that erodes our freedom to educate our kids our way.
This isn’t aid; it’s control.
Worse, it’s a scheme to funnel taxpayer money to certain chosen curriculum providers and testing companies, while politicians pat themselves on the back for “helping.”
Big groups like the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), raking in dues and pushing profit-driven agendas, claim homeschoolers want this. They’re wrong.
We’ve heard from our communities locally and on social media – most of you reject this government leash.
A true school choice bill we’d support? One with no testing, no reporting, and no curriculum mandates – pure funding for families to use as they see fit, not a pipeline for corporate handouts.
HB3 and SB2 aren’t that.
They’re a power grab dressed up as generosity, and they are so close to reaching Governor Abbott’s desk.
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It’s crucial that we remain engaged with this bill and the Homeschool Freedom Coalition is keeping an eye out!
Here’s what you can do:
Send emails to your state representatives, voicing your support for educational choice generally, but also your vehement opposition to the loss of homeschool freedoms. We’ve made it easy to email your legislators with our prewritten emails.
Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest from the Homeschool Freedom Coalition and other educational freedom advocates as keep an eye our on school choice bills.
Support Our Efforts: To continue our advocacy, please consider donating to the Homeschool Freedom Coalition. Your support is pivotal in these legislative battles.
These bills threaten to undermine the very essence of homeschooling freedom in Texas.
The requirement for state approval of curriculum, testing and record requirements, and the end of private school status for homeschoolers could dramatically increase government control over what has been a bastion of educational autonomy.
As it stands, with the bill now under consideration in the House, we have a critical opportunity to influence its outcome.
Let’s ensure our voices are heard, advocating for amendments that safeguard homeschooling while promoting genuine educational choice. Together, we can redefine what educational freedom looks like in Texas and beyond.
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