by Nathan Pierce, Family Protection Ministries
Aug 4, 2025
“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of Yahweh, our God.” Psalm 20:7 Friends of homeschool freedom, thank you for taking a moment to read this important message. The Make Homeschool Safe Act (MHSA), released as a model bill by the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), proposes sweeping regulatory changes that would radically alter homeschooling freedoms. Although this bill hasn’t yet been introduced as law in California, its provisions are being aggressively promoted in legislation in other states, and could easily influence future legislation across the nation, including in California. Minimum Parent Education Requirements: Parents without a high school diploma or GED could only homeschool under the supervision of a "qualified educational professional" who could dictate curriculum and monitor academic progress. Restrictions Tied to CPS Investigations: Families subject to any abuse or neglect investigation—even if unsubstantiated—would face bans or mandatory supervision before being allowed to homeschool. Mandatory Evaluations & Waiting Periods: Parents would need to wait 30 days before beginning to homeschool, with annual in-person evaluations reviewed by state superintendents who have the authority to override the sign-off of an “educational professional.” Mandatory Vaccinations: Homeschool children would have to follow the same immunization schedules as public school students, with exemptions nearly impossible to obtain in states like California. What’s at stake? Families would face unprecedented state intrusion into their homes and private educational decisions. The fundamental right of parents to direct their children’s education would be usurped by government bureaucrats. The legal landscape would shift permanently toward seeing homeschoolers as suspect by default. While MHSA legislation is not yet active in California, on the other side of the country, homeschool freedoms in New Jersey are under direct assault. Proposed legislation there would mandate curriculum approval by the state, putting bureaucrats in the driver’s seat instead of parents. What triggered this attack on parental rights and educational freedom? A media narrative rooted in a tragic story where a child was reportedly abused—and the word “homeschooling” was included in the headline. This isn’t just bad policy. It’s bad logic—and it's a dangerous precedent. These types of bills, though often well-meaning, do nothing to prevent abuse, but instead punish law-abiding families by stripping them of their rights and freedoms. There are immediate threats requiring our attention here in California. One example is AB 727. In the last few weeks, the California Senate Education Committee advanced AB 727, a bill that would require every student ID card to include the Trevor Project’s suicide hotline—a service marketed as LGBTQ-affirming and rooted in ideologies that many Christian families do not support. Originally, this bill included private school and homeschool students, but due to our advocacy, those groups have been removed. That is a huge praise! However, the bill still applies to Christian colleges and all public school students, and it’s continuing to move forward. As of now, it sits in the Senate Appropriations Committee. If passed, it will move to the Senate floor, then back to the Assembly, and finally the Governor's desk. We ask you to pray specifically that AB 727 dies in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Just as Hezekiah prayed for deliverance in 2 Kings 19:19, we can pray for deliverance from legislation like AB 727. Homeschooling is more than an educational choice—it’s a discipleship journey, a family conviction, and, often, a countercultural stand. But you can't do it alone. Without community, it’s easy to become discouraged, uninformed, or overwhelmed. Being part of a local support group gives you: Fellowship with like-minded families who share your values and convictions. Encouragement on the hard days, when doubts and distractions creep in. Resources to help you navigate curriculum, legal concerns, or difficult seasons. Connection to the broader state and national movements defending your freedoms. Even more importantly, when local support groups are linked into a statewide support network, we become a unified voice. That’s how we become aware of the current threats against our freedoms and learn steps we can take to help protect them. That’s how we speak the truth in love—not just in our homes and churches, but in our capitols and courtrooms too. In times like these, isolation is dangerous. If we are unaware of the looming threats, we will not be able to stand and advocate for our rights. Local support groups become lifelines during these cultural storms. They help families stand strong. They help truth be heard. They help our homeschool community flourish in the face of adversity. You may never meet homeschool families who live out in the high desert or along California’s rugged coastline or are part of the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. But, you are all part of the California homeschool community. And you are a force to be reckoned with when you are connected and working together. Our influence is multiplied when local groups are connected to the larger network. When we’re united, we can mobilize quickly. We can educate others. We can protect our freedoms—and more importantly, we can proclaim the gospel with courage and clarity as we move forward together. Once you are part of a local group, get connected to CHEA’s Support Network. Local groups are excellent resources and absolutely strengthen the homeschool community. However, it is essential that those groups are connected to each other. By building strong local homeschool communities and connecting them to statewide efforts, we can unite with one voice to influence our state and stand together to defend homeschool freedom. “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 The Homeschool Community Is Like a Herd of Zebras In the wild, a zebra alone is vulnerable. Separated from its herd, it’s an easy target for predators—watched, stalked, and sometimes misunderstood just for being different. But in a herd, zebras protect each other. Their stripes blend together, making it difficult for threats to single one out. They move together, watch out for danger, and defend their own. Right now, homeschool families are like zebras in a dangerous landscape. Legislative predators—like the MHSA and bills such as AB 727—are prowling, seeking to isolate, control, or restrict those who choose a different path for their children’s education. When a media headline mentions “homeschooling” in connection with a tragic story, it’s like a lion catching the scent of something unfamiliar—it triggers scrutiny, suspicion, and sometimes unfair judgment of the entire herd. If we don’t stick together—if we don’t form a strong, connected herd—these threats will pick us off one by one. Isolated families may feel helpless, outnumbered, or unaware of the danger until it’s too late. But when local homeschool groups stay connected—both to each other and to a larger network like CHEA—they become like a herd of zebras running as one. They’re harder to divide, harder to silence, and far more powerful together than apart. A lone zebra is a target. A connected herd is a force. Don’t homeschool in isolation. Stay alert. Stay united. Stay free. ________________________________ Nathan Pierce began working at Family Protection Ministries (FPM) in 2002 to protect private homeschooling in California. As a homeschool graduate, he received a B.A. in Political Studies from The Master's University. He serves as Director and Legislative Liaison for FPM and works behind the scenes at the State Capitol to advocate on behalf of homeschoolers. He and his wife, Betsy, homeschool their own eight children.Key Threats from the MHSA
If provisions of the MHSA are adopted:Trouble Brewing in New Jersey
Why Now? Because the Battle is Intensifying
What Does Any of This Have To Do With My Local Support Group?
We Must Be Connected
Join Your Local Support Group
If you’re not part of a local group, we strongly encourage you to join one. If there isn’t one in your area, consider starting one. When you are in the midst of your hectic homeschool schedule, it can be daunting to think of adding one more thing. However, building connections with others is vital to the survival of our homeschool community as a whole.
