MI Lawmakers Target Homeschooling

A Call to Pray & Contact Your Michigan Legislators

Yesterday, Representative Matt Koleszar, Chair of Michigan's House Education Committee, expressed his desire to require all homeschool families register their children with state government.

He posted on X, “Michigan is one of only 11 states that doesn’t count or register homeschooled children, and abusive parents are taking advantage of that to avoid being found out. It’s time to support all Michigan students and change that. Michigan cannot allow this loophole to continue.”

While SLG ardently opposes any and all acts of child abuse and actively works to aid the most vulnerable, we remain dedicated champions of Christian parenting and homeschooling.

There are numerous inaccuracies and false presumptions in Rep. Koleszar's statement, and it important that engaged Christian citizens respectfully bring truth into the public dialogue:

• Absence of state registration is not a "loophole." For 30 years, Michigan has been a national leader in successful home education, balancing freedom with clear statutory responsibility resulting in well-rounded academically excellent students.
• Homeschoolers do not experience abuse at a higher rate than public or private school peers, according to a recent Barna study.
• Increasing homeschool regulation will not solve the problem. A recent study proved there was no connection at all between regulation of homeschooling and incidents of abuse.
• State-run schools are far more dangerous, exposing children to high crime rates and 25 to 63 murders annually, rampant bullying and harassment, substance abuse (hence drug-free zones), suicides, and a tragically high rate (11.7%) of sexual abuse of students by public school staff.
• In short, as reported in the Gen 2 Survey revealed that students that are homeschooled are 257% less likely to be sexually abused than those in public schools.

As our friends at Michigan Christian Homeschool Network (MICHN) stated in a recent press release on the subject, "Instead of exploiting a false political narrative about home education to make headlines, Representative Koleszar’s time would be better spent focusing on improving Michigan’s struggling public school system, focusing his attention on the real problems that plague the state’s Child Protective Services and the abuse of children in union-backed schools."

Even while the legislature is on recess this month, many legislators are working on crafting policy, you can help ensure that your values are represented in that policy by speaking truth in this vital moment.

We urge you to join us in prayer for all elected leaders and to share your thoughts and concerns with Rep. Koleszar and with your own state representative and senator.

Contact Rep. Matt Koleszar

Contact your State Representative    Contact your State Senator