Will Estrada, director of federal relations for the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), says Assembly Bill 5796 would require every homeschool family to meet annually with a school counselor, nurse, or social worker employed by the district.
It has been framed as a way to check the welfare of homeschooled children, but parents of the state's estimated 94,518 homeschooled students did not buy that.
"The seeming purpose for this bill is this whole false idea that homeschooled children are at greater risk of abuse and neglect from their own parents than members of the general public," Estrada relays. "The evidence does not back that up, and it's pretty offensive to me."
Studies show no solid evidence that homeschooled children are more likely to experience abuse or neglect at home. In some analyses, they actually have equal or lower rates of maltreatment than conventionally schooled peers once demographic factors are considered.
Abuse and neglect do happen in homeschooling families, as they do in the general population, but existing research does not show that homeschooling itself causes higher abuse rates.
Estrada also points out that no other state in the nation requires health and wellness checks for homeschoolers.
"The homeschool community in New Jersey erupted," he reports. "They began sending emails, phone calls, and social media messages to their elected officials. Several of my colleagues and I were planning on being in Trenton … for the hearing, and literally, there would've been thousands of homeschool families there to speak out against this bill."
The public hearing scheduled for January 5 was canceled because the bill was removed from the Assembly Health Committee's agenda.
As the 2026 legislative session begins next week, HSLDA will be watching closely to see if A.B. 5796 is proposed again. They will also be tracking a similar measure, A.B. 5825, that sets requirements for mathematics and science and lesson plans that cover climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
