Kurt Vail

HARTFORD – On Monday, it was heartening to see so many engaged and passionate parents show up at the Legislative Office Building to stand up for their right to homeschool. When families come together to advocate for their children, it sends a powerful message: the government should not dictate how children learn, nor should it determine the environment that is best for them.

The recent tragedy in Waterbury—where a child in crisis was tragically failed by the Department of Children and Families—is deeply saddening. But using that situation to cast blame on the homeschooling community is both unfair and misleading.

According to State Rep. Kurt Vail, that incident was a failure of oversight and intervention by state systems already in place, not a reflection of homeschooling as a practice.

“Families who choose to homeschool are not trying to avoid accountability—they are choosing a path they believe offers the best education, safety, and support for their children. These are parents who are actively involved, deeply caring, and committed to their children’s well-being.

Let’s keep the focus where it belongs: improving systems that are broken, not scapegoating communities that are simply trying to do what’s right for their families,” said Vail.

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