Rep. Weir Fights for Parental Choice
Key Takeaways
- Rep. Weir opposes HB-5468 for removing parental choice in education
- Bill would impose annual filings, curriculum portfolios, and mandatory reporting
- Lawmakers and families criticize flawed public hearing process and access
Representative Weir stood alongside his Republican colleagues in support of the thousands of Connecticut families who submitted testimony and packed the legislative office building today in support of educational freedom.
HB-5468, if implemented as proposed, would directly impact homeschooled, parochial, and private school students. One of my first concerns with this bill is how the public hearing process is being handled and the lack of respect to the thousands of residents who want their government to hear them.
Representative Weir believes a troubling aspect of this proposal is the removal of parental choice that permits them to choose which type of education their children receive.
In addition, this bill would require parents to submit annual filings with the school district, a curriculum portfolio, and comply with other mandatory reporting requirements. It also involves DCF anytime a child leaves a school system (including moving to another district), which DCF testified it does not have the resources with which to comply.
"I oppose HB-5468 because I believe parents should be the ones to make these types of choices that affect their families, not the government," Rep. Weir said.