by Wells Winegar, NJPI Executive Director
The New Jersey Policy Institute has formally urged members of the Assembly Health Committee to oppose Assembly Bill A5796, a proposal that would impose new mandatory requirements on families who choose to educate their children at home. The Committee meets on Monday, January 5th, to consider the bill.
A5796 would require homeschooled children and their parents or guardians to participate in an annual meeting with a school district employee designated by the superintendent, such as a school counselor, nurse, or social worker. The stated purpose of the meeting would be to allow parents to request district support and to allow the district to conduct a general health and wellness check of the child.
While NJPI supports student well being and thoughtful public policy, we are concerned that this bill represents an unnecessary expansion of school district oversight into home education without clear evidence of need or appropriate safeguards. The bill applies only to homeschooling families and does not impose similar requirements on families whose children attend private schools, raising questions of fairness and equal treatment.
NJPI is also concerned about the lack of clarity in the bill language, particularly around what a general health and wellness check would entail, how information would be documented or retained, and what consequences could arise from noncompliance. In addition, the bill would place new responsibilities on already overextended school counselors, nurses, and social workers without providing additional resources.
During the current lame duck legislative session, bills can move quickly with limited public scrutiny. For that reason, NJPI believes it is especially important to pause and carefully consider policies that affect family choice, privacy, and the proper role of government in education.
NJPI has submitted a formal letter to the Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the Assembly Health Committee outlining these concerns and urging the committee not to advance A5796 in its current form.
👉 [Click here to read NJPI’s letter to the Assembly Health Committee]
NJPI remains committed to engaging constructively with policymakers on issues related to education, parental rights, and student welfare, and stands ready to support approaches that respect family choice while addressing legitimate public concerns.
