Connecticut Debates Homeschool Oversight After Abuse Case

Connecticut lawmakers are considering new homeschooling regulations following revelations that a Waterbury man suffered alleged abuse for two decades after being withdrawn from public school at age 11. The Office of the Child Advocate has released a report citing this and other cases as evidence that Connecticut’s lack of homeschooling oversight allows neglect and abuse to go undetected. The report calls for increased state regulation to prevent further tragedies. At a heated public hearing, homeschooling families and Republican legislators argued that the Waterbury case is being misused to justify unfair restrictions on responsible families. Child welfare officials acknowledge that most homeschoolers are not abusers but stress that oversight gaps can enable rare but severe cases of harm. The debate highlights the challenge of balancing child safety with parental rights in education.