the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton, NJ — The New Jersey Policy Institute (NJPI), a leading advocate for school choice and parental rights, is raising serious concerns about Senate Bill S-1796, calling it a direct threat to homeschooling freedoms and a major step backward for educational innovation in the Garden State.
At the heart of the opposition is NJPI President and Founder Rosemary Becchi, who released a strongly worded statement defending school choice and warning that the bill could erode the flexibility and responsiveness that homeschooling provides.
🚨 What’s in the Bill?
Senate Bill S-1796, currently pending before the Senate Education Committee, proposes increased regulations for homeschool families, including:
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Annual filings of detailed notices
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Mandatory tracking of educational progress
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Potential penalties for administrative oversights
NJPI warns that these requirements would turn homeschooling families into bureaucratic targets and deter parents from choosing alternative educational paths.
🧑🏫 Why It Matters
In Rosemary Becchi’s words:
“Excessive regulations on homeschooling risk stifling educational freedom and innovation—undermining the ability of New Jersey families to tailor learning to their children’s unique needs.”
This isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about preserving educational freedom in New Jersey. As more families across the state choose to homeschool—often due to concerns over curriculum content, safety, or learning styles—flexibility is key. NJPI argues that adding red tape does nothing but discourage innovation and punish proactive parents.
💡 The Bigger Picture: Support for School Choice
S-1796 represents more than just a homeschooling issue—it’s part of a larger battle over school choice in New Jersey. NJPI has long advocated for education savings accounts, charter school expansion, and parental control over curriculum. Bills like S-1796, according to NJPI, undermine that mission by favoring centralized control over individualized learning.
Becchi continued:
“Our legislators should be working to encourage greater innovation and creativity in education—not creating more barriers and obstacles for parents and students.”
✅ What NJPI Supports Instead
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Streamlined, parent-friendly policies that support homeschooling without unnecessary oversight
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Expanded school choice options, including vouchers, charters, and ESAs (Education Savings Accounts)
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Policies that trust parents as primary educators and allow them the freedom to choose what works best for their children
📢 Take Action
Concerned parents and advocates for school choice in New Jersey are encouraged to contact their state legislators and voice opposition to S-1796. Protecting the right to homeschool is not just a niche issue—it’s about defending every family’s right to choose the best educational path for their children.
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Maybe parents would opt not to home school if public school systems were to rid themselves of some of the nonsense being taught. Also, they don’t really know who the teachers are. Are some pedophiles grooming their children? How much is really done in background checks? Are all teachers certified by the state to teach? Do some of the schools hide information from parents concerning their children? The same goes for private schools. And with regard to those schools, why is tuition so high? I heard about one private school here in Bergen County that charges up to $52,000 tuition per year per child. Insane.
Getting back to the home schooling issue, is the state going to mandate parents start teaching some of the nonsense taught in public schools? Only time will tell.
Teachers are generally quality and well intentioned. Perhaps lacking in experience at times. But they meet the needs of students in the classroom, where their energy and focus should stay. Those that don’t invest their energy into union antics at least. The issues come from administrators who pile on mandate after mandate with no consistency, no connection to a larger picture.
Public schools are turning into Democratic run institutions, which is why…. none of the kids want to be there and they have significant mental health needs.
Things need to change quick, starting in Ridgewood!