Find the best information about what is happening in the 2025 Legislative session as it unfolds! Each weekend, we will release an issue of Legislative Watch, which will be a re-cap of that week's developments, as well as what to expect in the weeks ahead.
**The views and opinions expressed in the "Legislative Watch" publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the North Dakota Homeschool Association. The NDHSA does not officially endorse any of the content expressed by the author.
Official policy of the NDHSA on ESA's (Educational Savings Accounts) and government funding for homeschools:
The ND Homeschool Association opposes any public funding of home education.
We Believe:
Parents are responsible for the education of their children.
Those who receive funding should be accountable to the source of those funds.
The freedom to educate according to one's conscience is more important than financial support.
“School Choice” is best achieved through deregulation and lower taxes. This empowers parents and communities to determine what works best for the children entrusted to them. With fewer financial constraints, families will have more resources to allocate as they see fit.
Funding homeschools and private schools will ultimately reduce “School Choice” because government-funded schools are no longer truly private. A major limitation of public schools is their obligation to be accountable to the public rather than to parents. While this is appropriate since the public funds them, it also restricts parental authority.
When tax dollars are used for education, some taxpayers inevitably fund belief systems they do not support.
A public school option already exists. Funding private alternatives will eventually erode their independence. Instead, efforts should focus on improving public schools while allowing and trusting parents to educate their children as they see fit.
Therefore, be it resolved that the ND Homeschool Association is opposed to any public funding of home education.
