By Carolyn Martin (CHEC Director of Government Relations)
Freedom is Costly
In the legislature there are many policy ideas wrapped in compassion that, in reality, only grow and empower a hard-hearted government apparatus and limit the liberties of the people. Last week, the Empowerment Scholarship Act (ESA) bill (SB24-122) was heard in the Senate Education Committee. It was presented as a way to help families with children who have special needs get out of the failing public school system.
Despite our clear message over the years to leave the homeschool law out of legislation attached to funding, we found ourselves having to defend our position once again. During the committee hearing they mentioned several times that they received a lot of emails on the topic from homeschoolers and I want to thank you all for weighing in. You made an impact! Many probably received a response claiming that you didn’t need to be concerned because the bill wouldn’t affect you if you don’t take the money. Let’s unpack that.
First, let me explain some aspects of the bill that should concern even those who would have been eligible for the funding. The program would have been managed by a third-party entity who would be in charge of making sure parents were “providing an education” and were following all the “rules and requirements.” The definitions of those were not in the bill so they would be determined through the rulemaking process by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The additional requirements established would be in direct conflict with our homeschool freedom and those accepting the funds would be fully under the dominion of a government system of education.
It is a fallacy to believe that those not taking the money would be unaffected by the program. Experience has shown us that when the government incentivizes homeschooling, their desire to control it increases and the freedom of all within the homeschool community is impacted. The government, in its desire to centralize power, often conflates all varieties of homeschoolers into one category regulating them all the same. We also need to consider that when the government funds something — in this case, special needs providers and homeschool curriculum & services — the market for those resources changes and not for the better.
While these programs are developed to meet a real need, they also produce more people dependent on the government. Additionally, the infusion of government money into a community ultimately shrinks the support systems for those outside government control, leaving independent homeschoolers without a solid support system. Much like what happened on the western slope a decade or so ago. Our tendency as human beings is toward dependence on something, whether it is the government or some other system, because exercising freedom is not easy or comfortable; it is costly.
One thing the sponsor kept talking about was the access of foster parents to the program. It is my understanding that foster parents cannot homeschool the foster children under their care. If you have experience with the foster care system, I would love to hear if you have been able to homeschool your foster children. In addition, there is a bill going through the system outlining the rights of foster children (HB24-1017) you might want to check out — let me know if you have questions.
Trusting in the mighty power and grace of Jesus,
Carolyn Martin
CHEC Director of Government Relations
Carolyn@CHEC.org
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