The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is a nonprofit organization founded by homeschool alumni that advocates for child-centered homeschool policies and maintains research on state homeschool regulations.
What is Coalition for Responsible Home Education?
The Coalition for Responsible Home Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in December 2013 by five homeschool alumni. Unlike traditional homeschool advocacy organizations that focus on parental rights and educational freedom, CRHE approaches homeschool policy from a child-centered perspective. Their mission is to empower homeschooled children through public education and advocacy for what they call "evidence-based policy and practices." The organization maintains detailed state-by-state information on homeschool laws and conducts research on homeschool outcomes and oversight. CRHE is headquartered in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
Key Takeaways
- Founded in 2013 by homeschool alumni with a child-centered advocacy focus
- Maintains comprehensive state-by-state homeschool law information
- Advocates for increased oversight and accountability in homeschooling
- Perspective differs significantly from traditional homeschool organizations like HSLDA
What CRHE Advocates For
CRHE's position on homeschool regulation differs from most homeschool organizations. They advocate for what they call "common-sense laws" that include checks and balances to ensure educational quality and child safety. Their 2024 model legislation, the "Make Homeschool Safe Act," proposed requiring parents to have at least a high school diploma or GED and mandating oversight by qualified educational professionals for parents without credentials. They argue that current state laws in many jurisdictions do little to ensure children receive adequate education. This perspective puts them at odds with organizations like the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Resources Provided
Regardless of where you stand on oversight debates, CRHE's website offers useful research tools. Their state-by-state pages document current legal requirements including notification, assessment, and record-keeping rules for each jurisdiction. They maintain original research and analysis on homeschool policy. Their Homeschooling's Invisible Children project documents cases involving abuse or educational neglect. For families simply researching their state's requirements, the regulatory information can be helpful—though you'll want to cross-reference with your state homeschool organization for complete guidance and any recent legislative changes.
Understanding the Controversy
CRHE occupies a unique and contested space in the homeschool community. Traditional homeschool advocates argue that CRHE's proposals would create burdensome regulation that undermines parental rights and educational freedom. HSLDA has characterized CRHE's model legislation as potentially creating "a nightmare of regulation and red tape." CRHE counters that their focus on children's rights shouldn't be viewed as anti-homeschooling—they argue that reasonable accountability protects the vast majority of well-intentioned homeschooling families while preventing abuse of the system. The fundamental tension is between parental rights and child welfare frameworks.
The Bottom Line
CRHE represents one perspective in ongoing debates about homeschool regulation. Whether you agree with their advocacy positions or not, understanding their arguments helps you engage with policy discussions affecting homeschool families. Their state-by-state resources can be useful for researching requirements, though always verify with your state's homeschool organization and current statutes. As with any advocacy organization, recognize that CRHE presents information through a particular lens. The homeschool community remains deeply divided on questions of oversight, and informed families should understand arguments on multiple sides.
