Last Thursday, the Senate adopted a troubling amendment to the Education Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 1740) that would redefine homeschooling and disqualify certain Minnesotans from educating their children at home.

This amendment bans parents—and even entire households—from homeschooling if anyone in the home has ever been convicted of a felony, gross misdemeanor, or certain misdemeanors under MN Statute 245C.15, subd. 1. Although this section includes serious crimes, the amendment targets parents who have served their sentences and have been awarded custody again. No opportunity was given for public testimony—this language was added directly on the Senate floor, bypassing committee hearings and silencing Minnesota families.

Why This Matters

If this amendment became law, children would lose the right to homeschool if someone else in the home has a past conviction.
Current law is clear: parents who have committed serious crimes and lost custodial rights already cannot homeschool their children
The vague language leaves serious questions about enforcement and feasibility.
No specific data has been offered to justify claims that abusive parents are using homeschooling to hide abuse.
The amendment disregards current legal safeguards that already protect children and determine parental custody.
Homeschooling families would be penalized without due process, despite existing legal protections and consequences for criminal behavior.
No state requires blanket background checks for all homeschoolers. This amendment could impact shared educational models like co-ops, microschools, and multi-generational teaching—hurting the very flexibility that allows homeschooling to thrive.

Take Action

This amendment is not about protecting kids, it’s about targeting homeschool families. If the state truly wants to help children succeed, it should expand—not restrict—learning options that are working for families.

👉 Contact your Minnesota State Representative TODAY and urge them to vote NO on this harmful amendment to SF 1740.