In a troubling move that should concern every parent of faith, lawmakers in New Jersey have introduced legislation that would empower the state to intrude deeply into the private lives of homeschooling families. Senate Bill 4589, now pending in the state legislature, would require annual meetings between homeschooling families and government-appointed officials—essentially reversing the American legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.

This bill, sponsored exclusively by Democrat lawmakers, mandates that homeschooled children and their parents must meet annually with a school nurse, counselor, or social worker from their school district. Ostensibly framed as a “health and wellness check,” the legislation raises serious concerns about privacy, religious liberty, and the government’s expanding role in family life.

Let’s be clear: this bill is not about helping children—it’s about asserting state control over families who choose to educate their children outside the failing public school system. As Christians, we know that God has entrusted the responsibility of raising and educating children to parents—not to government bureaucrats.

The bill even claims the visit will offer parents the chance to “request support from the school district,” though no one seems to know what that means. What is certain, however, is that the government will use this as an opportunity to scrutinize parents and children for any sign of noncompliance with politically motivated standards. These are the same school systems promoting gender confusion, radical sexual ideologies, and divisive race-based curricula—often in direct contradiction to Christian values.

Scott Woodruff, director of legal and legislative advocacy at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), warned that S.B. 4589 is “astonishingly problematic.” He pointed out that the bill doesn’t define what a “general health and wellness check” entails, leaving the door open for government employees to interpret the rules however they see fit—including interviewing children privately, away from their parents.

This is not just an overreach. It is a deliberate attempt to undermine the sacred duty of parents to raise their children according to their faith, conscience, and convictions. By subjecting homeschoolers to annual interrogations, New Jersey lawmakers are suggesting that parents must prove their innocence to the state—an insult to every family who has chosen this path in good faith.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Another New Jersey bill, S.B. 1796, seeks to force homeschooling families to register with the state and submit information about their children, all without clear privacy protections. These efforts are part of a growing nationwide trend: weaponizing rare and tragic cases of child abuse in order to justify increased surveillance of all homeschoolers.

It’s a well-worn strategy. Activist journalists find an isolated case of abuse—often one already handled by law enforcement—and amplify it to push the narrative that homeschooling is “dangerous” or “unregulated.” These narratives ignore the thousands of Christian families across the country who are raising well-educated, morally grounded children in safe and loving homes.

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer typified this approach. It expressed dismay that homeschoolers in New Jersey are “under the complete control of their parents.” The implication, of course, is that parental authority is somehow suspicious. But as Christians, we affirm that children belong first to God and are given by Him to their parents—not to the state.

If lawmakers truly cared about the welfare of children, they would start by cleaning up the public school system. Federal data shows rampant sexual misconduct by staff, dismal academic performance, and a toxic culture that leaves countless children unprepared for life. Yet it is homeschoolers—whose students consistently outperform their public school peers—who are being targeted.

Groups like the “Coalition for Responsible Home Education” claim they want “accountability,” but in practice, their demands amount to state control. Their vision of “responsible” homeschooling is one where parents must ask permission to raise their children according to their beliefs.

This is not about education—it’s about ideology. Christian families represent a growing segment of the homeschooling community, and they are often the most vocal in rejecting the immoral curriculum and anti-family values pushed by many public schools. That is why these families are being targeted.

The good news is that people are speaking out. The HSLDA and other defenders of educational freedom are urging parents to call their lawmakers and demand that these bills be rejected. Now is the time to stand firm. We must not allow fearmongering and political pressure to rob us of our God-given rights.

New Jersey’s proposals are a warning to homeschoolers everywhere: the battle for parental rights and religious liberty is far from over. But with prayer, vigilance, and bold action, we can ensure that parents—not the government—remain the primary educators of their children.