September 8, 2025

For immediate release

The Board of Directors of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education is pleased to welcome Tess Ulrey of St. Joseph, Michigan as the new executive director at CRHE – a groundbreaking hire for the organization as the first full-time, permanent ED in CRHE’s 12-year history.
Ulrey’s experience as a leader in both nonprofit and political spaces makes her uniquely suited to take on the challenges that come with the work done by CRHE, bringing with her a robust skill set in advocacy, fundraising, and leadership. She’s led programming for organizations like the YMCA, Girls on the Run, and the Boys & Girls Club and has spent over 15 years in nonprofits serving young people.

Ulrey is passionate about amplifying the impact of youth development work and connecting missions with resources and voices that create sustainability, and is skilled at centering the experiences of young people in her efforts at advocacy and collaboration. Ulrey recently led youth advocacy efforts in Lansing and Washington, DC, has served on the Michigan After School Partnership’s Out of School Time Advisory Committee, and rallied funders to support alternative educational opportunities for underserved youth in Southwest Michigan. Her passion for education and youth issues arises in part from her own background and experiences as a homeschooled student during the majority of her primary and secondary education years. Ulrey also currently serves as an elected city commissioner in St. Joseph, Michigan, where she lives with her family.
“Tess Ulrey’s proven record of accomplishment in youth development, advocacy, and fundraising makes her the ideal choice to lead CRHE into our next phase of growth,” said Board President Jeremy C. Young. “In a strong field of 90 candidates, Tess’s experience, energy, and enthusiasm stood out. Tess is an expert in helping nonprofits fulfill their potential and achieve their goals, and CRHE will benefit greatly from her leadership, both now and in the future.”

“I am honored to continue the legacy of CRHE in empowering and advocating for homeschooled children, and am truly excited to consider the potential of connecting even more across the experience of home based education for the best outcomes,” said Ulrey. “I believe that our community at large has a responsibility to our youngest members – whether or not they are in a school system – and I am truly enthusiastic about the unique opportunity to use my background as a former homeschooled student alongside my professional track record to take CRHE’s mission to an even greater audience.”

Ulrey’s appointment marks the end of Dr. Jonah Stewart’s tenure as Interim Executive Director. Stewart has returned to the staff in a reimagined role as CRHE’s full-time Director of Programs, responsible for an expanding portfolio of initiatives aimed at supporting and protecting homeschooled children and adults. The Board extends their thanks to Stewart for their leadership in a period of transition and looks forward to continuing to work with them in their new role.

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education, founded in 2013, empowers homeschooled children by educating the public and advocating for child-centered, evidence-based policy and practices for families and professionals. CRHE envisions a future where homeschooled children’s right to a comprehensive and empowering education and to a safe and supportive home environment is affirmed and protected by laws, stakeholders, and society as a whole. CRHE’s strength is our people: our staff, volunteers, and the community of homeschooled children and adults we serve, all powered by the generous support of donors like you.

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Children’s rights organization condemns SCOTUS attack on education

For immediate release

Washington, DC – On June 27, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, which addresses whether parents have a religious-exercise right to exempt their children from educational requirements.  The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) interim executive director Dr. Jonah Stewart released the following statement:

“CRHE is disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision concerning Mahmoud v. Taylor. The court has unfortunately chosen to center the desires of parents instead of the right of every child to be safe, to learn, and to access the resources they need. As an organization founded and run entirely by former homeschooled students, we know well the devastating consequences when parents skip educational requirements because of their religious beliefs. The court’s decision has imperiled countless children’s ability to receive a quality education. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocate for stronger laws that protect children’s rights, and to create resources to support impacted communities.

“We would like to again thank every formerly homeschooled student who shared their story with us for the amicus brief we filed with the Supreme Court in the spring. While this isn’t the outcome we wanted, we know that our voices have power. We will continue to call out this injustice and fight for every child to access a quality education.”

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education empowers homeschooled children by educating the public and advocating for child-centered, evidence-based policy, and practices for families and professionals. www.responsiblehomeschooling.org

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Coalition for Responsible Home Education Files Amicus Brief With The United States Supreme Court in Mahmoud v. Taylor 

For immediate release

Washington, DC — On April 9, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, sharing the stories of homeschooled students across the country who experienced educational neglect. CRHE board chair Carmen Longoria-Green released the following statement:

“The Coalition for Responsible Home Education is honored to be a part of this historic case. As an organization founded and run entirely by formerly homeschooled students, we know firsthand the devastating consequences when parents skip educational requirements because of their religious beliefs. CRHE is proud to bring a child-centered perspective to the litigation. All too often, when courts consider the rights of parents, they neglect to also consider the right of every child to be safe, to learn, and to access the resources they need.

“We’re thankful to each and every formerly homeschooled student who bravely shared their stories with us, and we hope that no matter what happens, these individuals are as proud as we are to speak up at this critical moment in history when educational standards and institutions are crumbling around us, making homeschooled children at greater risk than ever before.”

Mahmoud v. Taylor is a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that addresses whether parents have a religious-exercise right to exempt their children from educational requirements. 

Mahmoud v. Taylor will be heard in late April.

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education empowers homeschooled children by educating the public and advocating for child-centered, evidence-based policy, and practices for families and professionals. www.responsiblehomeschooling.org

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Illinois HB 2827 adopts elements of CRHE’s Make Homeschool Safe Act model legislation

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), the only national nonprofit founded and run by homeschooled adults advocating for homeschooled children, strongly supports Illinois HB 2827, a bill that would promote child safety and education access.

If passed, HB 2827, also known as the Homeschool Act, would:

• Ensure every school-age child in Illinois is accounted for. Requires parents to notify their local school district of their intent to homeschool their child each year.
• Ensure every child has a record of their academic progress. Requires homeschooling parents to maintain a portfolio of student work to show that the child is receiving an education at least on par with public school standards.
• Ensure every child learns from educated instructors. Requires parents to have a high school diploma or equivalent in order to homeschool
• Protect children from convicted sex offenders. Bans those convicted of sexual abuse crimes from homeschooling.
• Streamline the process for homeschooled children to take part in public school activities. Requires homeschooled children taking part in public school activities to submit immunization records the same way that public school students do, while keeping current legal exemptions to immunization in place

HB 2827 draws from the Make Homeschool Safe Act, a first-of-its-kind piece of model legislation published by CRHE in 2024. The Make Homeschool Safe Act contains a range of provisions that promote child safety, education, and resource access in the homeschool community.

“Every child has the right to be safe, to learn, and to access resources. HB 2827 would protect those rights for children who are homeschooled in Illinois,” said CRHE Executive Director Angela Grimberg. “We are grateful for this opportunity to work with Illinois lawmakers and the homeschool community to help bring HB 2827 to fruition. And we urge everyone who cares about children’s rights, both in Illinois and nationwide, to join us in supporting this bill.” 

Child advocacy group calls for stronger legal protections for homeschooled children

[Washington, DC]: On December 22, 2024, Kayden Gavarrete, a 7-year-old boy homeschooled in Indianapolis, Indiana, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. We at the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), the only national nonprofit founded and run by homeschooled adults advocating for homeschooled children, mourn the loss of Kayden’s life.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Kayden allegedly suffered systemic abuse and was severely malnourished when his body was found. Kayden’s father also reportedly told detectives that his son had not seen a doctor in a year or two. His father and his father’s girlfriend both face multiple charges related to Kayden’s death. They had begun to homeschool Kayden at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, several months before he died. This is a developing story, and we will continue to monitor it.

Kayden’s story is devastating, but it also follows an unfortunately familiar pattern. At CRHE, we maintain Homeschooling’s Invisible Children, the world’s only database of extreme child abuse and neglect cases in homeschool settings. In the nearly 500 cases in our database, 49% of them, including Kayden’s, involve depriving children of food. Lax homeschool laws nationwide that have little or no provisions to ensure that children are safe and educated ultimately enable this kind of prolonged, intentional abuse. Sadly, since 2000, at least 220 abused and neglected homeschooled children have lost their lives.

Every child who is homeschooled deserves to be cared for and safe at home. At CRHE, we remain committed to protecting children like Kayden. We continue to conduct research, develop resources, and advocate for policies that prioritize homeschooled children’s wellbeing and education. To that end, we urge Indiana lawmakers to implement the Make Homeschool Safe Act, which contains measures that protect homeschooled children from abuse and neglect. It’s time to give children like Kayden the protection they deserve.

Child advocacy group opposes Utah’s proposed child safety rollbacks

[Washington, DC]: The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), the only national nonprofit advocating for homeschooled children, strongly opposes Utah HB 0209, a bill that would allow convicted child abusers to homeschool.

Currently, parents who homeschool in Utah must give their local school district an affidavit with four pieces of information:

• The school district where they live
• A statement claiming their child will be homeschooled
• A statement claiming parental responsibility for educating their homeschooled child
• A statement claiming that they have not been convicted of certain violent crimes against children

If passed, HB 0209 would remove the requirement for parents to attest to criminal background history, thereby allowing convicted abusers to homeschool without any restrictions.

“HB 0209 blatantly disregards child safety,” said CRHE executive director Angela Grimberg. “If you have been convicted of a crime that would prevent you from teaching children in a public school, then you should not be allowed to homeschool children, either. Homeschooled children deserve to learn from educators who have been vetted for safety. We urge Utah lawmakers to protect children from convicted abusers by voting no on HB 0209.”

Utah is one of just three states with laws that bar from homeschooling parents convicted of child abuse, sexual offenses, or other crimes that would disqualify them from employment as a school teacher. In a 2024 report for Homeschooling’s Invisible Children, the world’s only dataset of extreme abuse and neglect cases in homeschool settings, CRHE researchers found a number of cases in which caregivers who had been convicted of crimes against children were allowed to homeschool.

In July 2024, Gavin Peterson, a 12-year-old homeschooled child in West Haven, died from the effectives of chronic, systematic abuse allegedly committed by his family. Despite multiple reports of abuse to social services from school employees, Gavin was withdrawn from school to be homeschooled in 2023.

“Gavin Peterson’s death should have been a wake-up call for Utah legislators to strengthen protections for homeschooled children, not destroy them,” said Grimberg. “We at CRHE ask Utah residents to join us in rejecting this bill and supporting homeschooled children’s right to safety.”

[Richmond, Virginia]: During the 2025 legislative session, Virginia Senator Stella Pekarsky introduced SB 1031, which would have closed the educational neglect loophole in the state’s religious-exemption statute for homeschooling. On January 30, 2025, the Virginia Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee voted to pass SB 1031 by indefinitely. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE), the nation’s only advocacy group for homeschooled children, fully supported Pekarsky’s efforts and remains committed to ending this loophole.

“While this may not be the outcome we envisioned, this moment marks major progress in the fight for homeschooled children’s rights,” said CRHE board chair Carmen Longoria-Green. “SB 1031 garnered significant support in the Senate education committee. Before the bill was passed by, nine senators voted to end this loophole. That’s a stark contrast to when Del. Thomas Rust proposed a study on the religious-exemption statute in 2014. This progress is evidence of the real-world impact of CRHE’s work over the past decade.”

Virginia’s religious-exemption statute legalizes educational neglect in homeschooling, and Virginia is the only state in the country with such a law. Under the religious-exemption statute, a parent or guardian can refuse to teach their child anything at all — even to read — and that conduct is completely legal. Pekarsky, a former homeschooling mother, responded to the horrific cases of educational neglect authorized by this statute and introduced SB 1031 to close this one-of-a-kind loophole.

“We thank Sen. Pekarsky for her efforts to raise awareness of the massive loophole in Virginia law by introducing SB 1031,” said Longoria-Green. “We hope that her concerns are heard by other lawmakers invested in improving the current and future welfare of Virginia’s children. The fight is not over.”

If you are a homeschooled adult or homeschooling parent with connections to Virginia and are interested in supporting CRHE’s efforts to close the religious-exemption loophole, please join CRHE’s mailing list.

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education, the only national nonprofit advocating for homeschooled children, rejects the Jan. 23, 2025 proposed changes to Virginia SB 1031, which would have significantly and disastrously altered the assessment requirements in the state’s homeschool statute, Va. Code § 22.1-254.1. 

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, a substitute was offered for SB 1031, which would have altered the homeschool assessment requirements. CRHE acted immediately against this proposal and notified the bill’s sponsor that it would have to withdraw its support for the bill unless the changes to the assessment requirements were removed. The proposal has now been withdrawn, and the bill’s former language has been restored.

CRHE has been supporting Sen. Pekarsky, a former homeschooling mom and SB 1031’s sponsor, to remedy the current loophole in Virginia’s religious-exemption statute. That loophole makes it completely legal for parents homeschooling under that statute not to teach their children at all. The proposed alterations to the assessment provision were not proposed by Sen. Pekarsky – but by a senator acting without her knowledge and without the input of key stakeholders, including CRHE. As explained in her statement, Sen. Pekarsky immediately understood the dangers posed by the proposed alterations to the assessment requirements and acted swiftly to have the proposed alterations withdrawn. CRHE and Sen. Pekarsky remain in alignment with our shared goals to protect homeschooled kids.

“CRHE emphatically rejects assessment requirements that rely solely on standardized testing,” said CRHE board chair Carmen Longoria-Green. “CRHE’s model legislation, the Make Homeschool Safe Act, represents the gold standard for homeschool legislation based upon the real-world experiences of formerly homeschooled adults. The model statute embraces holistic assessment requirements so that students have a variety of methods to demonstrate their academic progress. CRHE does not endorse alterations to existing homeschool laws that run contrary to the policy positions adopted in the Make Homeschool Safe Act.”

There is significant misinformation circulating about SB 1031 and the Jan. 23 proposal to alter the assessment provisions. Opponents to SB 1031, who want the religious-exemption loophole to remain in place, are using this confusion to their advantage. The language of SB 1031 has been restored to its original purpose: removing the religious-exemption loophole that legalizes extreme educational neglect. 

“We at CRHE ask all Virginia residents to join us in supporting Sen. Pekarsky’s efforts to remove this loophole,” said Longoria-Green. “This is a vital opportunity to make homeschool safe for every child in Virginia.”

About: The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is the only organization in the country founded and run by homeschooled adults that advocates for laws and policies that protect homeschooled children. CRHE exists to ensure that homeschooling is an educational tool used to lovingly prepare children for an open future.