October 24, 2025
Dear CRHE Friends and Supporters,
My name is Tess Ulrey, and I am the newly appointed Executive Director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE). I’m writing to introduce myself and share my vision for the coalition as we move into the future.
In the United States, as political divides continue to deepen, advocating for the rights of homeschooled children and their ability to receive a high-quality education in safe home environments is more essential than ever. As someone who was homeschooled, I have seen the great potential and the serious risks of home education. News, current events, and political trends highlight the immense need for evidence-based policies and child-centered practices in the homeschooling community. CRHE fills a critical gap in the homeschool ecosystem.
I took this position because I could sense the gravity of CRHE’s mission. I know firsthand what’s at stake when there aren’t proper safeguards, and my 15 years of working at, volunteering for, and building youth-serving organizations taught me that work this important requires both passion and professionalism.
I am the first full-time Executive Director at CRHE, and my goal is to continue to strengthen our organization and the community we serve. You may have heard or seen recent statements and comments made about past decisions by CRHE board members and staff. I do not intend to discount or counter their perspectives and stories, but I assure you that under my leadership, CRHE will work diligently on its stated mission. I will not allow the past to impede the great work done to this point or the essential work ahead of us. Any changes I make, with the support of the board and CRHE’s staff, will be for the betterment of our advocacy, our education, and our mission.
Internally, CRHE is updating and changing policies that haven’t kept up with growth, including clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving HR practices, and enhancing financial processes. We’re also working to rebuild diversity on our board and staff, because we can’t effectively advocate for all homeschooled children without different perspectives at the table.
During my transition to the organization, CRHE remained focused on goals that move our mission forward. We’re continuing to engage with legislators to promote evidence-based homeschool regulations and expand our child abuse prevention trainings to reach hundreds of child welfare professionals this year. CRHE is participating in the broader conversation about home education, providing media commentary, engaging with homeschooling parents, performing and supporting research to shape public understanding and continuing to build our network of homeschool alumni.
When I think about why CRHE’s mission is so important, I think about the homeschooled children who are thriving because their families had the proper resources, support, and accountability. Also, the ones who aren’t. The children in isolated situations, without adequate education, or adults checking in. Those children deserve advocates who won’t give up on them, even when things get complicated.
CRHE exists because there is a community of people who believe homeschooled children deserve better. I’m committed to leading with humility, transparency, and an unwavering focus on the community we serve. I hope you’ll join me in that commitment. I also want to serve as a resource to you, and I am excited to meet as many people as possible who are dedicated to this mission. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, listen with an open mind, and responsibly grow our organization to amplify the voices of even more homeschooled children.
I truly believe the best days of CRHE are ahead of us, and I’m excited to work with this community to drive this mission forward.
Thank you for your support. Please reach out to me with any questions; we are partners in this work and I am open to your experiences and ideas as we move ahead.
Tess Ulrey
Open Letter from CRHE Executive Director Tess Ulrey
October 24, 2025
Dear CRHE Friends and Supporters,
My name is Tess Ulrey, and I am the newly appointed Executive Director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE). I’m writing to introduce myself and share my vision for the coalition as we move into the future.
In the United States, as political divides continue to deepen, advocating for the rights of homeschooled children and their ability to receive a high-quality education in safe home environments is more essential than ever. As someone who was homeschooled, I have seen the great potential and the serious risks of home education. News, current events, and political trends highlight the immense need for evidence-based policies and child-centered practices in the homeschooling community. CRHE fills a critical gap in the homeschool ecosystem.
I took this position because I could sense the gravity of CRHE’s mission. I know firsthand what’s at stake when there aren’t proper safeguards, and my 15 years of working at, volunteering for, and building youth-serving organizations taught me that work this important requires both passion and professionalism.
I am the first full-time Executive Director at CRHE, and my goal is to continue to strengthen our organization and the community we serve. You may have heard or seen recent statements and comments made about past decisions by CRHE board members and staff. I do not intend to discount or counter their perspectives and stories, but I assure you that under my leadership, CRHE will work diligently on its stated mission. I will not allow the past to impede the great work done to this point or the essential work ahead of us. Any changes I make, with the support of the board and CRHE’s staff, will be for the betterment of our advocacy, our education, and our mission.
Internally, CRHE is updating and changing policies that haven’t kept up with growth, including clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving HR practices, and enhancing financial processes. We’re also working to rebuild diversity on our board and staff, because we can’t effectively advocate for all homeschooled children without different perspectives at the table.
During my transition to the organization, CRHE remained focused on goals that move our mission forward. We’re continuing to engage with legislators to promote evidence-based homeschool regulations and expand our child abuse prevention trainings to reach hundreds of child welfare professionals this year. CRHE is participating in the broader conversation about home education, providing media commentary, engaging with homeschooling parents, performing and supporting research to shape public understanding and continuing to build our network of homeschool alumni.
When I think about why CRHE’s mission is so important, I think about the homeschooled children who are thriving because their families had the proper resources, support, and accountability. Also, the ones who aren’t. The children in isolated situations, without adequate education, or adults checking in. Those children deserve advocates who won’t give up on them, even when things get complicated.
CRHE exists because there is a community of people who believe homeschooled children deserve better. I’m committed to leading with humility, transparency, and an unwavering focus on the community we serve. I hope you’ll join me in that commitment. I also want to serve as a resource to you, and I am excited to meet as many people as possible who are dedicated to this mission. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, listen with an open mind, and responsibly grow our organization to amplify the voices of even more homeschooled children.
I truly believe the best days of CRHE are ahead of us, and I’m excited to work with this community to drive this mission forward.
Thank you for your support. Please reach out to me with any questions; we are partners in this work and I am open to your experiences and ideas as we move ahead.
Tess Ulrey