Protect Homeschooling: What Louisiana Families Need to Know About 2025 Bills
New legislation could threaten educational freedom, scholarship access, and student privacy — here’s how parents can take action before it’s too late.
By The Bayou Insider Staff
As the 2025 legislative session unfolds in Baton Rouge, a series of bills are moving through the Louisiana Legislature that could have major implications for homeschooling families—and even for all parents concerned about privacy and educational freedom.
While none of these bills explicitly “attack” homeschooling today, several open the door to future restrictions, increased regulation, and loss of autonomy. For families who value educational choice and personal rights, this is a critical time to stay informed, get involved, and advocate for protections before it’s too late.
Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what families should be doing now.
Key Bills to Watch
SB 41 – Compulsory Attendance and Homeschooling
Scheduled for debate on the Senate floor Monday, April 28, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., SB 41 could become a significant concern for homeschoolers.
While it primarily addresses technical updates to attendance laws, it lacks an exemption for homeschool families if the state ever lowers the compulsory attendance age (currently 5 years old).
Without an exemption, homeschoolers could be forced into new compliance rules at younger ages in the future. Advocates are urging legislators to amend the bill to fully exempt “care given without charge”—which would include homeschooling.
HB 378 – Changes to TOPS Scholarships for Home Study Students
Pending in the House Appropriations Committee, HB 378 is another major concern.
Currently, Louisiana Home Study students can qualify for TOPS scholarships based solely on ACT scores, avoiding mandatory coursework, GPA thresholds, or standardized tests.
While HB 378 preserves the higher ACT standard for now, there is a significant risk that amendments could slip in—requiring GPA minimums, public school coursework, or other restrictions.
If that happens, homeschool flexibility would be seriously undermined, and access to college scholarships could become more difficult and bureaucratic.
HB 70 – Dual Enrollment Changes for TOPS Tech
Also pending in House Appropriations, HB 70 proposes a third eligibility option for TOPS Tech awards, combining dual enrollment coursework with existing standards.
While it sounds harmless, the danger is in the details:
New pathways often become new requirements over time.
If dual enrollment becomes mandatory alongside ACT scores, homeschoolers could face increased costs, reduced flexibility, and more red tape.
Homeschool advocates prefer an explicit exemption to protect the current ACT-only qualification route.
HB 373 – Student Data Collection Without Consent
Set for final House passage on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, HB 373 doesn’t directly target homeschooling—but its privacy implications should concern all families.
The bill allows public schools to collect students’ Social Security Numbers to track workforce outcomes—without parental or student consent.
The information would be used for state workforce data studies, but there is no clear limit on how long the data would be tracked or how it might be used in the future.
Today it’s public school students. Tomorrow, it could easily extend to homeschool students who participate in dual enrollment programs, extracurriculars, or other hybrid settings.
HB 327 – Standardizing the 10-Point Grading Scale
Finally, HB 327 would create a standardized 10-point grading scale for all Louisiana schools when reporting eligibility for TOPS.
This bill is not a direct threat to homeschoolers, but it would likely push Home Study families to adopt the same 10-point grading system on transcripts, as colleges will grow accustomed to seeing it.
Why This Matters to Homeschoolers and Parents
The risks posed by these bills may seem technical or small—but the consequences could be significant:
Preserving Educational Freedom: Once homeschoolers are tied into public school standards, flexibility and independence diminish.
Protecting Scholarship Access: Changes to TOPS could make it harder and more expensive for homeschool graduates to access college aid.
Defending Privacy: Once personal data is collected without consent, it can be tracked, sold, or leaked for years.
Preventing Future Overreach: Laws created today often expand quietly over time, extending government control into areas that once were free.
What Families Should Do Right Now
Immediate Actions
Contact your State Senators before Monday’s vote on SB 41.
Contact your House Representatives about HB 378, HB 70, and HB 373.
Politely but firmly ask for:
An exemption for homeschoolers in SB 41.
Preservation of ACT-only eligibility for Home Study students in HB 378 and HB 70.
Opposition to student data collection without consent under HB 373.
Long-Term Vigilance
Create a My Legis account to track bills affecting your family:
Create Account HereStay connected with Louisiana homeschooling and parental rights groups.
Share updates with other families. Awareness fuels action.
Conclusion
Louisiana families have long enjoyed some of the strongest homeschooling protections in the nation. But that freedom is not self-sustaining—it requires vigilance, advocacy, and action.
These bills remind us that the fight for educational liberty is ongoing, and that parents must remain the ultimate decision-makers in their children’s education and future.
If families speak up now, they can help protect those rights for years to come.
