As a homeschool father of eight children, an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, and a lieutenant colonel in the Alaska Air National Guard, I am thrilled to see members of Congress spearhead legislation to support our men and women in uniform and their families.

Legislation introduced in Congress last week will allow military families who homeschool their children to follow the homeschool laws of their legal home state during permanent change-of-station moves. Currently, each time military families move, they have the added burden of figuring out their new state’s homeschool laws and reporting requirements, all while juggling military service, moving, and the usual pressures of work and family. 

I know this pressure personally. 

My wife and I moved with our family five times in 10 years on military orders, from Germany to Alaska to Colorado. Some states had simple laws while others were more complex. We were required to meet key deadlines when paperwork had to be filed with local or state education authorities. A family that misses these dates can come into conflict with local school district officials or even face truancy actions.

I’m grateful to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Ashley Moody (R-FL) for introducing S. 4783 to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow military homeschool families to follow the homeschool laws of their legal home state. Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC), a military veteran, has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives as H.R. 9351.

HSLDA worked closely with our friends in Congress to ensure that the language is optional: Military families will be able to choose whether to follow the homeschool law of their legal home state, or the new state they move to on military orders. This is important, as some military families want their children to be able to participate in public school sports or activities and will need to comply with local regulations. 

This legislation provides military families with the support and flexibility they need to homeschool their children amid changing duties, varying laws, short-notice moves, and new living arrangements. It is a common-sense way to simplify life for the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform and who choose to homeschool their children. 

Congress has a constitutional duty to “provide for the common defense” as found in the preamble and Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. It also has authority “to make rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces,” and “to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States.” The COMPASS Act is in line with Congress’s constitutional authority and adds to the protection already in the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act regarding taxes, voting, and driver’s licenses.

HSLDA is grateful to Cruz, Budd, Moody, and Harrigan for their support of military families. We are working closely with them and leaders in Congress, as well as our allies at Military Child Education Coalition and Military Homeschoolers Association, to ensure that this critical language is included in the National Defense Authorization Act that Congress is currently working on. 

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Our service members and their families shoulder an incredible burden as an all-volunteer force in protecting our nation and our way of life. Research shows that around 12% of active-duty military families homeschool their children, more than double the civilian rate. 

Homeschooling provides a stable education system for children who would otherwise be forced to transition into a new school district every couple of years. The legislation introduced by Cruz, Budd, Moody, and Harrigan will help children, families, and our nation’s military homeschoolers. We urge Congress to pass it into law.

Kevin Boden is the Home School Legal Defense Association’s director of legal and HSLDA International. He and his wife, Wendi, have eight children, including one college graduate, two high school graduates, and six who are still being homeschooled. He served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years as a judge advocate and still serves as a reserve JAG in the Air National Guard.