LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Christian Homeschool Network (MiCHN) is sounding the alarm after they say the Department of Education is pressuring state lawmakers to track all students in a government database.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has called the legislature to create a bill that would require every student (Including private school and homeschool students) in Michigan to be tracked annually by a government database. Get alerts here:https://t.co/5neaEDHcRM pic.twitter.com/8VRTRzXCrJ

— Michigan Christian Homeschool Network – MICHN (@MICHN4U) January 15, 2024

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Israel Wayne, Vice President of the Michigan Christian Homeschool Network, told Michigan News Source they received the letter signed by State Superintendent Michael Rice and addressed to the Legislature from an unnamed lawmaker. While some may argue that the state tracking students appears standard, Wayne said it’s essentially a trojan horse.

“Registration of homeschoolers is about government control over children,” Wayne said. “[It’s] an attempt to recover lost revenue from the thousands of students who have fled the government school system.”

What is the Michigan Christian Homeschool Network?

MiCHN represents more than 11,000 homeschooling families in Michigan and has supported them since 1984. Right now they are working with several members of the House Education Committee.

Although no bill has been introduced, the 2024 legislative session is underway with a Democrat majority in the Senate and a deadlock in the House. Until special elections can be held to fill two seats in the House vacated by Democrats who won mayoral elections in their districts, the House will remain stalled.

How did this discussion get started?

A social media post from Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), who also serves as the House Education Chair, kicked up the discussion about tracking homeschooled students last month.

Michigan is one of only 11 states that doesn’t count or register homeschooled children, and abusive parents are taking advantage of that to avoid being found out.

It’s time to support all Michigan students and change that. Michigan cannot allow this loophole to continue. https://t.co/gvqgFaJL1G

— Rep. Matt Koleszar (@koleszar_matt) December 5, 2023

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State Rep. Jaime Green (R-Richmond) has been working with MiCHN during her time in office and tenure on the House Education Committee as its minority vice chair. She told The Steve Gruber Show last month that the child abuse case that triggered Rep. Koleszar’s comments represents a “failed Whitmer [and] Democrat system.”

“We need to shore up our Child Protective Services (CPS); we need to shore up our foster system,” Green said, speaking of already established state systems. “Registering homeschooling students will not solve the problem of abuse. Homeschooling parents are not abusing their children.”