A bill to more closely regulate homeschooling passed the state legislature as the 2026 session came to a close this month.

The proposal faced significant pushback from Republicans and parents who homeschool their children. Opponents of the new rules say they are inconsistent with the state’s civil-liberties tradition.

But child advocates and lawmakers supporting the rules say they will help track and better protect kids.

Today on The Wheelhouse, an interview with the newly-confirmed state child advocate on what she hopes is one piece Connecticut can improve to protect its children.

Guests:
Christina Ghio, child advocate, State of Connecticut
Theo Peck-Suzuki, education reporter, CT Mirror

A&nbsp;<a href="https://cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/CGABSSimilar.asp?bill_num=HB05468">bill</a>&nbsp;to more closely regulate homeschooling passed the state legislature as the 2026 session came to a close this month.
The proposal faced&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/">significant pushback</a>&nbsp;from Republicans and parents who homeschool their children. Opponents of the new rules say they are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courant.com/2026/05/12/opinion-why-connecticuts-homeschool-bill-goes-too-far/">inconsistent with the state&rsquo;s civil-liberties tradition</a>.
But child advocates and lawmakers supporting the rules say they will help track and better protect kids.
Today on The Wheelhouse, an interview with the newly-confirmed state child advocate on what she hopes is one piece Connecticut can improve to protect its children.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/oca/about-oca?language=en_US">Christina Ghio</a>, child advocate, State of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/tpecksuzuki/">Theo Peck-Suzuki</a>, education reporter, CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.