Homeschool Talks: Ideas and Inspiration for Your Homeschool

Will Estrada, Senior Counsel at HSLDA, shares his journey as a homeschool graduate and his ongoing work defending homeschool freedom nationwide. He and HSLDA President Jim Mason discuss recent legislative developments—celebrating a victory in Wyoming, where the annual letter of intent requirement for homeschoolers was repealed, while raising concerns about a proposed bill in Illinois (HB 2827) that would impose burdensome regulations and even criminal penalties for noncompliance. In these unprecedented times, homeschool families and state organizations are uniting to make their voices heard at state capitols across the country. Please note that this interview was recorded on April 16th, 2025. "We were not going to even try and fight HB 2827 in the [Illinois State] House. [We thought], 'It's going to pass the House, let's focus on the Senate where we've got a better shot.' I was talking to an Illinois Senate Staffer the other day and he was telling me it's amazing that the bill is struggling so much in the House. I have seen so many people who have risen up to fight this bill. It's a powerful reminder that as we read in Ephesians 6, that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities. And so, take on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. And I love that here at HSLDA, we get to pray together, to pray for homeschool parents in Illinois, Virginia, Wyoming, and other states, because it really is a reminder that what we do matters in eternity"—Will Estrada

Homeschool fathers and advocates, Chris Butler and Abraham Hamilton, share their perspectives on the role of government in education. Join them in this episode to explore the positive impact homeschooling has had across the United States, and recent threats including a new bill in Illinois that threatens to impose additional restrictions on homeschooling families (including jail penalties for non-compliance). Chris and Abraham highlight how restrictive legislation can harm disadvantaged communities and how parents from all backgrounds are coming together to protect homeschool freedom, transcending party lines at the capitol steps! "No matter who you are and what your political leanings are, if you are really concerned about the cause of justice, you should be acutely concerned about this idea. . .that with such a quick reaction to different communities accessing [homeschool] freedom for themselves, now there is this move to restrict that freedom, and to lock children, especially children from disadvantaged communities, into a public school system that is not working for them. I think that the high aim of this legislation [in Illinois] is to make it too hard to homeschool so that folks who have been choosing to do it will just default to stay in the public system that has failed multiple generations now of children from our communities on multiple levels. And so for me, and I think for a lot of people, wherever they fall on the political spectrum, it is a justice issue."—Chris Butler

Homeschooling can bring a broader vision for your family and deeper engagement with your community. Join Vince Loparo Jr. (homeschool dad) and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) in an encouraging conversation about Vince's holistic approach to parenting. You will walk away knowing how to define your family's core values to create an unshakable foundation, even when faced with challenges. Homeschooling can knit your family together and make your family stronger! "There's something in your life that is your core value, and you're not going to give on that. I think you need to know what that is. Write it down. If you have to, look each other in the eye as a family and say, 'this is what we stand for.' In our home, we stand for unconditional love and hospitality, welcoming people, bringing them into an environment of unconditional love. Regardless of what the day's adventures might bring, that's the foundation we stand on."—Vince Loparo Jr.

Homeschooling has the power to shape not just families, but entire communities. In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Myles Wertz (associate professor of theology and director of Baptist Studies at Abilene Christian University) joins HSLDA Attorney Will Estrada to explore Dr. Wertz's recent article in Christianity Today and his own personal homeschool journey. When parents choose homeschooling out of a desire to do what's best for their children, the ripple effects extend far beyond the family—fostering individuals who enrich their communities and drive positive change in society. "When we allow families to pursue homeschooling, we find that certain practices or ways of educating begin to bubble up from the surface that wouldn't have been discovered or wouldn't have been understood had there not been the room for homeschooling to exist. . .I think education needs to be more personalized and more attentive to the particular needs of students in nature. I think that's something that homeschooling can naturally do."—Dr. Myles Werntz

In an increasingly interconnected world, we risk losing touch with the roots of our local communities. We've traded face-to-face mentorship and the wisdom of our elders for fleeting digital interactions and virtual acquaintances, while also creating a uniform education system. Nicholas Ellis, Founder of Christian Halls, is on a mission to change that. Through his program, he fosters local mentorships and engagement. By pairing youth with seasoned, knowledgeable advisors, Christian Halls helps to create thriving relationships that will positively impact communities, be rooted in trust, and foster shared experiences and generational wisdom. Join HSLDA President and host, Jim Mason, for an inspiring conversation with Nicholas about higher education and the vital role of passing wisdom from one generation to the next generation. "We've never had a generation that has more access to content and data in the history of the world. Data access, knowledge—access is no longer our problem. And so why, when we look around, do we see foolishness everywhere that we look? I think that a lot of that is coming down to vacating our communities—the natural, multi-generational transfer of wisdom from one generation to the next, by basically sidelining our elders. Our professional structures prefer that the retired elder community not be involved because they frankly take away [time] from that next 35-year-old PhD that's coming up through the system. Our model says that they are the absolute gold of our communities"—Nicholas Ellis

Claiborne Thornton heard about homeschooling in the 80s. He has actively participated in homeschool advocacy in Tennessee, from being a homeschool dad to President of the Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA). In this conversation with Claiborne and Jim Mason (HSLDA President), learn about the early days of homeschool freedom, engaging with your representatives, and the importance of attending your homeschool capitol day—it might just involve 180,000 cookies! "We have a system that is designed for us to have the freedom to step forward and act. We understand how to take and use the tools that are set out before us and to preserve what we've been entrusted with. It's a complicated thing, it's a beautiful thing, and it's a very dynamic dance that goes on to make that to make that happen. And it's so encouraging to see other folks around Tennessee and across the country step forward and use those tools that we've been given. [We have the] freedom to interact with those that represent us and [build relationships] with them to help them see we're well-intended. Look through the systems that are there and try to find ways to make those connections. That's critically important with your friends, and even with those who might have some disagreement with."—Claiborne Thornton

As homeschooling grows, so does the conversation about how education is defined. Join Dr. Timberly Baker (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University) and Jim Mason, HSLDA President, in a discussion on challenging the traditional view of schooling. Many prospective and novice homeschool families can feel insurmountable pressure to create a structured, 8-to-3 schedule. This doesn't need to be! Parents are their child's first teacher, guiding their learning every day! Learning can (and does!) take place anywhere, and a rigid schedule isn't required. The possibilities of homeschooling are endless, and each student's experience is unique. "I often say that we are our children's first teacher. So you've already done much of this work in terms of teaching them what you think that they need to know. You do it all the time anyway! We have to disrupt our thinking that schooling happens in this sort of 8 to 3 structure only, and that if it's not that, then it's not a school, right? And so, once we get to helping folks disrupt that notion, then it becomes a much broader conversation about the possibility of being able to homeschool"—Dr. Timberly Baker

Homeschool moms juggle many different roles, and Anne Miller is no exception! But for her, one of those roles led to becoming a key advocate for homeschooling in her state. Join Anne Miller, Executive Director and President of the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV), and Jim Mason, President of HSLDA, as they reflect on the importance of advocacy, 40 years of homeschool freedom, and the incredible growth of the homeschooling community. Hear Anne's inspiring journey from volunteering with HEAV to leading the organization as Executive Director and President! "There are vast numbers of homeschool families now. We're not alone anymore. I'll tell you, in the 1980s, we felt very alone. We only knew one family. And then we found this small group that we didn't even know existed! But now, everybody knows a homeschooler. There are homeschoolers probably right on your block or around the corner. They're everywhere."—Anne Miller