March 24, 2022 – Reminders About Proposed “Micro Education Pods”

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WHPA has been working hard to preserve parental rights in Wisconsin, and opposing proposed “micro education pods” over the last year and a half.

As of this writing, the proposed bill creating “micro education pods” is awaiting either approval or veto by Governor Evers. According to the Legislature’s 2021-22 Session Calendar, the next date that bills are scheduled to be presented to the Governor is April 14 (if it is presented to the Governor sooner, we will let you know). WHPA has again appealed to our members to speak up for parental rights by contacting Governor Evers and asking him to veto the bill.

Unfortunately there is still much confusion and misinformation about this bill among some homeschoolers.

To be absolutely clear:

1. “Micro education pods” ARE NOT homeschools. Homeschools ARE NOT “micro education pods.”
2. “Micro education pods” as proposed are not co-ops, or small private schools, or business incubators, or an “introductory phase” for a private school.

   Parents have the inherent right to educate their own children. The right to educate children from other families is a right derived from the state using an instrument called a school.

   “Micro education pods” are a new, unworkable entity that attacks and erodes our parental rights by attempting to transfer parental rights to the “micro education pod.” There is no legal mechanism to accomplish this transfer.

3. A child may not be enrolled in a “micro education pod” and also be enrolled in a home-based private educational program (the statutory name for homeschools in Wisconsin).
4. No parent nor any person can homeschool students from more than one family unit at a time.
5. No person can homeschool children other than their own children.

   A parent or guardian may designate another person to provide a program of educational instruction to their own family unit. A designee is not “homeschooling” other people’s children; they are providing instruction.

6. “Micro education pods” as proposed do not have any regulations on “micro education pods” administrators. Such administrators are free to charge as much as they want for their “pods.” They do not have to meet even the minimum requirements that are placed on private schools to protect students and families.
7. Any homeschooling family who wants to share resources, fellowship, inspiration, or join with other families to do educational activities outside of, or in addition to, homeschooling hours may already do so. Many families do.
8. Anyone who wants to start a small private school in Wisconsin may already do so. There are over 800 private schools in Wisconsin, and we lead the nation in private school enrollment.
9. WHPA volunteers have worked hard for 38 years to protect our inherent right to provide our own children with an education according to our own principles and beliefs.
10. “Micro education pods” as proposed violate and undermine our inherent parental rights.

If you have not yet done so, please reach out to Governor Evers and stand up for our parental rights in Wisconsin.

You can reach the governor’s office at:
Phone: (608) 266-1212
Email: https://appengine.egov.com/apps/wi/governor/voice-an-opinion

Thank you for standing up for parental rights in Wisconsin.