Why Homeschooling Needs Accountability...and What We Can Do About It

Episode #57

Author

Jacob Gooden
January 23, 2026

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

In this episode of The Ex-Homeschoolers Club, I'm sitting down with Tess Ulrey, Executive Director of the ⁠Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE)⁠. Tess shares her experience growing up homeschooled across multiple countries, transitioning in and out of public, private, and international schools, and how those experiences shaped her work advocating for homeschool children today. Together, they unpack the privilege embedded in homeschooling, the blurry lines between homeschooling and unschooling, the challenges many homeschool alumni face in college and adulthood, and why responsible oversight matters—not to punish families, but to protect kids. This conversation explores the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable realities of homeschooling, including abuse, neglect, and the gaps that exist in state laws across the U.S.

Key Topics Discussed

  • Tess’s experience being homeschooled in Michigan, Japan, and Germany

  • Homeschooling vs. unschooling—and why the line is blurrier than ever

  • The role of privilege in homeschooling decisions

  • Transitioning from homeschooling to college and adult life

  • Why many homeschool alumni hide their education background

  • How public schools and community organizations fill critical support gaps

  • The mission and work of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education

  • The reality of abuse, neglect, and lack of oversight in homeschooling laws

  • Current legislation impacting homeschool children in the U.S.

Connect with Me

If you’re a former homeschooler, your story matters. Consider connecting with CRHE to support research, advocacy, and responsible policy that centers the lived experiences of homeschool alumni.

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