“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5
Dear Friends,
Merry Christmas from Nathan and Betsy Pierce and family and the whole FPM team. As we enter this Christmas season, our hearts are filled with gratitude—for the faithfulness of our Lord, for the gift of His Son, and for the steadfast partnership of friends like you. At every step this year, we have seen God’s hand guiding and sustaining the work of Family Protection Ministries. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial support have been instrumental in enabling us to stand firm for homeschool freedom in California and to serve families across the nation.
Because of your partnership, 2025 has been a year marked by meaningful victories and God-given opportunities. We are deeply grateful. And as we look back, we are reminded again that the preservation of freedom is never the result of one organization alone—it is the shared labor of a faithful community, praying together, giving together, and trusting the Lord together.
This year has also been a season of intentional preparation. With the Lord’s help—and strengthened by your support—we focused on building the systems and strategies necessary for long-term impact. We strengthened core programs, refined internal operations, and laid critical groundwork so FPM can respond quickly and effectively as new challenges arise.
All of this means that Family Protection Ministries is now positioned to be one of the most strategic investments a donor can make in the fight for family, freedom, and biblical principles in the public square.
And the timing could not be more important—because while we have been preparing, the threats to homeschool freedom have continued to grow across the nation.
Homeschool Freedom Under Pressure: Threats and the Path Forward
In recent months, I’ve seen a growing push for more data collection and centralized student tracking. That’s why this story from several years ago isn’t just history—it’s a reminder of how crucial that victory was, and why it continues to safeguard families today.
In 2019, California Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) proposed creating a Statewide Longitudinal Student Database—a cradle-to-career system that would track student records across school years, institutions, and even into the workforce.
On the surface, the goal was data coordination. But under the surface was a troubling implication: SB 2 originally included students from private schools and homeschools—even though these schools operate under a different legal structure and do not receive state funding.
The bill would have allowed the government to collect and centralize data on private school and homeschool students with no clear limits or accountability. That’s when I stepped in.
I had already emailed. I had already called. But I couldn’t get a meeting with the key staffer in Senator Glazer’s office who was handling SB 2.
So one day, I simply walked into the office and asked for an appointment.
They told me the staffer wasn’t available, but I was welcome to call or email to schedule something. I told them—kindly but firmly—that I already had. And then I said:
“I understand she’s busy. I can wait in the lobby all day. I only need five minutes, and I’m willing to come back tomorrow if that’s what it takes.”
Ten minutes later, they let me in.
We sat down, and I explained how private schools in California operate under a completely different section of law than public schools. I explained that they don’t receive state funds and are not accountable to the same governing authorities. The staffer was genuinely surprised. She didn’t know.
That five-minute meeting turned into a much longer conversation.
I gave her my proposed amendment language and left, hopeful—but not naïve. For weeks afterward, I followed up, called, and requested a status update. Nothing. No news. No movement.
Eventually, I called a friend in another office that was working on totally different legislation alongside Glazer’s office. “Can you help me get through?” I asked.
The next day, while walking in the front door at home for lunch, my phone rang. It was Senator Glazer’s office. They wanted to talk about the amendment—right then.
There was only one problem: I couldn’t find a quiet place.
One of my kids was watching Andrew Pudewa of IEW teach writing in the living room. Another was learning algebra from Steve Demme of Math-U-See in the bedroom. My amazing wife was teaching our littlest ones to bake in the kitchen. There was a violin and a piano being played. Both bathrooms were in use.
So I did the only thing I could—I went into the pantry, shut the door, and took the call surrounded by bags of beans, rice, and cans of tomatoes.
I made my case again, clearly and calmly. They thanked me, took another look—and ultimately accepted my amendment. It was in print the next day.
SB 2 itself didn’t pass in 2019. But the story doesn’t end there.
Two years later, in 2021, the same cradle-to-career data system was revived in the state budget as part of AB 132. This time, it became law. But something important was also part of the state budget: the private school and homeschool exemption that I had written into the SB 2 amendment.
That language protected families then—and it still protects them now.
Here’s the bottom line: if you are a private school or homeschool parent in California, your child’s records are not in the state database because of this one amendment—born out of one meeting, one pantry phone call, and months of persistent advocacy.
This is the kind of work we do at Family Protection Ministries. It’s not always glamorous. It’s not always fast. But it’s faithful. And the pay off is ongoing.
We stand guard—so you can raise your children in freedom.
SPECIFIC BILLS THIS YEAR
2025 Legislation
Throughout the 2025 California legislative session, Family Protection Ministries (FPM) remained on the front lines defending parental authority and the freedom of private home education. Because of your support, we scanned and tracked more than two thousand bills, engaged directly with lawmakers, and equipped families with timely, actionable guidance.
Stopping Intrusive Mandates
- AB 727 – We secured key amendments exempting private homeschool students from being forced to
include LGBTQ chatroom hotlines on their student IDs.
Protecting Homeschool Addresses & Student Safety
- AB 767 – Curbed well-meaning efforts to protect private homeschoolers from sexually violent predators.
Private homeschool locations would have been published—inadvertently posing serious safety risks to
children.
Defending Parental Rights in CPS-Related Bills
- AB 601 – Engaged with the author’s office on how this and other bills would change
mandated-reporting. We expressed concerns about the erosion of long-standing parental protections. Bills
were later amended. - AB 495 – Expands California’s caregiver affidavit law by allowing distant relatives to claim authority
over children with no identity verification or parental knowledge. Although amended to be better than the
original, FPM opposed the final version of AB 495 because it undermines parental rights and creates
dangerous loopholes. We now focus on educating parents, mobilizing leaders, and urging legislators
nationwide to strengthen—not weaken—protections for the parent-child relationship.
CURRENT AND ONGOING
Resisting Government Control Through Tax-Funded “School Choice”
FPM continued to expose the risks of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and similar programs that use public funds to influence private education. We analyzed new ESA proposals, educated families, and emphasized a core principle: public funding always brings public control.
MAKE HOMESCHOOLING SAFE ACT
Across the country, homeschool freedom is facing unprecedented challenges. A coordinated movement—driven largely by the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) and legislation modeled after the “Make Homeschooling Safe Act” (MHSA)—is pressing state governments to clamp down on parental rights. These efforts are often disguised in the language of health, safety, or child protection, but the underlying message is clear: parents cannot be trusted to direct their children’s education without government intervention.
THE BIG PICTURE
At the heart of these efforts lies a consistent threat to religious liberty and parental authority. Some states have attempted to abolish or restrict religious exemptions, forcing families to comply with burdensome state statutes even when their convictions call them down a different path. Others have adopted or proposed definitions of homeschooling so narrow that entire categories of families could be excluded from teaching their children at home.
Meanwhile, local officials and school districts have often acted ultra vires—far beyond their legal authority—adding requirements that do not exist in statute, launching investigations where none are warranted, and spreading an assumption that the state, rather than parents, is the ultimate guardian of children’s welfare. This assumption is deeply flawed and completely out of step with God’s design. Scripture clearly places the primary responsibility for the training and education of children upon parents—not upon civil government.
The threats we face are real, and the past year proves that they are accelerating. Yet so is the opportunity. By standing firm, supporting one another, and living out the truth that parents are the first and best educators of their children, we can preserve the freedom to homeschool for the next generation.
In the midst of all this, Family Protection Ministries (FPM) finds itself uniquely prepared for such a time as this. For nearly forty years, we have stood watch in Sacramento, defending the rights of California parents to direct the education of their children. Our team has walked the halls of the Capitol, testified in committees, built relationships with lawmakers, and trained generations of advocates.
Because of this long-term faithfulness, we have seen what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to defending homeschool freedom. Leaders from across the nation, and even around the world, now look to FPM for wisdom, strategy, and encouragement.
The foundational work we undertook in the past and continued in 2025—redesigned programs, scalable structures, high-impact training events, and systems ready for growth—has not only strengthened our efforts here in California, but has also positioned us to assist homeschool leaders in other states who are now confronting CRHE-inspired legislation and MHSA-style proposals.
One of the most promising tools the Lord has given us is our internship training program. This program is designed to:
- Equip young men and women with a biblical understanding of civil government and parental rights,
- Train them in practical, on-the-ground advocacy and policy work, and
- Engage them with work or send them out prepared to serve in key roles—here in California, in other states, and even in national or international efforts.
This program has the potential to scale and multiply our impact far beyond what our small staff alone could accomplish. But it can only grow as God’s people provide the resources to expand it.
Why Your Support Matters Now
While we are well trained for these days, the reality is that we cannot do this work without fresh financial support. Inflation and the departure of families from California have diminished our financial support. The scope of today’s threats is greater than ever, and the need for vigilant, principled advocacy is growing in every direction. To continue serving California families faithfully—and to respond to the calls for help from other states—we must strengthen our base of support.
The battles ahead will not be won by accident. They will be won through:
- the prayers of God’s people,
- the steady perseverance of families who refuse to give up, and
- the practical, sacrificial giving of those who understand what is truly at stake.
Will You Stand With Us?
When you give to Family Protection Ministries, you are investing in:
- The protection of homeschool freedom in California,
- The training of new advocates and future leaders through our internship program,
- A legacy of freedom for your children, your grandchildren, and all who will follow after them.
Your support today enables us to continue this vital work—and to meet the growing challenges with strength, wisdom, and readiness. Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can preserve the freedom for parents to educate their children in accordance with their faith and convictions—for this generation and the next.
With gratitude and steadfast hope,
Nathan Pierce
Family Protection Ministries
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Psalm 90:17
P.S. We urgently need your help today to protect families in 2026. The challenges ahead are growing quickly, and your immediate gift will equip us to stand guard, respond swiftly, and defend homeschool freedom when it matters most. Please don’t wait—your support right now is critical.
P.P.S. A gift of any amount helps. Even $5 per month makes a meaningful difference for freedom, strengthening our ability to protect families and preserve homeschool liberty in California and beyond.