Explore the sections below to learn, take action, and stay involved.
Building Relationships with Lawmakers is Pivotal
Discover why advocacy is essential for protecting homeschool freedom and how you can engage effectively with lawmakers. This page provides everything you need to become a confident advocate: from training videos on understanding the legislative process to practical resources like templates for writing to legislators, e-books, and FAQs about district visits.
Learn how to visit district offices to share your position on private home education, build meaningful relationships with legislative staff, and make your voice heard. With tools like the “District Visits Gone Wrong” guide and the E.N.G.A.G.E. framework, you’ll gain the confidence to interact positively with lawmakers and their teams.
Start your advocacy journey today with our step-by-step resources and see how you can make a difference!
2024 Participation:
Total Number District Offices Visited by a homeschool Family
Visiting a district office is an excellent opportunity to share your position about private home education and to begin building a relationship with the staff in that office. A district office is a place where the staff can slow down enough to hear your voice and spend time interacting with you. We should never undervalue the power of positive, personal relationships with people, especially those in authority over us.
Approximate Number of Homeschool Children in California
This number is based on U.S. Census Data.
Total Number of District Offices in California
There are 40 state senators and 80 state assembly members. Each has a local district office where they focus on serving their constituents.
Total Number of Homeschool Families Who Visited Their Local District Office in 2024
Your engagement is vital as we work towards our objective of reaching every one of the 120 district offices, and your support is essential to make this vision a reality.
2025 Goal: ALL 120 District Offices Throughout CA Visited by a Private Homeschool Family
- 2025 Goal Reached 2%
Getting Started
Why You Should Be An Advocate
New to advocacy? Learn why it matters, how to get involved, and what to expect as you take your first steps.
About This Series
These 4 short videos will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to take action! Hear directly from legislators urging families to get involved, watch FPM’s powerful call to action, listen in on a personal journey into advocacy, and experience a moving tribute to the heart of our mission — family. 👉 Press play. Get involved. Build Relationships.
Become an Advocate!
Be a Sender
Training & Resources
District Visit Training
Watch our training videos to understand how the California Legislature functions and how you can effectively engage at every step of the process. You’ll learn how to contact and visit legislators, build meaningful partnerships, and follow up with purpose.
Jennifer’s district office webinar takes a deeper dive, using the E.N.G.A.G.E. framework to guide you through powerful, practical strategies for making a real impact.
Did You Know: Your legislators and their families sacrifice time away from each other in order to serve you…their constituent. They are in Sacramento Monday-Thursday, and back in their district on Friday and drive/fly back to Sacramento on Sunday. Many times, they have events/meetings on Fridays and/or Saturdays, which leaves very little time for family.
Stay connected by exploring our visual overview of the full legislative life cycle — so you can speak up when it matters most.
Training Presentation
Video Training Library
District Visits Gone Right and Wrong (PDF)
FAQ's from Homeschool Families
FAQ's from Legislators
Advocacy Resources
Check out all the resources we have available to get you started on your journey of advocating for private homeschool freedom.
Writing Your Legislators
Advocacy for Homeschool Families e-Book (PDF)
Teen Advocacy Handbook (PDF)
Issues Guide for Homeschooling Families (PDF)
Legislative Tools
Find Your Legislators
Bill Tracker
Find a Bill
Writing Your Legislators
The Lifecycle of Legislation
Glossary of Legislative Terms
Support & Feedback
The primary goal of advocacy is to build a relationship with your legislators and to be someone they can reach out to with questions if necessary. Additionally, to be a face they can recognize and think of if they were to ever vote on a piece of legislation that threatens private homeschooling. This is a critical part of protecting your homeschool freedom for generations to come.
Legislator Feedback
Showcase Our Success
Pray for Our Political Leaders
One person's first visit experience.
Thank you so much for your encouragement to visit our state legislature’s district office…we didn’t know what to expect. It ended up being a phenomenal meeting. Two staff members met with our group for about 45 minutes; one of the staff members was herself homeschooled! At a second meeting, our assemblyman sat down with us for about an hour. Thank you FPM for encouraging us to get out of our comfort zones and build relationships with our state legislatures. It was an incredible experience for all of us! Thank you for what you do!
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s From Families Like You
Here are the most frequently asked questions from you. If you have specific inquiries regarding district visits or need further assistance, please reach out to our liaison Jennifer Avila at Jennifer@fpmca.org.
I'm afraid! What tips can you give me to help ease my fears?
- A less intimidating way to meet your legislature, without an apointment, is to attend an event your legislator will be at. After the event, introduce yourself and thank him/her for their time and service. That’s it. This way you are not the focus of the meeting and it’s quick.
- Just do it! The more you visit, the easier it gets! You may be nervous, everyone is, but remember your legislator and staffers are just people. Often times, you will meet with a staffer who is younger than you.
How do I find out who my legislators are?
How do I make an appointment to do a visit?
If I call, who do I talk to? What do I say?
The person on the phone will usually direct you to the proper person. I usually explain that I am a private homeschool parent in their district and would like to share information about private homeschooling and have a legislative packet to leave with them as a reference.
How do I prep for a district office meeting?
Read the legislative packet FPM will mail you and get familiar with the material. There are five (5) inserts and are not lengthy. Don’t memorize, but try to find a couple points you can go into more detail with during the meeting.
Additionally, visit your legislator(s) website(s) and try to find common ground. Something (bill, event, etc.) that you agree with and thank them for at the meeting. It often surprises the staffer/legislator that you actually pay attention to what is going on in your district.
What do I talk about during a meeting?
Thank him/her for their service to their district. He/she truly believe they are doing what the people want.
The legislative packet is your talking point. Briefly go over each insert at the meeting. You should have a couple points from your reading of the packet to elaborate on as well.
Why should I put myself out there & "poke the bear" if there isn't any legislation that currently threatens private homeschooling?
It’s better to be proactive than reactive. The information you provide is read, summarized, and delivered to the legislator. Most of these offices are staffed by people who have little to no knowledge about private homeschooling. Additionally, you will most likely be the first homeschooler he/she has met.
I know my legislator(s) are antagonistic towards homeschooling at large, why bother?
You may be the one person (family) God uses to change the heart of that legislator or staffer. Your visit will leave an impact and over time, if you return the next year, his/her view may change.
I really want to help, but my circumstances prevent it. Is there any way I can advocate from hom
Additionally, you can help us with our ongoing research project by volunteering to test your children. Visit Showcase our Success card under the “Support and Feedback” section.
FAQ’s From Legislators
If you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer, simply explain that you need more time to study the issue or question before commenting on it, and then contact them again later. You can also tell Nathan Pierce, and he will try to contact the legislator’s office.
If the legislator wants more information, you can direct them to Nathan Pierce at contact@pheofca.org or call (916) 415-9480.
How many home educators are in my district?
A recent U.S. Department of Education survey estimates that approximately 3.4% of all school-aged children in America are privately home educated. In 2018, there were about 200,000 home-based private school students in California. There are approximately 5,000 homeschoolers in each Senator’s district, and approximately 2,500 homeschoolers in each Assembly member’s district.
Whom do you represent?
We are here to advocate the rights of parents who choose private home education. Officially, we are here as individuals sharing our own concerns and enthusiasm about home education in California. (If you are a leader of a homeschool group, you can mention that fact.)
Are home educators accountable to the state school system?
Those who homeschool privately, like us, follow the same laws and rules that govern all private schools. (Should your legislator press this issue further, you can tell him that you will ask Nathan Pierce to call to talk with him.)
Do homeschoolers in California have an official lobbying organization?
- There are several organizations in California representing a diverse population. The largest statewide organization is CHEA (Christian Home Educators Association of California), which provides information, support and training to the home education community throughout the state.
- Full-time legislative consultants, Roy Hanson and Nathan Pierce, keep us informed about legislation that is of concern to home educators.
- We are primarily a large group of civically involved private home educators.
Questions about "school choice" or vouchers.
There are several organizations in California representing a diverse population. The largest statewide organization is CHEA (Christian Home Educators Association of California), which provides information, support and training to the home education community throughout the state.
Full-time legislative consultants, Roy Hanson and Nathan Pierce, keep us informed about legislation that is of concern to home educators.
We are primarily a large group of civically involved private home educators.
What do you like about homeschooling?
You might share one or two ways that your children have benefited from home education. (It’s usually best to use academic or social examples). Avoid conversations about how bad the public schools are – instead talk about how great it is to have the option of homeschooling available.