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.