U.S. Senators from Texas, North Carolina, and Florida push legislation to provide homeschooling stability for military families

Texas – Military families who educate their children at home could see greater consistency during interstate moves under newly introduced federal legislation aimed at reducing the challenges associated with military relocations.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd and Florida Sen. Ashley Moody have introduced the Continuity of Military Parents’ Academic Schooling and State Standards Act, known as the COMPASS Act.

The proposal seeks to allow military families who homeschool their children to continue following the homeschooling laws of their legal home state when they move because of military orders. Under current circumstances, families often must immediately comply with the homeschooling requirements of the state where they are newly stationed, creating additional paperwork and educational disruptions.

Supporters say the legislation would help military children maintain stability while reducing administrative burdens on service members and their families.

According to Cruz, military families homeschool at a significantly higher rate than civilian households, making the issue particularly important within the military community.

“Military families homeschool their children at roughly twice the rate of civilian families. Conflicting state homeschooling laws can undermine military readiness, family resilience, and retention by forcing servicemembers and their spouses to navigate different requirements each time the Department of War relocates them. This bill will provide military homeschool families with the stability and flexibility they deserve. I’m proud to introduce it and urge my colleagues to move swiftly to pass this legislation.”

Legislation aims to ease challenges during military relocations

Permanent Change of Station moves are a routine part of military life, often requiring families to relocate across state lines every few years. While those moves are part of military service, supporters of the COMPASS Act argue that differing homeschooling regulations can create unnecessary difficulties.

Senator Moody said military families already face enough challenges when relocating and should not have to worry about navigating entirely new homeschooling systems each time they move.

“Military families make many sacrifices so their loved ones can serve. They should not have to stress over a new set of homeschooling rules every time duty calls them to a new state. The COMPASS Act ensures the children of our service members can continue their education without disruption while their parents serve our country.”

Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Pat Harrigan.

Harrigan emphasized that homeschooling often provides continuity for military children whose lives are frequently affected by relocations.

“Military families are already asked to sacrifice more than most Americans will ever understand, and when a servicemember gets PCS orders across a state line, the last thing their family should face is a bureaucratic penalty for following them. Twelve percent of active-duty military families homeschool, roughly double the civilian rate, because it is the one constant their kids can hold onto no matter where orders send them next. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act already protects military families from conflicting state laws on taxes, voting, and driver’s licenses. Senator Cruz and I are simply extending that same common-sense principle to homeschooling, ensuring that a family in compliance with their home state’s laws does not have to start over the moment they cross a state line in service to this country.”

Education groups voice support

Several organizations focused on homeschooling and military families have endorsed the proposal.

Home School Legal Defense Association President James R. Mason said the measure would help ease the burden on military families who already face frequent moves.

“HSLDA is pleased to support this critical legislation to support our service members and their families. Military families have long enjoyed the benefits that homeschooling offers, particularly given their high rate of moves. Homeschooling provides educational and emotional stability to children, and military families are almost twice as likely to homeschool as the civilian population. This bill will support our military families, providing educational stability during moves between states, and removing one more point of stress and paperwork on military families.”

Support also came from the Military Child Education Coalition. Its President and CEO, Mary Bier, said educational consistency is essential for military children.

“Every permanent change of station brings disruption for military children. They do not choose it, and they cannot avoid it. The COMPASS Act recognizes that educational continuity is not a luxury for these children. It is a need. At the Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC), we see how instability affects a military child’s learning, well-being, and sense of belonging. When a family is lawfully homeschooling under one state’s rules, they should not face a completely different set of requirements simply because military orders move them somewhere new. That is not meaningful oversight. It is an added barrier during an already difficult transition. Senator Cruz’s legislation removes that barrier in a thoughtful way, and MCEC is proud to support it.”

The Military Homeschoolers Association also endorsed the proposal. Founder and Executive Director Natalie Mack said military families frequently encounter changing regulations as they move from state to state.

“Military homeschool families often navigate multiple moves throughout a child’s education, creating challenges as they transition between different state homeschool laws and requirements. The Military Homeschoolers Association (MHA) appreciates Senator Cruz’s leadership in bringing attention to an issue that affects military homeschool families across the country. The COMPASS Act offers a practical solution by allowing military families to follow either the homeschool laws of their State of Legal Residence or those of the state where they physically reside. By reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, promoting educational continuity, and respecting parental choice, the legislation recognizes the unique realities of military service and helps families provide a stable, consistent education for their children while preserving the freedom to choose the educational path that best meets their needs.”

Supporters say the bill would create a more predictable educational experience for military children while allowing families to focus on adjusting to new assignments rather than navigating different homeschooling regulations each time they relocate.