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About Stephen Howsley

Stephen has been working for Texas Home School Coalition since 2015 as a writer, public policy analyst and lobbyist. A homeschool graduate himself, Stephen passionately believes in defending families’ rights to homeschool. He credits his leadership skills, character development and determination to 10 years spent with the Boy Scouts of America, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Stephen and his beautiful wife, Emma, live in Austin with their two Labrador Retrievers. In their free time, they love discovering new restaurants and coffee shops and exploring the great outdoors. They worship and serve at The Austin Stone Community Church in downtown Austin.
  • Woman with paperwork

THSC Intervenes on Behalf of Member for Social Security Benefits

By |2023-06-07T15:24:05-05:00January 19th, 2017|Legal Advocacy, Member Interventions|

How THSC’s Intervention Helped the Kahn Family



In November 2016, THSC member Kathleen Kahn reached out to our office about a notice she received from the SSA (Social Security Administration) office in League City, Texas. The SSA informed her that the benefits for her son, Adrian, were completely stopped because he turned 18 that same month. However, this does not comply with SSA and Texas home school policies.
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  • 4 Reforms to CPS You Can Make Happen

CPS Reform: 4 Reforms to CPS You Can Make Happen

By |2019-08-15T11:37:14-05:00January 17th, 2017|Legal Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy|

This January marks the beginning of the 85th Texas Legislature. Every other year in Austin, the Texas House of Representatives and Senate conduct their business for 140 days. For the third legislative session in a row, THSC is sending a squadron of lobbyist interns to fight for families. These six home school graduates, known as the THSC Watchmen, will relocate to the capital where they will live and work for five months.

  • College Admissions Search

THSC Intervenes on Behalf of SHSU Applicant

By |2019-08-08T13:09:22-05:00January 12th, 2017|Legal Advocacy, Member Interventions|

In April 2016, a THSC member called THSC about an issue her daughter had with admission at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Although her SAT scores were above the minimum score accepted by the university for regular students, SHSU told the member’s daughter that home schoolers were required to have higher standardized test scores than their public school counterparts.

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  • How Do Home Schoolers Measure Up

Facts about Homeschoolers

By |2019-08-08T13:34:51-05:00January 3rd, 2017|Homeschool|

Has your home schooling decision ever been judged based on someone’s random anecdotal experience?

“My kids were in AP classes to get ready for college.  How are your kids going to get into college?  Aren’t you worried about their future?” OR

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THSC Prevents CPS from Stepping Out of Bounds

By |2019-10-18T20:36:42-05:00December 23rd, 2016|Legal Advocacy, Member Interventions|

Following a productive meeting and correspondence with Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Henry Whitman, Jr., THSC was able to prevent CPS from overstepping its authority.

Not long ago, THSC was contacted by an Odessa home school parent who had been told by a CPS caseworker that she and her husband must stop home schooling and enroll their child in public school. The child’s father began gathering his daughter’s personal records, while Mom placed a call to THSC.

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  • 2 New Policy Changes Protecting Home School Families

2 New Policy Changes Protecting Homeschool Families

By |2023-06-16T14:25:31-05:00November 29th, 2016|Legal Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy|

Our Constitution provides for three branches of government, but it seems we have a fourth branch—regulatory agencies. The legislature creates laws, but their oversight and implementation are entrusted to regulatory agencies. Public policy set by these agencies is a great place to affect change. In Texas, laws related to child protection cases are implemented and regulated by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Over the years, this enabled THSC to successfully negotiate several changes to CPS policy on behalf of home schoolers and parents.

  • Closing Expensive and Burdensome Loopholes for Parents

Parent-Child Protection Act: Closing Expensive and Burdensome Loopholes for Parents

By |2023-06-23T16:18:09-05:00November 15th, 2016|Legal Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy|

Child Protective Services has just taken your child. In essence, you temporarily lose your parental rights. Completely devastated and emotionally raw, you might dare to ask, “What more could go wrong?”

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