Single Mom Arrested for Homeschooling Her Children?

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A mother from Buffalo, New York noticing that her children were struggling in their public education, decided to switch to homeschooling. A decision that appears to have led to phone calls from Child Protective Services (CPS), eventual attempts from CPS to take her children, and later, her arrest.

Kiarre Harris, a single mother, started researching homeschooling last November. She says her two elementary school aged children weren’t excelling at their failing Buffalo Public Schools, according to ABC7.

“I felt that the district was failing my children and that’s when I made the decision to homeschool,” she said.

Harris told ABC7 that she filed documents at Buffalo City Hall, following all the steps, informing the district of her intent to homeschool her children. According to documents she provided to 7 Eyewitness News, they’re dated December 7th and the district says it received her paperwork.

“I spoke directly to the homeschool coordinator and she told me from this point on my children were officially un-enrolled from school.”

Reportedly a week later, Harris was contacted by CPS, inquiring about her children’s absence from school.

“I told them that my kids were homeschooled now and that I could furnish the documents if they need to see them,” she told ABC7.

Harris, explained to ABC7 that she believed her situation to be fine, and continued homeschooling the children.

Then, less than a month later she says she was confronted by CPS workers and police. According to Harris, they told her they had a court order to take her children and when she told them no, she was arrested for obstruction.

According to Harris and ABC7 she has not seen her children in three weeks, and they are currently staying in foster care.

The Buffalo Public School District says it cannot comment on this case due to Federal Laws but says in order for a parent to file for homeschooling, they must have full custody of the children, reports ABC7.

Harris told ABC7 that she’s a single parent and has always had full custody until her kids were taken away.

This case is far from finished. The Buffalo Common Council will be addressing it tomorrow.