House Bill 136 lowers the compulsory attendance age from 7- to 6-years-old. While their intentions are good, bill sponsors may have failed to consider how that change would affect home schools.
A homeschool parent posted the following comment on the North Carolinians for Home Education Facebook page:
It requires earlier opening of homeschools. It requires another year of mandatory nationally-normed testing. It forces all families, regardless of educational setting choice, to begin formal education earlier that research suggests is beneficial.
According to a May 2015 report (.pdf) published by the Education Commission of the States, North Carolina is one of 14 states to have an entry age of 7-years-old.
