I agree, that's their position, but it's just a huge solution to a small problem, and as usual with such solutions, not foolproof.

I think any school or neighbor knows when a child is being "homeschooled" that actually isn't. Like in the DC case, they knew the kids really weren't being home schooled, and one social worker tried, but no one would follow up. Several people have been fired over it. Neighbors know when kids really aren't being homeschooled, or which parents shouldn't homeschool. And many will call Child Services... and sadly many won't because they don't want to upset anyone or their too lazy.

My neighbor years ago (although not home-schooling) accused me of calling Child Services on her. I didn't. I mostly thought that although she definitely wasn't a good mom or role model or surrounded by role models, I could tell she loved her son. He wasn't being beaten or starving, more just like he was being raised by someone with the mentality of a 15 year old. And I figured life "in the system" for the boy would be worse than life with her. Turned out it was another neighbor. CPS interviewed me. He stayed at the home. I moved. Heard later he was removed and put in foster care. I really don't know if that was a move for the better or not.

A government system doesn't need to exist to check on home schoolers. People just need to do the right thing and call the appropriate agency when they think there's something wrong.