Homeschooling Banned in California as State Turns Parents Into Criminals for Teaching Their Own Children


(NaturalNews) A California appeals court has ruled that homeschooling of children is illegal unless their parents have teaching credentials from the state.

“California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home,” said Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association.

The court overturned a lower court’s finding that homeschooling did not constitute a violation of child welfare laws.

“California courts have held that … parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children,” Justice H. Walter Croskey said.

The decision stunned parents of the state’s roughly 166,000 homeschooled children. While the court claimed that it was merely clarifying an existing law and not making a new one, the decision leaves the parents of homeschooled children at risk of arrest and criminal prosecution.

“At first, there was a sense of, ‘No way,’ ” homeschool parent Loren Mavromati said. “Then there was a little bit of fear. I think it has moved now into indignation.”

Parents’ reasons for homeschooling their children range from religious beliefs to dissatisfaction with the education received at public or private schools. But according to the court, all California children between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend either a full-time public or private school or be taught by a tutor credentialed for their specific grade level….read rest of story here

2 Responses to Homeschooling Banned in California as State Turns Parents Into Criminals for Teaching Their Own Children

  1. One on one teaching at the pace of the child at home with a dedicated parent, compared to the one on 30 ratio at school with a harassed teacher. What were you thinking?

    Alistair Owens Keen2learn

  2. I’m a California homeschooler and the editor of a homeschooling magazine. This article is outdated to the point of being inaccurate. It’s true that several months ago, such a legal attack was made on our rights; but the ruling was vacated, the case reheard, and the court opinion ended by overturning the original ruling.

    For more information on this, please see this site:

    http://www.madeditor.com

    –Deborah Markus
    Editor, Secular Homeschooling Magazine

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