HSLDA: Homeschooling is Ruled Illegal in California

Homeschooling in California just became illegal in most cases, due to a ruling by Justice Croskey of the 2nd District Court Of Appeals. Justice H. Walter Croskey stated that the only valid exceptions to California's compulsory education law are full-time attendance at a private school or in-home tutoring by a credentialed instructor.

The Home School Defense Fund reacted to this decision by announcing they will take legal action. They intend to argue that " a proper interpretation of California statutes makes it clear, parents may teach their children under the private school exemption."

These actions can potentially harm thousands of children like mine.

I began my own adventures in homeschooling back in 1985. Because there were, at that time, very few homeschooled children in my county, it was extremely difficult. Not only did I have to contend with the puzzled and sometimes suspicious looks of neighbors, the Solano County California Office Of Education was constantly at my door. In spite of my daughters high marks on their testing, which they requested yearly, they conducted a campaign of intrusion that felt endless.

For most mainstream homeschoolers, the decision to take over a child's education isn't made lightly. We want to make certain our children can read and comprehend. We want them to hold a high degree of character and integrity. And in my case, I wanted children to emerge from the educational process politically and globally aware of their worlds. This is an enormously daunting task for anyone to take on.

It means hours upon hours of research into relevant subject matter. It requires that the parent teaching character development and ethics hold themselves to a very high standard of behavior. Add in the creating of viable, truly meaningful lesson plans, creating a proper atmosphere for learning, and years upon years of round table discussions. In other words, total dedication to educating our children the best way we know how.

Now, Justice Croskey's ruling has created enormous stress and worry for myself and thousands of other families in California. For me, it is not enough to read the HSLDA assure everyone that it is in fact, legal to educate your children at home here. All I can foresee is a constant worry that we may be cited, fined or lose custody of our children while the legal wrangling drags on. I'm terribly angry that an obscure case has turned our world upside down because one justice decided it was so. California now is the ONLY state to make homeschooling illegal.

I feel strongly this ruling is grossly unfair, based as it is, on a single case in Los Angeles. In reviewing the legal battle plans being drawn up, I saw they are going to try and get this ruling depublished. While this means a protracted set of legal steps to bring this to the California Supreme Court, if they succeed, then Justice Croskey will be compelled to confine the ruling to this one family and exclude the rest of us. It is in my opinion a fair goal to try and attain.

Homeschooling has benefited literally hundreds of thousands of children across the United States. Many of them who may well have failed in the public school system. But because of their parents dedication to giving them the best education, they shine. Most of us are not credentialed, and I truly don't see the need for it. There are resources out there to help homeschool teachers make the best of their time teaching, along with forums and websites where we can get help and advice from other parents and teachers.

We have charter schools, virtual academies, private schools (at home) and others like Calvert who provide the books and tools to give your child a classical education. We even have religious schools : Catholic, Jewish and Muslim, who offer a full homeschool education for a fee. In other words, we have every tool we need to ensure our children are educated properly and well.

I will, along with 250,000 other California homeschooling parents, be following this case very closely. As a parent residing in this state, I've seen a steady erosion of parental rights. For us, this is a worthy cause. What can be more sacred a right than to decide what is best for your own child?

Home School Legal Defense Association
A group devoted to nationwide legal defense of homeschoolers