Home Schooling Found Unlawful by California Court

Sign a petition asking the state Supreme Court to "depublish" the case, which means to apply the case to the family involved — not to all California families at this link: http://www.hslda.org/

Listen to discussion on this on James Dobson program today. http://listen.family.org/daily/A000000997.cfm

See this link for article by James Dobson on this issue: http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm

Following are excerpts from the article by Pacific Justice "Home Schooling Found Unlawful by California Court of Appeal" at this link http://www.pacificjustice.org/resources/news/focusdetails.cfm?ID=PR080305a

In a stunning decision affecting thousands of families in California, the California Court of Appeal has issued an opinion finding no legal right to home school. "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program," wrote Justice H. Walter Croskey whose opinion was joined by the other two members of the appellate panel. The opinion was issued February 28, 2008, in a case titled In re Rachel L., which reversed a Superior Court Judge, Stephen Marpet, who found that "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home." …..

"The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking. It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private schools," stated Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute "If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he continued.