From the HSLDA: Please Sign this Petition to Support Homeschool Freedom in California. 246,996 signatures so far! link to petition: https://www2.hslda.org:443/Registrations/DepublishingCaliforniaCourtDecision/ A California Court of Appeal recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher. The case arose in a confidential juvenile court proceeding. The family was represented by court-appointed attorneys and HSLDA did not become aware of the case until the Court of Appeal case was published on February 28, 2008. The Court could have restricted its decision to the facts before it, but instead, it issued a broad ruling that effectively outlaws home education in California. The Court also certified its decision for publication, which means that the decision can now be cited as legal authority by all other courts in California. The family and their California counsel are planning to appeal to the Supreme Court of California, which could result in reversal. Another option to keep homeschooling free in California is to petition the Supreme Court of California to “depublish” the opinion. If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers. HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California. Please show your support for this effort by signing the petition today.
Thanks for the information. I completed the petition. Do you think this trend will continue to other states as well?
I signed this morning! I think this is the time to step in and support HSDLA, regardless of what you think about them because if this goes to the Supreme Court and they find in favor of that CA judge, guess what? Our days are numbered. And HSLDA will be footing the bill for all of us. So if you've ever thought about supporting them, please consider joining now.
Just so you know most of us in ca are not too worried, because we know our Constitutional Rights make it leagle, but please do sign the petition and email off to other people who don't home school to sigh too! I did! I know also that since our governator is behind supporting home schooling parents not much bad can come of it here.. but in other states you never know how California would influence them?
I'm glad to hear that (about the governator)... I was wondering if you hsers in CA were freaking out. How in the world did that ruling come about???
I signed the petition because as homeschoolers, we are all in this together. Allowing the govt. to gain anymore control over our lives is not going in a positive direction. I feel more laws, rules and regulations in any state is just a foot in the door for other states to follow suit. It doesn't matter if we have a right to educate our children because the govt can always throw road blocks in our way to slow us down and make us have to stand up and fight them to regain our rights. I prefer that my rights not be challenged in the first place. Our rights as citizens have gradually been eroding through the years.
yep, it should have an article too though, that explains how it got started, there is also a link if you just type in the title California Home Schooling illegal you can find all kinds of info on it,
I think if there is anything to worry about, it will come at the Supreme Court ruling. As of now, homeschoolers are homeschooling as usual. Not worried, but attentive to what is going on.
An update, in case anyone didn't see it. This is a copy of what I received from HSLDA today. ====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Court of Appeal Grants Petition for Re-hearing On March 25, the California Court of Appeal granted a motion for rehearing in the 'In re Rachel L.' case--the controversial decision which purported to ban all homeschooling in that state unless the parents held a teaching license qualifying them to teach in public schools. The automatic effect of granting this motion is that the prior opinion is vacated and is no longer binding on any one, including the parties in the case. The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups. Home School Legal Defense Association will seek permission to file such an amicus brief and will coordinate efforts with a number of organizations interesting in filing briefs to support the right of parents to homeschool their children in California. "This is a great first step," said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. "We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority," he added.
