California Resists Home School Ruling

Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2008
By KRISTIN KLOBERDANZ/MODESTO
TIME

" The parents of some 200,000 home-schooled kids in California were stunned last week when they learned that a judge had declared home schooling illegal unless conducted by a licensed teacher. For the moment, though, those parents can breathe a sigh of relief. Yesterday, Jack O'Connell, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, released a statement saying that the California Department ofEducation will not go after parents who do not have teaching credentials: "I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents that chose to home school that California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling," O'Connell said in his statement. "Parents still have the right to home school in our state"...

...However, home-school advocates are still hoping that the case will be overturned in its appeal. Otherwise it would set a legal precedent."


Looking at trends in education policy, I have noticed that California influences national education legislation. For example, the introduction and subsequent success of Proposition 227 in California (1998), legislated that “all public school instruction be conducted in English." Several states followed their lead including New Mexico.

Learn more about Proposition 227 in the "English Language in Public Schools Initiative Statute". (1998). Official Title and Summary prepared by the Attorney General.