How can California be talking about severely restricting homeschooling when their own graduation rate is so poor - according to this recent article, less than 70%?

They are attempting to claim that they are consistent with the national average, but according to this editorial, they are shooting themselves in the foot. Their neighboring state, Arizona, with a statistically similar population base, is doing significantly better, especially among those populations which traditionally do poorly, namely, boys, Hispanics, and blacks.

...over the past five years, Arizona schools have improved overall graduation rates by 6 percent while Golden State schools have improved a meager 0.9 percent.

How does Arizona manage to serve similar populations and achieve better results with less taxpayer money? The difference is school choice.

Arizona’s School Improvement Act of 1994 remains the nation’s strongest charter school law, according to the Center for Education Reform, and the 509 open charters in Arizona give parents a range of options. Arizona also offers a tax credit for residents who donate to charitable organizations offering scholarships to students to attend private schools. In addition, the state minimally regulates home-schoolers while guaranteeing home-schooled students equitable access to the state’s public colleges.

California would do well to follow the example of its eastern neighbor. Choice counts more than money or background in determining student progress into higher education and beyond.

And don't even get me started on their recent court ruling on marriage...