Mar. 27, 2008 - California Families Fight Back
Latest News -- My hubby was quoted in our local paper!
Local residents weigh in on home school ruling
From HSLDA -- (yesterday)
HSLDA is pleased to announce that all the major California-based homeschool organizations have come together in order to better serve California homeschool families.
The statement below outlines our position on the recent court ruling and explains the goal we are all working towards.
Joint Statement Regarding Homeschooling in California
The following organizations, California Homeschool Network, Christian Home Educators Association of California, Private and Home Educators of California and HomeSchool Association of California, represent the major California-based organizations working on a statewide basis to support private homeschooling. They, together with the Home School Legal Defense Association, which also works in California to support private homeschooling and which has members in California, jointly issue the following statement:
1. We are united in the goal of protecting the right of parents to teach their children privately at home without additional governmental interference.
2. We believe that children deserve to learn in the environment that best meets their individual needs. We support the right of parents to direct their children’s education including, if they desire, teaching their children privately at home apart from any public school program and without a teaching credential.
3. We believe that the opinion rendered by the Second District Court of Appeals in the case titled In re Rachel L on February 28, 2008 is excessively broad in its scope and incorrectly states the law as applied to home education in California.
4. We believe that the interpretation of California law, as understood by our organizations and by the California Department of Education prior to the issuance of this decision, is correct, that the interests of both the State of California in ensuring that children are educated adequately and of parents in directing their children’s education are well met by this prior interpretation of law, and that no change in California law regarding the teaching of children privately at home is needed.
For further information, click here.
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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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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.
cross posted at Organized Chaos | 
