Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 2:02am
Calif. court criminalizes homeschool
A California appeals court ruling that subjects parents of 166,000 homeschooled students to criminal sanctions will go to the state Supreme Court, the Pacific Justice Institute announced Wednesday. Institute President Brad Dacus said, "The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking," WorldNetDaily.com reported Thursday.
"It not only attacks traditional homeschooling, but also calls into question homeschooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private school. 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 said.
The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates. The lawyers appointed by the state were unhappy with a lower court's ruling that allowed the family to continue homeschooling and specifically challenged it on appeal.
Justice H. Walt Croskey, joined by two other judges, ruled, "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."
"It not only attacks traditional homeschooling, but also calls into question homeschooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private school. 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 said.
The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates. The lawyers appointed by the state were unhappy with a lower court's ruling that allowed the family to continue homeschooling and specifically challenged it on appeal.
Justice H. Walt Croskey, joined by two other judges, ruled, "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."