Hey, got here via twitter :-)

I'm a homeschool graduate and if I have kids I'll homeschool them as well.

Concerning California there is a lot of disinformation out there, I don't think most people really know what they are talking about.

First It's not as bad as it seems, CA has never allowed homeschooling.

Homeschooling does happen though under the guise of a private school which so far has worked fine.

The only thing that changed in the latest court ruling was the fact that a child had to be physically present at a private school. as opposed to using an umbrella school which a lot of homeschoolers used.

Other homeschoolers file to become small private schools themselves which is legal, and private school teachers don't have to be certified.

My thoughts after reading the actual court ruling, it's all in there.

@ethand

Sent by ethan demme | 1:32 PM ET | 03-11-2008

It's unfortunate that such a ruling was made, especially by the California courts where the condition of most of the school systems are considered to be among the worst in the nation. We are long-time homeschooler. We chose to homeschool not only for religious reasons but also for quality reasons. To insure that our kids receive the best education possible. We as parents owe it to them. Now they want to force us back into their decrepit school systems based on a 60 year old ruling. Give me a brake!! What about private school? Not all of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford private schools and not all private schools offer quality educations either. See, homeschooling families are also single income families who lovingly make great sacrifices to give their kids the best possible education and now the state wants to take all that away in the name of eductation. Funny!

Sent by Robert | 1:41 PM ET | 03-11-2008

yes the court used a 60 year old ruling but that is how courts work they have to base all decisions upon legal precedent.

Now if a new law gets passed that makes homeschooling a legal right of parents in California then it becomes precedent.

Now ideally such a law would be passed because CA system is outdated but the answer is not to yell at the courts who are just doing there job, the answer is to be proactive and push through new legislation.

IMHO :-)

Sent by ethan demme | 2:01 PM ET | 03-11-2008

The assumptions in your main report about who chooses to home school--religiosity or libertarianism--are woefully incomplete. We chose to homeschool our daughter in sixth grade while keeping our younger sons in the public elementary school. We did this solely because we were unsatisfied with the teaching quality at that particular grade in that particular school, and we chose to use a district-sponsored "Independent Study Program" to maintain standards and accountability.

Although we are Christian, we explicitly avoided certain overly-religious curricula, and deliberately supplemented science and history curricula with other resources in those instances where we could not find a non-religious independent curriculum of quality.

Parents have no control over what teacher a child is placed with, and schools have very little control over a tenured-but-inadequate teacher (thankfully rare but not unheard-of in our school). If we can't afford private school, home study may be our only option--and that is an issue of quality, not religious bias.

Finally, it is my understanding that the court case was in fact a family services case, and the issue of education was only incidental to the matters actually on trial. To the extent this is true, it would seem the judge overreached to make a ruling on all homeschooling, regardless of his opinions or legal precedent.

Sent by Dan Martin | 3:05 PM ET | 03-11-2008

I've known lots of homeschoolers, including my boss' kids. Admittedly, some parents don't do a good job. But my boss' kids belong to a co-op where they get interaction with other kids. His oldest now speaks japanese and spanish, something she would never get to do in public schools in eastern ky.

Other excellent home schooling parents I've known have had children with learning disabilities who need special attention, but can't afford private school. With the right structure its been transformation for these kids.

I think its a few bad apple spoiling the bunch.

Sent by Jenna | 3:52 PM ET | 03-11-2008

We are a non-religious homeschooling family who felt that it was the only option for our children. The state of California's (and our Nation's) public schools are an embarrassment to our society. How it is that a nation as developed as ours has an education system that tests so low compared to other developed nations? There is one thing I know: as long as our public schools continue to perform so horribly, parents will continue to find it necessary to educate their children at home, I know I will! As far as this case, I believe that the legislature of our state understands the intrinsic value of the homeschooling movement and that our constitutional right as parents to guide and direct the education and upbringing of our children will, in the end, rule the day!

Sent by Melissa | 5:34 PM ET | 03-11-2008

We are a homeschooling family, and this article is very accurate. I can say after discussing this issue with many other homeschoolers, that the prevailing sentiment is one of brazen rebellion. Most homeschoolers will just continue illegally, whilst the rest will just leave the state of California. For every homeschooler they catch, there's going to be a long, bitter court battle because everyone has legal protection with the HSLDA and other advocacy groups, so we will not go down without a fight.

Sent by Peter Dixon | 6:10 PM ET | 03-11-2008

As a Californian, I must apologize for our state, particularly our state's judges. Their bellies are obviously so full that they have to find a problem that doesn't exist, namely the lack of credentials for teachers of home-schooled children.

Let me remind you that 100% of California's public school teachers are credentialed. Does that mean that public school students are getting a higher quality of education than students from non-credentialed teachers, be they private or home-schooled? Are you joking?

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 7:16 PM ET | 03-11-2008

The case itself did not require the type of ruling this court gave it, indeed the lawyers were only asking for a ruling on the specific case.
More then one article I have read suggest this ruling can affect other states.

Sent by win | 8:13 PM ET | 03-11-2008

In my case, I have participated all three of the main systems (public, private, and homeschool). My parents were very involved in our education, and wanted to make sure we had the best options that were available to us.

We homeschooled in two states and the rules were very different for each. In the state where I graduated from high school (home school), we had to document everything and meet with a school district approved representative to go over our progress each semester. We were not allowed to participate in any of the school activities ie Drivers Ed etc (even though we certainly weren't exempt from school taxes). My mother is still active in that district helping families to get started and find their way through the system to reach their personal goals.

Growing up I knew homeschoolers that worked harder than half of the people I knew in college. But I also met kids that I didn't tell anyone that they homeschooled because of how little they did.
For me, homeschooling as a system is just like regular school. There will be those who make the most of the system and follow all the rules, and those who do the minimum or less to get by - it's just much easier to see the people to "blame".

Sent by eli | 9:46 PM ET | 03-11-2008

I home School my children and I am proud of the opportunities that home schooling has opened up for them. I firmly believe that they are socially and acedemically better off in a home school setting. Home schoolers should do a better job of educating the public on the wonderful job they are doing, and Americans in general need to wake up and realize how many of our personal freedoms are being eroded in the name of security.

Sent by Scott McCoon | 10:59 PM ET | 03-11-2008

Nationwide, homeschoolers total probably less than 2% of all school aged children. Nationwide, what percentage of children that go to school never graduate? What percentage fall behind and are held back? What percentage graduate that are considered illiterate? If the government is really
"concerned" about the education of children, they would be better to turn their attention where it is really needed. FYI- I homeschool.

Sent by Angela A. | 8:58 AM ET | 03-12-2008

I homeschooled my children for 16 years, and have seen many changes through the years in attitudes toward homeschooling. There are, I believe, two compelling reasons for the growing backlash against homeschooling: anger at being upstaged by uncredentialled parents working around a kitchen table, and anger at losing control over impressionable children. There is a reason most homeschoolers are conservative or libertarian. They understand the reality of the adage, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". This issue desperately needs to go to the Supreme Court, and once and for all rule unequivocally that children "belong" to the parents, not the state!

Sent by Mary Ann | 9:11 AM ET | 03-12-2008

I'm delighted that our Superintendent of Schools issued the following statement:

March 11, 2008

SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O'CONNELL ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING HOME SCHOOLING
IN CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell
announced today that the California Department of Education has
completed a legal review of the February 28 California Court of Appeal
ruling regarding home schooling. O'Connell issued the following
statement:

"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. Parents still have the
right to home school in our state.

"Every child in our state has a legal right to get an education, and I
want every child to get an education that will prepare them for success
in college and the world of work in the challenging global economy.

"As the head of California's public school system, I hope that every
parent would want to send their children to public school. However,
traditional public schools may not be the best fit for every student.
Within the public school system there are a range of options available.
Students can take independent study classes, attend a charter school, or
participate in non-classroom-based programs. But some parents choose to
send their children to private schools or to home school, and I respect
that right.

"I admire the dedication of parents who commit to oversee their
children's education through home schooling. But, no matter what
educational program a student participates in, it is critical that the
program prepares them for future success in the global economy. I urge
any parent who is considering or involved in home schooling their
children to take advantage of resources and support available through
their county or district offices of education."

Sent by Jasmin Gerer | 10:59 AM ET | 03-12-2008

As a public school teacher, I have taught several students that have re-entered the public school system from the home school environment. Most of these have had high academic ability and are great students. If all home school students were afforded the opportunities of the few I have been in contact with, perhaps the system would not be under such scrutiny. The down side to home schooling is the lack of tracking student progress, and accountability. This year I had a student in the sixth grade that had the ability to learn, yet had been what I call ???no-schooled.??? She could not even identify a triangle, and her reading level was around second grade. Her parents are not teaching her, and when absenteeism became an issue, they pulled her from the school. That is the real issue here. How do we as a society make sure that all students are given the chance to learn, with out infringing on parents rights? I suggest making the home school student population take the same state assessments as required yearly for public school students. This would track and monitor progress as well as provide feed back for home school parents.

Sent by Jen Stacey | 12:31 PM ET | 03-25-2008

To comment on Jen Stacey's fear about "no-schooled" children, I am also a public school teacher but see that many parents may want to home school their students becuase they do not agree with the state's curriculum. By requiring them to take the yearly state assessments, you are taking away their right to educate their child as they see fit. You point out what that child could not do -and I understand the concern over her reading level- but may not have looked into what she could do that the typically schooled child was not given the chance to learn. Some believe there is more to life than just physics, changes in country policies, and the names of shapes, and they want their children to become capable in ways that the typical schooling system keeps children from being able to achieve.

Sent by Survivor | 3:57 AM ET | 07-21-2008