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California state superintendent endorses right to homeschool

The California state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, has insisted that parents still have the right to homeschool despite a recent court ruling claiming that parents had to be credentialed teachers to school their own children, reports Catholic News Agency.

"The California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents still have the right to homeschool in this state," O’Connell said.

The Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District in Los Angeles ruled on February 28 that the law required children to be educated in a full-time public day school, a full-time private day school, or private tutoring under a credentialed instructor.

Many homeschoolers believed the ruling effectively outlawed homeschooling.

Michael Farris, Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), supported the superintendent’s statement.

"O'Connell has it right," Farris said. "But the court decision must still be overturned before homeschool freedom can be restored in California."

"We hope the statement from O'Connell puts the brakes on any enforcement action," he continued. "We have just started the legal battle to restore homeschool freedom in California."

The HSLDA has said it would pursue several legal options, including seeking a review of the case by the Supreme Court and petitioning the Supreme Court to depublish the appellate court’s opinion.

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[03/18/2008]

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