Home-school case to be heard
An appellate court that banned parents who lack teaching credentials from educating their children at home agreed to rehear the matter on Wednesday.
The initial ruling by the 2nd District Court of Appeal caused alarm among the state’s home-school families, who teach an estimated 166,000 students. It was also criticized by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and conservative leaders around the nation. The ruling has never been enforced.
An attorney representing parents Phillip and Mary Long, the couple at the center of the case, argued in seeking the rehearing that the ruling relied on outdated legal decisions, misinterpreted California’s education code and failed to consider parental rights and religious freedom. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard in June.
Other parties are seeking to have the ruling “depublished” so it would apply only to the Long family and not set precedent for all California home-schoolers. They also plan to appeal the matter to the state Supreme Court.
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-- Seema Mehta
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