March 07, 2008
California Home School Case/Threats to Home Education
| Host: | Ingrid Schlueter |
| Guest: | Chris Klicka |
| Listen: | RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD |
This edition of Crosstalk looked at three key home school defense cases as described by Chris Klicka, Senior Counsel with the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Chris began with a case in California that started with a social worker's visit to a home school family. The social worker felt that the children should be in public school. When this case ended up going to the Second Appellate Court in Los Angeles, it was ruled that home schooling is only legal in California if families have licensed, certified teachers. This case is being appealed to the Supreme Court of California.
In Washington, D.C. the new superintendent decided to do some work to create a draft regulation that the D.C. Board of Education can ultimately determine as to whether or not it becomes law. The regulation says that home school families have to submit to unannounced home visits and have their instruction observed. They also have to submit a portfolio that is reviewed and approved by school officials. Chris ended this story with good news that in a hearing this past Wednesday before the D.C. Board of Education, the draft regulation was scrapped.
HB 2795 and SB 3412 are bills that have been introduced in Tennessee that would subject home school students to additional testing. This testing requires home school students to take subject matter tests based upon state approved, public school textbooks. It would also require such students to pass the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program before they could receive a high school diploma.
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