Yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle reports that California's Second District Court of Appeal has granted a rehearing in In re Rachel L., a case that rejected a claim by parents that they have a First Amendment free exercise right to home school their children. (See prior posting.) Under the court's original ruling, home school parents must file to be a small, private school and hire a credentialed tutor. (See prior posting.) In the case, the parents argued unsuccessfully that they are in compliance with state law because a private religious academy considers the children enrolled in its independent study program and visits them four times per year.
UPDATE: In an expanded order, the Second District Court of Appeals has asked the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the Los Angeles school district, the California Teachers Association and the Los Angeles teachers' union to all express their opinions on homeschooling as the court reconsiders its decision. (World Net Daily, 3/27).
