California Dept. of Education slams homeschooling; 'Outside the law'

CPI News - Conservative Press International ^ | August 17, 2002 | William Holzer - CPI Investigative Reporter

[CPI News]

California Dept. of Education slams homeschooling; 'Outside the law' By William Holzer -- CPI Exclusive

Click below for story: http://www.cpinews.net/archives/2002-q3/ca-dept-edu.slams.homeschooling/index.htm

The California Department of Education is once again trying to stop the fastest growing educational movement in the country. According to a new letter that is circulating through California school districts, "Parents who home school their children are operating outside the law."

The homeschooling community in California has begun to feel the affects of the latest attempt to change homeschooling policy. In a recent letter by Deputy Superintendent Joanne Mendoza, homeschooling is described as "not an authorized exemption from mandatory public school attendance."

Homeschooling has drawn increasing attention in America with homeschoolers going 1-2-3 in recent National Spelling Bees, as well as entering prestigious colleges like Harvard and Yale. It’s widely believed that the number of homeschoolers in America is between 700,000 and 1.2 million, with many studies showing homeschoolers scoring higher than their public school peers in academic tests.

Not everyone is happy. The National Education Association (NEA) – in their 2000-2001 resolutions – states that the NEA "believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

The school district receives funds relative to the number of students attending public school, students that homeschool don’t fill the coffers of the bureaucracy. The per head revenue in California is roughly 4,500 dollars for each child that attends public school; the total amount of funds granted is determined by the average daily attendance (ADA) of the school.

The amount of money the school district could gain – if homeschoolers attended public school - is estimated at upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars per year.

This is part of the reason incidents between homeschoolers and the school system are common. The homeschooling community in California is prepared for action, lead by organizations such as the California Homeschool Network (CHN). Karen Taylor, the president of CHN, described the current trouble as "the same old story" and "some new employees trying to shake things up."

Another worry that has been expressed by homeschoolers is what junior colleges will do with this new development. Homeschoolers have historically used junior colleges as a supplement to high school level courses, as well as a method to finish general education requirements before entering college.

Despite attempts to stop homeschooling by the school district, it’s unlikely that junior colleges will stop admitting homeschooled students. Homeschoolers are extremely good students and unlikely to dropout of classes. Colleges do not run as much risk of refunding money to students that are unlikely to quit.

[summer]

This could be an issue in the CA gov race, as the Green Party, as well as the GOP, supports homeschooling along with other educational environments. here in FL, as I have mentioned many times, I have friends on the LEFT who homeschool - and they refuse to vote Dem anymore because of the Dems' refusal to support homeschooling.

[summer]

See my post #2. :)

[Bubba_Leroy]

Ever wonder why the government schools and the teacher unions are so fanatically opposed to home schooling? Here is one reason why.

[ladylib]

People can't be compelled to send their children to public schools if they have a viable alternative, and they do. If Gov. Davis loses the upcoming election, another Education Commissioner will be appointed. Maybe someone more sympathetic to homeschooling.

[norton]

Ah, the mandatory public school system..

A heady mix of greed and ideology,
staffed by two generations of good little socialists.

[djf]

Yeah, I'll bet Krispy Kreme thinks home made donuts are just wonderful!

[janetgreen]

That is absolutely disgusting. I wouldn't let my kids spend one day in that Massachusetts school.

[don-o]

LOL!

The power messes with homeschoolers at their own peril.

A threat in California is a threat in Tennessee. And we are good at nipping this sort of ting in the bud.

Mama bear image is relevant here.

[TxBec]

** The amount of money the school district could gain – if homeschoolers attended public school - is estimated at upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars per year. **

... and there is the rub ...

[ladylib]

California has a big problem with their homosexual agenda that they are going to implement in the schools, idiotic principals (the notorious thong checking incident) and wacked out teachers (the pretend Arab who tried to light the American flag on fire at his school) to mention just a couple. Pacific Justice Institute has had more requests for parent opt-out forms than ever before. Parents should forget about opt-out notices and just opt-out of the system completely.

[don-o]

"thing in the bud."

Damn. I just hate myself when I do that on homeschool threads.

I CAN spel. I just cant tipe.

[Commander8]

The government school system is damaged beyond any hope of repair and corrupt beyond any hope of reform. It does not matter how much money you throw at it or how many good people are put on school boards, any type of reform will be thwarted by the teachers' unions and their allies in the State education bureaucracy. Charter schools and vouchers are non-solutions.
The best types of schooling are private schools, apprenticeships(like they had before child labor laws) and of course, home schooling.

[agrace]

Can any California homeschoolers lend some insight? It seems to me that California is just about the worst state in which to battle your way through homeschooling, but I am unfamiliar with the state guidelines and requirements of parents. What are they, and is there any real danger that homeschooling will become illegal there? I can't imagine that illegalizing it will actually be allowed to happen, but is it becoming increasingly difficult?

I'm fortunate - very fortunate, as I am increasingly aware - to live in NJ (only good thing I can find, but it's a VERY good thing, lol), which basically has no requirements whatsoever. My daughter is entering kindergarten this fall and I don't even have to notify the school district that we are homeschooling instead. Probably about the easiest state for homeschooling.

[Selara]

This is the worst thing I have EVER read about public schools. I won't ever step foot in Mass.

[Selara]

Not surprised. California indoctrinates all of it's public school students with "California ethics" and they ever luck for ways to suck taxpayers dry.

[ladylib]

Check out the required reading list for Newton, MA, public schools and then check out the reading lists (Great Books) for homeschoolers or classical schools. Decide for yourself which is more worthwhile. Then ask yourself, Why would a school district foist these porn books on school kids? Why? What's the point? To appear cutting-edge? Or something more sinister?

[Domestic Church]

Yes! it is all about money but if the HS community stopped and entered the PS how much more would have to be spent in building schools and busses and paying the staff.

[aruanan]

Not everyone is happy. The National Education Association (NEA) – in their 2000-2001 resolutions – states that the NEA "believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

"comprehensive education experience"--PubEduSpeak for "thoroughly screw over with no repercussions while getting paid to do it"; these resolutions are the educational bureaucracy's warning to do it with union labor or prepare to get knee-capped.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Alert!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

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