Were they actually home schooling? I'm clueless on this point but isn't some sort of minimal contact with the local school system a requirement to legitimately do home schooling?
Just to clarify it. No, Bob, not in all situations. It depends on state regulations. For instance, in Michigan (which is considered, currently, as the friendliest state in the US for home schoolers) we don't even have to notify the school system that we ARE home schooling. However, if the FIA (Family Independence Agency) ever had reason to investigate, you would have to prove that you were educating your children in all of the age appropriate curriculum as mandated by the state department of education. And if you ever re-enroll your child in public or private education, the school has the right to test your child for grade level experience.