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I could see the government leaving alone those who aren't dependent on government programs but interfering more with those who are dependents of it.

This gets into the grey area of social legislation that ends up making no one happy. Because a family is not dependent on a government program, how do you know that they are teaching their kids? Because they say so?

If they are teaching their kids, the kids should have no problem with any tests. How about this-- we know that the standard tests appeal to a pretty low standard -- homeschoolers take the same test as their public school counterparts and actually get a reprive from testing for a while. I can imagine a scenario whereby homeschooled little Johnnie has demonstrated 10th grade math at the 8th grade level. So the state leaves little Johnnie alone for 2 years. Meanwhile, the homeschool parents demand that the state teachers take the same tests. Those teachers that can't pass, lose their position.

I don't know of any way to show that the parents are actually teaching their kids other than by a testing method.

I don't know of any way to show that the parents are actually teaching their kids other than by a testing method.

Many state education departments disagree with you. Testing is not mandated in many states, but instead use a portfolio of student work. If asked, the parent will submit this work along with records of attendance for review. Most states find that this works better and is actually cheaper than standardized testing, which has its own problems. It's usually very obvious if a child has not been in a learning environment. Standardized testing as a tool is over rated. Just look at how many public schools spend the weeks prior to tesing teaching directly to the test.

"I don't know of any way to show that the parents are actually teaching their kids other than by a testing method."

There is the crux of the problem. By what right does the state seize control of YOUR children? This is about who has the parental rights. These people are fighting for their parental rights. Everyone, including the judge, admits these children have suffered absolutely NO abuse. Then what is this about? It is about the freedom from interference this courageous couple should have. Who sets the educational standards for any given community? IN THEORY, it is the parents of the students in that community, through the election of a school board. BUT, due to constant interference of the US Dept of Ed and teacher's unions pushing radical leftist agenda's, parents have lost the ability to direct the education of their children. As homeschoolers, we are simply taking back what was stolen from us by the nanny state. I salute these courageous parents.
How does the quote go...."He who surrenders freedom for security deserves neither".................