Depending on where you live, homeschooling news is either greatly encouraging or greatly discouraging lately.

Homeschoolers in California are still fighting the February 28 court decision against homeschooling. According to the court’s decision, “California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home.” The California Superintendent of Public Instruction, though, announced that he believed that homeschooling is still legal in California, and many local officials may take their cue from him when deciding whether to prosecute. The case is being brought before the California Supreme Court for appeal and in the meantime , Home School Legal Defense Association has started a petition to “depublish” the opinion. According to HSLDA, “If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers. HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California.” You can sign the petition here.

The good news, fortunately, is for us in Florida, where Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed March 30 - April 5, 2008 as Homeschool Education Week.

Whereas, the state of Florida is commited to excellence in education and to public policy that strengthens the family and recognizes parental choice in the pursuit of that excellence and the importance of parental involvement in education; and

Whereas home education has existed as a statutorily protected educational option in the State of Florida since 1985, providing parents with the ultimate authority and responsibility, under God, for the care, character development, and educational opportunities for their children; and

Whereas, over two decades of study indicate that most children who are home educated exhibit self-confidence, good citizenship, exceptional academic test scores, higher than average college attendance and success and many have proven devotion to their country by faithfully serving in the armed forces of the United States


You can read the rest of the “whereas”s here.

One final thought from HSLDA, “We have seen God’s hand of protection on the homeschooling movement for the 25 years we have been working together for this cause. There is no reason to begin to doubt God now.”