ACLJ Pleased CA Appeals Court Clears Way for Homeschooling

(Washington, DC) The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law, said today it is pleased a California appeals court overturned a previous decision and cleared the way for parents to homeschool their children.  The ACLJ filed an amicus brief in the case in support of homeschooling.

Were pleased the appeals court recognized the rights of parents to provide education for their children, said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ.  This decision reaffirms the constitutional right thats afforded to parents in directing the education of their children.  Its an important victory for families who cherish the freedom to ensure that their children receive a high quality education that is inherent in homeschooling.

The 2nd Appellate District in Los Angeles today ruled that state law does permit homeschooling as a species of private school education and concluded home schools may constitute private schools.  The court said:  Parents possess a constitutional liberty interest in directing the education of their children, but the right must yield to state interests in certain circumstances.  You can read the decision here.

The ACLJ filed a friend-of-the-court brief in May urging the appeals court to protect the right to homeschool and argued that the right of parents to homeschool their children is derived from both the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.  You can read the ACLJ brief here.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.