PACIFIC JUSTICE INSTITUTE
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release September 5, 2002
Contact: Attorney Brad Dacus (916) 857-6900

Homeschoolers Notified of "Unlawful" Education

San Diego, CA - The Pacific Justice Institute has recently been contacted by a growing number of homeschoolers who have received notices from their local offices of education stating that homeschooling in California is unlawful. The notices have been sent in response to requests for R-4 forms.

Under the supervision of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, the California Department of Education recently sent a memo to every county office of education throughout the state explaining the new procedures for obtaining and filing a private school affidavit. In addition to informing the counties that the affidavit forms would soon be available only on the Department of Education's Internet website, the memo goes on to explain that non-credentialed parents who "homeschool" their children need not submit an affidavit because home schooling is "outside the law". At least two counties in the state have forwarded this information to homeschooling parents who currently possess filed private school affidavits.

Delaine Easton has also recently asked state legislators to pass laws clarifying the alleged confusion about laws impacting homeschoolers. "Such legislation is completely unnecessary," said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. "We will challenge any legislation that denies the fundamental rights of parents to educate their children."

"After looking into the matter, we can categorically say that the law has not changed, and there is nothing illegal about home-based private schools or non-credentialed parents teaching in such schools," said Roger Ho, attorney for the Pacific Justice Institute. "The Department of Education's antagonism toward home schools is longstanding, and it appears that they are simply using the counties to scare parents into putting their children into the public schools."

"We have recently experienced an increase in the number of calls from homeschoolers who are interested in internship positions in our organization," said Stacey Harris, office manager of the Pacific Justice Institute. This increase has likely been caused by the recent actions of Delaine Easton and The California Department of Education. We expect the continuation of such actions will multiply the number of homeschoolers involved in the political process this fall.

The Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

P.O. Box 4366, Citrus Heights, CA 95611
Phone (916) 857-6900 Fax (916) 857-6902 www.pacificjustice.org