The new opinion, entitled Jonathan L. v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, ruled that state law does permit home schooling as a type of “private school,” and overruled a February 28 opinion stating the opposite view. About 15 pro-family and home-school advocacy organizations participated in the effort to get the court to reverse itself. This decision clears the way for families to educate their children in accord with their own consciences, rather than expose them to the sexualized and politically correct environment in the public schools.
The original case arose in a difficult family situation, where the parents were accused of abuse and neglect of their children, and a juvenile court had ordered that the children attend a government school as part of a state dependency proceeding. The appeals court, in its August 8 decision, also ruled that the state had a compelling interest in preventing abuse of children, which could override parents’ right to direct the upbringing of their children.
