☆ Perspective: Why Laissez-faire homeschooling laws protect academic success

Jamie Heston (past Homeschool Association of California board member, “15 year veteran homeschooling expert” and consultant) explains the benefits of gov’t-hands-off homeschooling. While some call to constrict homeschool laws, Heston charges that they remain flexible in CA — to encourage rigorous out-of-the-box, individualized options. An Opp Now exclusive.

Opportunity Now: According to your experience, why do Californians decide to take the plunge and try homeschooling? What type of people are drawn to this option?

Jamie Heston: Traditionally, homeschooling families were mostly religious and/or those wanting to take control of their children’s education (and out of the government’s hands).

Today, many don’t come into homeschooling organically, but are thrust into the decision by unanticipated circumstances (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). These parents may not have considered it for long before they made the switch. We see it on both sides of the aisle.

As homeschooling has become more ubiquitous, more people are discovering that the traditional public school system doesn’t work for them and their children. Thus, we’re observing people coming to homeschooling more abruptly than was common in the past, as opposed to researching and thinking about it for a while.

ON: How legally or regulatorily “friendly” is California for homeschooling families, would you say?

JH: Very friendly. In California, parents can homeschool their children through this independent method, in which they file a private school affidavit every year and keep a couple records on file. Other than that, the government is pretty hands off (though not quite as much as several other states that don’t require notification).

Furthermore, some families homeschool through the local charter system. This has become really popular within the last 20-30 years. Usually, parents get funding from the charter school, and there’s some kind of scaffolding (a certified teacher regularly meets with them and keeps them on track academically).

All things considered, California’s private school affidavit option affords families flexibility and freedom in choosing how they want to educate their child. We often see kids doing dual enrollment or graduating early from high school.

ON: Some argue that homeschooling should be more tightly regulated to promote accountability, transparency, and excellence in education. Walk us through this rejoinder.

JH: There are people who say that a credentialed teacher should be required in California to monitor homeschooling families’ curriculum, teaching, grading, etc. (as is generally available for those in charter schools). However, if a credentialed teacher had looked over what I did with my kids (I homeschooled them under a private school affidavit), they’d probably be concerned. They could label my way of homeschooling as too “relaxed.” With that said, both of my children are currently thriving in college (3.92 GPAs; one is at UC Davis, and the other will soon transfer to a university), so would it be fair to call their primary-secondary education lacking?

That’s why I don’t love the idea of regulating homeschooling. The way my family did homeschooling resulted in a very good outcome, even though it didn’t look like public school. Overall, I believe that the government should stay hands-off and let parent educators call the shots.

ON: What about the idea that children are being left behind by neglectful, incompetent, or even abusive homeschooling parents?

JH: Yes, another argument in favor of stricter homeschooling regulations is that some students are falling through the cracks. But this is happening in regular schools, anyways. The government shouldn’t restrict the freedoms of everyone because a small minority is slipping through the cracks; that’s not the American way, especially if there’s little to no proof that that’s a serious problem.

For instance, AB 2926 (which would have established an advisory committee to analyze local homeschools) emerged after a horrific example of someone claiming to be homeschooling but who was torturing their kids. However, what does that have to do with actual homeschooling? We shouldn’t punish everyone — by taking away their freedoms — for what one family did.

Instead, the bureaucratic attention should be on improving CPS, a system already in place to prevent child abuse. There are occasionally stories about them either overstepping or not properly intervening.

ON: Overall, how can California and local governance protect parents and children involved in homeschooling, while still promoting accountable education?

JH: Homeschooling is a really great option for families who want to take advantage of it. Many are unable to due to economic status or other life circumstances, in which case the public schools are there for people who need them. However, for people needing something different (e.g., their children are gifted and/or have learning challenges, one parent is able to stay at home while the other works), homeschooling can present a great option.

In California, it should stay as unregulated as it is now, so parents can continue choosing it as an opportunity for their children.

Also, there’s a movement among homeschoolers to participate in local schools’ sports or take one class there in person. There are some states, not including California, where this happens. To me, this offers the best of both worlds. Schools get eyes on those kids, which is what they really want, and homeschoolers have further flexibility when opting for available resources. But generally, these local public schools would want what homeschooling parents might deem excessive oversight. If parents could retain autonomy in their homeschooling, and still be able to send their children part-time to a traditional school, that’s a great hybrid option.

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Image by Chiot’s Run