Raising Bakersfield

     I am very upset about the introduction in the homeschooling section of Kern Life in today's newspaper. It is very misleading. The public needs to know that homeschooling IS legal in CA. Yes, we are awaiting the results of a court case; however, the Governer, District Attorney, and the State Superintendent of Schools all support the right to homeschool. In fact, all of them filed briefs for the case in question, urging the court to uphold the law as it stands. Furthermore, the Governor has stated that if the courts do not protect the right to homeschool, the legistature will.

    Additionally, according to Kern Life, you need to "contact the school district/Valley Oaks Charter school to determine if your homeschooling program is legal". This is not true.  They want to entice you to enroll in their programs, so that they will recieve state funds for your child.

     Parents can homeschool legally through a governement school program,  but they can also homeschool privately by filing a simple form online, or by enrolling in a private school's satellite program, which provides oversight, support, testing, activities and more.

    If you want more information about homeschooling, Christian support groups, or homepreschooling, contact me, Susan Lemons, "Thinking About Homeschooling", at 827-0540, or at mentormom@bak.rr.com . Don't be scared away from homeschooling by the legal mumbo-jumbo. Homeschooling is legal for non-credentialed parents.