School Notebook

The Los Angeles Times today goes deeper into the current state of homeschooling in California, which is back in the spotlight since a recent legal ruling (since vacated, pending a re-hearing in the next few months) that only credential-bearing parents can teach their kids at home.

Seema Mehta features two South Bay families in her story -- the Torrance-based Brownings and the Curtos, whose kids who attend classes at Hermosa's Hope Chapel in addition to learn at home with mom Kym.

It's a good read, with a nice accompanying photo gallery online.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey all you stay-at-home types, this should make you happy: I heard today that the recent appellate court ruling that rankled the homeschooling community for declaring that parents who teach their kids en casa will have to have teaching credentials has been vacated.

A rehearing is reportedly pending in the next few months, possibly as soon as June, according to the Pacific Justice Institute.

Of course the state Department of Education had already told parents to remain calm, assuring them that the ruling would not be enforced until the battle is fully fought ... but still, those folks must feel pretty good today, and optimistic that the law will ultimately find in their favor.

We shall see! Knowing the legal system, we won't see for quite a while... but someday, homeschoolers, someday.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Giselle Serate, a 10-year-old homeschooled 4th-grade student from Rancho Palos Verdes, beat out more than 90 contestants in the "7th Annual $1,000 National Elementary School Spelling Bee" on March 9 in Long Beach.

She correctly spelled pharaoh and surveillance to win the $1,000 prize.

If you think you can spell, sign up for Justin's "Third Annual National Adult Spelling Bee" on Sunday, May 4, in Long Beach at www.AdultSpellingBee.com.

Posted by Toni Sciacqua at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Parents who teach their kids at home rather than send them to bricks-and-mortar schools may soon need something else to get the job done -- a teaching credential.

A state appellate court ruled this week that parents cannot educate their kids at home unless they are credentialed.

Get all the details from the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by Shelly Leachman at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)