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Iron County Pushes the Limits

Iron County School District seems determined to assert as much control over home school families as possible. The district is pushing for policies that would mandate periodic testing, home visits, and portfolio reviews.

However, the Utah legislature has not given districts authority to impose such requirements. Utah Code § 53A-11-102 requires a school district to release a child from public school attendance for the coming year based on reasonable assurances from the parents that the child will be taught the same subjects and for the same length of time as required for public school students.

In enacting its home school law, the legislature has taken the commendable position that parents can be trusted in regard to the education of their children. The U.S. Supreme Court similarly has held that parents are presumed to act in the best interest of their children. See Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584 (1979), at 602-604. Iron County appears to want to reverse this presumption and assume parents are not trustworthy.