Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

In 1986, Pennsylvania law allowed each school district to set its own policy for handling homeschoolers. Michael Farris talks about the case that challenged this crazy quilt of rules today on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Farris:


As we celebrate the 20th year of Home School Legal Defense Association, it's really rewarding to look back on the legal victories that God has given to homeschoolers. It's clear that His intent is to remove every obstacle, so that parents can freely educate their children as He leads them.


The Jeffery case in Pennsylvania was a real landmark. HSLDA took this case on behalf of nine homeschooling families. At the time, Pennsylvania law allowed each Superintendent to essentially make up the rules of compliance for homeschoolers in their local district.


Parents ended up with this crazy quilt of rules, some friendly to homeschoolers, others with harsh testing and certification requirements. No two jurisdictions were the same. A federal judge agreed that Pennsylvania's law was unconstitutionally vague, giving local schools too much discretion.


Getting this big victory on constitutional grounds in 1988 laid the foundation for eliminating similar laws in other states. As a result, over 20 cases against HSLDA families already in court were dismissed favorably for us.


God is the master of economy! He was able to use the courage of nine families, just like the faithfulness of the little boy with his loaves and fishes, and multiply the result to many. What a privilege it's been to be a part of the effort to guard our freedom to homeschool. I'm Mike Farris.