Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

On today's Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith shows how Home School Legal Defense Association helped transform Michigan from one of the worst homeschool states to one of the best—overnight.

Mike Smith:
Michigan's homeschool law was transformed due to the efforts of HSLDA and the persistence of the DeJonge family. On May 15, 1993, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in favor of the DeJonge family. It's hard to believe, but if this decision had gone the wrong way then the DeJonges would have faced criminal penalties for successfully educating their children at home.


In 1985 the DeJonges were prosecuted by Michigan authorities for teaching their children at home without a teacher's certificate. The case was argued through several appeals, and successive courts consistently ruled against the DeJonges. HSLDA appealed the case to the Michigan Supreme Court, which eventually ruled in the favor of the DeJonges.


Due to this long-awaited and hard-fought decision, Michigan parents are now free to homeschool. This decision turned Michigan from one of the worst states to one of the best overnight. Homeschool freedom has advanced because courageous homeschool families like the DeJonges have been willing to fight for their freedom.


Listeners, join us next time as we continue our discussion of the key HSLDA cases which paved the way for homeschool freedom. And I'm Mike Smith.