Home-schooling virtually unregulated in California
Children play a tag-like game during a physical education for home schooled children session in Palm Desert. There are 48 students enrolled. Last year there were 22. / Jay Calderon The Desert Sun
In California, pulling a child out of public school to home-educate them is easier than getting cable television.
In this state, when a student leaves public school to learn at home, the California Department of Education does nothing.
“We can't even track these kids,” said Tina Jung, spokeswoman for the California Department of Education. “Education laws prevent the CDE from tracking private schools, regardless of the number of students.”
A private home-school is not to be confused with a public school-based home study program, such as those offered by charter schools.
Since charter schools are public schools, enrolled students are monitored the same way as a student sitting in a classroom.