A group of California parents has requested the Supreme Court to review their case, alleging that state officials violated their constitutional rights by rejecting the use of religious educational materials for homeschooling. The parents argue that their chosen curriculum, which includes religious themes, meets state education standards but was dismissed by a charter school as violating First Amendment rights.
In California, parents can enroll their children in independent study programs using state-provided funds to select curriculum and materials. These selections are reviewed by charter schools to ensure compliance with state requirements. The parents contend that one charter school improperly rejected their materials, which included works by William Penn and Jonathan Edwards, citing their religious content.
The petition filed by First Liberty Institute, a legal group supporting the families, seeks to overturn a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that sided with California officials, classifying the homeschool programs as public schools. The petition argues that the state cannot exclude families seeking faith-based homeschooling from benefits offered to other families.
The parents claim that the rejection of their materials constitutes a violation of their Free Exercise rights. They emphasize that the Supreme Court's precedents should support their case, as the state has chosen to fund education outside its public schools. The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to hear the case, titled Woolard v. Thurmond, in the upcoming fall term.