SACRAMENTO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- California parents can legally teach their children at home even if they have no credentials as teachers, an appeals court ruled Friday.
The court reversed itself on the issue, the Los Angeles Times reported. Its previous opinion effectively made most home-schooling illegal.
At least 166,000 families are believed to be home-schooling their children in the state. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had said he would ask the legislature to overrule the court if the judges did not act.
"This decision confirms the right every California child has to a quality education and the right parents have to decide what is best for their children," Schwarzenegger said. "I hope the ruling settles this matter for parents and home-schooled children once and for all in California, but assure them that we, as elected officials, will continue to defend parents' rights."
California law does not cover home schooling. The state Department of Education says home-schooling parents must get certified as a private school, hire a tutor or use home-study materials provided by a school but leaves enforcement to local districts.
