Encouraging Developments in California Homeschooling Case – Prayers Still Needed     7/16/2008 By Mario Diaz, Esq. The California Juvenile Court terminated jurisdiction over the children involved in In re Rachel, the homeschooling case that caused an avalanche of criticism at the beginning of the year. At the time, the Court of Appeals in California determined that parents who homeschool their children without a valid state teaching credential "may be subject to a criminal complaint against them." In a hearing held on July 10, 2008, the Juvenile Court dismissed the case which served as the foundation for that misguided decision by the Court of Appeals earlier in the year. But prayers are still needed. The homeschoolers, represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, will ask the appellate court to take note of the developments at the lower level and will move to dismiss the previous ruling on the ground that it is now moot. We are confident that after the enormous public outcry provoked by the previous ruling against homeschooling and the dismissal of this case the rights of homeschoolers will be protected regardless of this petition's outcome. However, we hope the Appellate Court will grant this petition because of the precedent it might set for future cases. Please continue to pray for homeschoolers in California and for those involved in this particular case. For more on this case see: California Homeschooling Parents Treated as Criminals Homeschooling Under Attack