I'm not caught up yet so forgive me, but it hasn't been brought up in the past 3 threads so I'm going to take a chance. I have no idea why everyone is talking about homeschooling vs. public schooling when that has NOTHING to do with this, this isn't home school this was a PRIVATE school, they registered in their home. There is a huge difference between homeschooling and creating a private school.
The Turpin's registered their private school, Sandcastle Day School, through the California Dept. of Education. This is very different than homeschooling, so the regulations and oversights that kept being brought up have literally nothing to do with this, this isn't home school this is private school!
Sorry to use your post JO, it was just a good one that I wanted to see again in the thread!!!!!
Recalling back to some earlier post, I believe that California law requires that home school families register themselves as a private school (or that is at least one possibility). Brings to mind Charlie Sheen having his home registered as a treatment facility in order to comply with terms of parole.
There are at least 50 (or 52 throwing in DC and Puerto Rico) different sets of laws governing "home school" and "private schools" in the US. And in no state are either of them as well or carefully regulated as public schools (including "charter" schools). As time goes on, we will likely get a better feel for exactly what kind of education these kids were getting. But, so far, it doesn't appear as though any laws were broken in that regard, as the laws governing home schooling (or calling your home a private school) are so sparse.
And I for one, even though I know a number of very conscientious home school families who are providing very good education, wish that were not the case. Because when we refuse to regulate based on the experience of the best and most diligent, we open the door to abuse by the worse and most terrifying.