California parents petition Supreme Court over religious homeschooling rights

A group of California parents has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling regarding religious homeschooling rights. The case challenges a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the state's ability to reject certain religious educational materials used in state-funded independent study programs.

Under current California regulations, parents using state funds for homeschooling must have their curriculum reviewed by charter schools to ensure it meets state standards. The parents argue that the rejection of materials containing religious themes—such as the works of William Penn and Jonathan Edwards—violates their First Amendment rights. The Ninth Circuit previously ruled that because these programs are considered “public schools,” the state may exclude faith-based materials without violating the Constitution.