IP-4-1987 (April 1987)
Author: John Eidsmoe

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Executive Summary

Home schooling is an educational model whereby the primary academic instruction of children takes place in the childs home, generally by one or both parents but sometimes by another family member or an outside tutor. It was a common means of educating children in early American history.

During much of the twentieth century, home education was practically unheard of in many circles. But during the past decade it has become perhaps the most widely growing phenomenon in American education, including the state of Colorado.

This issue paper argues that home education is a viable and effective means of educating children and should therefore not be discouraged by state law.

The author, an Oklahoma attorney, argues that Colorados law dealing with home education, while not overly restrictive on its face, has great potential for abuse.

After examining the current trend among state legislatures to recognize and legitimize home schooling, the paper concludes by recommending that Colorado join this trend by adopting new legislation that would legal ize home education subject to reasonable restrictions to ensure educational quality.

John Eidsmoe, the author of this study, holds a Doctor of Ministries degree as well as a Juris Doctorate and two masters degrees. He is the author of four books, and has been visiting professor at the O.W. Coburn School of Law in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he taught education law, constitutional law, juvenile law, and related subjects.

Dr. Eidsmoe has provided legal advice for hundreds of home school families throughout the nation, and supervised a team of his law students in researching and compiling the home school laws for all fifty states.