The California Department of Public Health initially claimed only graduates from "accredited" high schools could be licensed. California law is regressive about homeschooling, especially compared to the majority of other states, but there is no such requirement for a candidate for phlebotomy licensure.
"This is not the first time we've had problems for homeschool graduates," notes HSLDA attorney Will Estrada. "This was the first time that home education students, homeschoolers, graduates who were licensed had their licenses revoked. So, it really kind of brought the level up to a higher degree and more concern than we've had in the past."
Homeschooling is legal in California and is operated under the private school law, and Estrada hopes this case will help get the word out.
"The California Department of Public Health agrees with us," the attorney relays. "The licenses were quickly reinstated when HSLDA got involved."
Estrada is himself a homeschool graduate who passed the Bar Exam in California, and he and his wife now homeschool their two children.
