UpdatedThu, September 24, 2026 at 4:03 PM UTC
A legal group asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to take up a lawsuit challenging California’s policy against faith-based curriculum in public homeschool programs.
The Liberty Justice Center filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case Woolard v. Thurmond, backing several California families who say the state unlawfully excludes religious textbooks and curricula from public charter school independent-study options.
Under California rules, parents who educate their children at home through these charter programs can select from a wide catalog of secular books and teaching aids funded by public funds. However, the state forbids parents from picking materials published by faith-based groups, even if the content satisfies state academic standards.
Three families—the Woolards, Gonzaleses, and Dodsons—first challenged
Three families—the Woolards, Gonzaleses, and Dodsons—first challenged the state policy in federal court in October 2023. They argue that once California establishes a public program to fund home learning, it cannot deny parents access to it simply because the coursework contains religious viewpoints.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against the families, and the full court declined to grant rehearing in November 2025. California officials have maintained that the restrictions are legal because the charter-supported framework constitutes tuition-free public education.
In the newly filed brief, attorneys argued that the Ninth Circuit’s ruling runs directly against Supreme Court precedent holding that states cannot bar citizens from public benefits based on religious use.
Parents—not the government—should be able to choose
“Parents—not the government—should be able to choose the educational resel for the Liberty Justice Center’s PARENTS Initiative. “California cannot offer families educational choice with one hand while denying it with the other when they choose faith-based materials. The Supreme Court should make clear that religious families are entitled to equal access to public-benefit programs.”
Charter independent-study networks in California serve hundreds of thousands of students. According to court filings, nationwide data shows that over half of home-educating parents cite religious instruction as a factor in their decision. The brief also noted that the rule affects a wide swath of children relying on independent study, including low-income students, children with disabilities, military dependents, and families seeking refuge from school-based bullying.
The Supreme Court will decide in the coming months whether to grant a hearing in the case.
READ:Florida Justices Shut Down Jermaine Foster’s Bid To Escape Death Row
Please make a smalldonation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Supreme Court Urged To Rule On California Ban Against Religious Homeschool Materials
