A state associate-court judge ruled earlier this month that a Muscatine, Iowa, couple may continue to teach their children at home.
Judge James A. Weaver said he was not convinced that Jesse and Nancy Shuler, who removed their three children from the public schools last year, were breaking Iowa’s laws on home schooling.
Legal action was brought against the Weavers by the county attorney’s office, which had been notified of the alleged violation by the school district. In Iowa, parents can teach children at home if they use a curriculum certified by the local school district and use a state-certified teacher.
Arthur R. Sensor, superintendent of the Muscatine Community School District, said the parents use a curriculum produced by Christian Liberty Academy in Chicago, and have since April 1 used a certified teacher four hours per week. Judge Weaver found this arrangement satisfactory, he said.
“This is probably not the end of the matter,” Mr. Sensor said. Following school-board elections in September, he will ask the board to consider the possibility of another suit, probably in state district court.
