Presents a historical, national, and legal overview of home schooling. Reviews official responses and constitutional limits on state regulation and offers suggestions on ways that public educators and home-schoolers can improve their relationship. Recommends that public officials take initial steps to bridge the communication gap. (CJH)

State compulsory attendance statutes require parents and legal guardians to see that children are educated. Although courts have consistently upheld such statutes, the nature of these filings has changed. Whereas early-day legal action usually sought to protect the rights of some select group from constitutional infringement, more recent suits…