Highlights:
- After Veronica Rodriguez withdrew her son from public school to homeschool, Midland ISD filed baseless truancy charges against her.
- When Veronica appeared in front of the local Justice of the Peace to defend herself, she was threatened with jail time and told to submit regular documentation to the court so it could inspect her homeschooling.
- THSC retained homeschool dad and attorney Damian Castillo to defend Veronica. Damian filed an appeal to take the case up to the County Court to clear Veronica’s name and restore her right to homeschool without court oversight.
11/20/24 Case Update
We are thrilled to announce that the case against Veronica Rodriguez is being dismissed! This is a huge win for homeschooling freedom and a testament to the power of standing together to defend parental rights.
Veronica’s name has been cleared, and her right to homeschool without court interference has been fully restored. Thank you for your support in this critical case—together, we are keeping homeschooling free in Texas!
10/1/24 Case Update
After months of delays, THSC attorney Damian Castillo has finally received confirmation that the County Court can now move forward with Veronica’s appeal. The necessary paperwork has been delivered to the County Clerk’s office, and we are now awaiting a hearing date.
This is a crucial step toward clearing Veronica’s name and ensuring her right to homeschool without court interference. We are committed to seeing this through and will continue to fight for Veronica’s right to homeschool free from harassment.
9/10/24 Case Update
It has now been three and a half months since THSC attorney Damian Castillo filed an appeal to move Veronica Rodriguez’s case to the County Court, yet the local Justice of the Peace’s office still has not delivered the necessary paperwork to the County Clerk’s office. This inaction is preventing Veronica’s appeal from being processed.
Despite Mr. Castillo’s repeated efforts to contact the clerk and directly reach out to the Justice of the Peace, there has been no progress. The situation remains frustratingly stagnant, with the JP’s office needing only to walk the appeal paperwork to the County Clerk’s office—a simple task that has yet to be completed.
As a result, the County Court has not even received Veronica’s appeal, and the case continues to be stuck in limbo. THSC and Mr. Castillo are diligently working to push this matter forward, but the delays continue to prevent Veronica from having her day in court.
THSC remains committed to seeing this appeal through to a successful conclusion, ensuring that Veronica’s right to homeschool without unwarranted court oversight is fully restored.
Read the letter THSC sent to Judge Rayos, urging her to take the appeal paperwork to the County Clerk’s office.
8/1/24 Case Update:
On May 24, THSC retained attorney Damian Castillo filed an appeal to take Veronica’s case up to the County Court and clear Veronica’s name.
After more than two months of waiting, the office of the local Justice of the Peace still has not properly filed the necessary paperwork to send the case to the County Court.
It is unclear whether the delays have been intentional or the result of slow-moving bureaucracy. In either case, the result is the same: Veronica’s case has been stuck in limbo. Damian Castillo is currently pushing for the JP Court to get the necessary paperwork filed so that the appeal can go through. Once it does, THSC expects a full victory in Veronica’s case and a vindication of her right to homeschool.
6/13/24 Case Update:
The Rodriguez family continues to wait for a new hearing date to be set at the County Court. Homeschool dad and attorney Damian Castillo appealed the case to the County Court in May. When the case is heard by the Midland County Court, THSC will be seeking to have the entire case against Veronica dismissed.
5/24/24 Case Update:
This morning, the Rodriguez family and their attorney, homeschool dad Damian Castillo, arrived at the Midland courthouse for the hearing which was previously set for the judge to conduct a further inspection of Veronica’s homeschooling.
However, the hearing did not take place, as neither the judge nor anyone from Midland ISD showed up.
In her order from May 9, in addition to requiring that Veronica file weekly attendance logs with the court, the judge issued an “order to appear in court”, stating, “it is hereby ordered that this case is reset to 5/24/24.” Nevertheless, the judge did not show up, and the clerk indicated that it must have been a mistake, as the judge did not intend to hold another hearing on the case.
Given the buzz happening about the case in Midland, the fact that both MISD and the judge no-showed a scheduled hearing raises the obvious question of whether they were avoiding it because they prefer to be no longer associated with the case.
THSC retained attorney Damian Castillo has already filed an appeal in the case, meaning that the case will soon be sent to the Midland County Court where it will be heard anew, giving Veronica the chance to have the entire case dismissed. THSC will provide updates on the case when a new hearing is scheduled. Local homeschool families will be welcome to attend and support Veronica and her family.
5/21/24 Case Update:
THSC contacted Midland ISD denouncing this overreach as not only unnecessary but unlawful. Midland ISD responded publicly by saying they followed all proper procedures, however, they have not responded to THSC’s letter or indicated what justification they have for seeking ongoing oversight of a family who is legally homeschooling.
Meanwhile, on May 24th, Veronica Rodriguez will re-appear in court before a judge who has ordered her to provide evidence of her homeschooling for inspection.
THSC is working with local homeschool father and attorney Damian Castillo to represent Veronica. On May 23rd, Damian filed an appeal to challenge the judge’s ruling that requires Veronica to present evidence of her homeschooling to the court.
Veronica and Damian will appear before the judge who previously threatened Veronica with jail time and seek to get the case dismissed.
Veronica’s Story
In a dramatic turn of events, what started as a simple act of parental choice quickly escalated into a legal nightmare. On May 24, Texas homeschool mom Veronica Rodriguez will be required to appear in court for an inspection of her homeschooling.
Veronica joined the ranks of thousands of parents who are choosing to homeschool on March 18, 2024, when she contacted her local public school in Midland, TX to withdraw her son Joseph. What she didn’t anticipate was the fierce backlash from the school district.
In the past five years alone, THSC has championed the cause of over 29,000 families by helping them navigate the public school withdrawal process. In Texas, a parent can withdraw a child from public school at any time during the school year with just a simple letter. It’s that straightforward.
Veronica did everything right to begin homeschooling her son. Reflecting on her decision, she shared, “As parents, we deemed it crucial to homeschool our son due to various reasons, primarily his anxiety. He has faced medical issues previously, which his condition improved but left him with lingering anxiety. Homeschooling allows us to address his anxiety without compromising his academics.”
Veronica and her son Joseph began to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with homeschooling. “Joseph has adapted well and continues to achieve his academic goals in a pressure-free environment,” she noted.
However, on April 29, six weeks after she began homeschooling, she received a court summons charging her with truancy for alleged unexcused absences from public school.
Veronica was accused of allowing unexcused absences from public school on 10 separate dates from the fall and spring. This included multiple instances where Veronica had documented evidence showing that she had informed the school in advance about Joseph’s sickness and, on one occasion, a family emergency that required her son to be absent.
Reflecting on this experience, Veronica recalls her son’s “unpleasant experience when he missed school due to illness. The teachers and staff interrogated him and made hurtful comments, causing more anxiety.”
However, at the court hearing, Veronica pled guilty, mistakenly thinking it was necessary for her to do so in order to simply pay a fine to resolve the issue. But instead of addressing the unexcused absences, the hearing turned into an inquisition of her homeschooling. She was bombarded with demands to provide curriculum details and weekly attendance logs, which are not legally required in Texas.
It was clear from the questioning that neither the school attendance officer nor the Justice of the Peace understood homeschooling at all. Veronica was told that she had to enroll her child in an “accredited homeschool”. But in Texas, there is no such thing.
When Veronica tried to explain homeschooling and said she needed an attorney, the Justice of the Peace said that she could get an attorney, but that her attorney would tell her the same thing: that she had to find an “accredited” homeschool for her son.
Veronica was wrongly informed by the court that her homeschooling was illegal and that she could face jail time.
In the end, the judge ordered Veronica to submit weekly attendance logs to the court, provide proof of her son’s enrollment in school, and to reappear on May 24 for a follow up hearing.
THSC is Fighting Back.
According to Texas law, parents have the right to homeschool their children without direct oversight of their curriculum by the school district. Homeschooling is legally recognized as a form of unaccredited private schooling, exempt from compulsory attendance laws as affirmed by the Texas Supreme Court in Leeper vs. Arlington ISD.
Homeschool parents in Texas are not required to submit their curriculum for review or make personal appearances to withdraw their children.
Veronica’s homeschooling is completely legal.
THSC contacted the school denouncing this overreach as not only unnecessary but unlawful.
Veronica’s story is a chilling reminder that even in Texas, where homeschooling freedoms are staunchly protected, parents must remain vigilant. By joining THSC, families gain access to invaluable legal support and advocacy, ensuring that their homeschooling rights are upheld and protected.
Veronica Needs Your Help
Veronica’s fight isn’t over. On May 24, she is required to reappear in court so the Justice of the Peace can further inspect her homeschooling. THSC is mounting a defense of Veronica’s rights as a homeschool mom.
Can you donate $50, $250, or $1000 to help us defend Veronica’s right to homeschool? This is a battle that Veronica, and all Texas families, can’t afford to lose.
Your donation will help us:
- Provide legal assistance for Veronica’s family.
- Ensure that homeschooling in Texas remains legally protected and free.
Your contribution makes a significant difference in ensuring that Veronica will be free to homeschool Joseph, and that all Texas parents can choose the best educational path for their children without fear of unlawful persecution.
Donate Now and stand with THSC to keep homeschooling free and protected!
Highlights:
- After Veronica Rodriguez withdrew her son from public school to homeschool, Midland ISD filed baseless truancy charges against her.
- When Veronica appeared in front of the local Justice of the Peace to defend herself, she was threatened with jail time and told to submit regular documentation to the court so it could inspect her homeschooling.
- THSC retained homeschool dad and attorney Damian Castillo to defend Veronica. Damian filed an appeal to take the case up to the County Court to clear Veronica’s name and restore her right to homeschool without court oversight.
11/20/24 Case Update
We are thrilled to announce that the case against Veronica Rodriguez is being dismissed! This is a huge win for homeschooling freedom and a testament to the power of standing together to defend parental rights.
Veronica’s name has been cleared, and her right to homeschool without court interference has been fully restored. Thank you for your support in this critical case—together, we are keeping homeschooling free in Texas!
10/1/24 Case Update
After months of delays, THSC attorney Damian Castillo has finally received confirmation that the County Court can now move forward with Veronica’s appeal. The necessary paperwork has been delivered to the County Clerk’s office, and we are now awaiting a hearing date.
This is a crucial step toward clearing Veronica’s name and ensuring her right to homeschool without court interference. We are committed to seeing this through and will continue to fight for Veronica’s right to homeschool free from harassment.
9/10/24 Case Update
It has now been three and a half months since THSC attorney Damian Castillo filed an appeal to move Veronica Rodriguez’s case to the County Court, yet the local Justice of the Peace’s office still has not delivered the necessary paperwork to the County Clerk’s office. This inaction is preventing Veronica’s appeal from being processed.
Despite Mr. Castillo’s repeated efforts to contact the clerk and directly reach out to the Justice of the Peace, there has been no progress. The situation remains frustratingly stagnant, with the JP’s office needing only to walk the appeal paperwork to the County Clerk’s office—a simple task that has yet to be completed.
As a result, the County Court has not even received Veronica’s appeal, and the case continues to be stuck in limbo. THSC and Mr. Castillo are diligently working to push this matter forward, but the delays continue to prevent Veronica from having her day in court.
THSC remains committed to seeing this appeal through to a successful conclusion, ensuring that Veronica’s right to homeschool without unwarranted court oversight is fully restored.
Read the letter THSC sent to Judge Rayos, urging her to take the appeal paperwork to the County Clerk’s office.
8/1/24 Case Update:
On May 24, THSC retained attorney Damian Castillo filed an appeal to take Veronica’s case up to the County Court and clear Veronica’s name.
After more than two months of waiting, the office of the local Justice of the Peace still has not properly filed the necessary paperwork to send the case to the County Court.
It is unclear whether the delays have been intentional or the result of slow-moving bureaucracy. In either case, the result is the same: Veronica’s case has been stuck in limbo. Damian Castillo is currently pushing for the JP Court to get the necessary paperwork filed so that the appeal can go through. Once it does, THSC expects a full victory in Veronica’s case and a vindication of her right to homeschool.
6/13/24 Case Update:
The Rodriguez family continues to wait for a new hearing date to be set at the County Court. Homeschool dad and attorney Damian Castillo appealed the case to the County Court in May. When the case is heard by the Midland County Court, THSC will be seeking to have the entire case against Veronica dismissed.
5/24/24 Case Update:
This morning, the Rodriguez family and their attorney, homeschool dad Damian Castillo, arrived at the Midland courthouse for the hearing which was previously set for the judge to conduct a further inspection of Veronica’s homeschooling.
However, the hearing did not take place, as neither the judge nor anyone from Midland ISD showed up.
In her order from May 9, in addition to requiring that Veronica file weekly attendance logs with the court, the judge issued an “order to appear in court”, stating, “it is hereby ordered that this case is reset to 5/24/24.” Nevertheless, the judge did not show up, and the clerk indicated that it must have been a mistake, as the judge did not intend to hold another hearing on the case.
Given the buzz happening about the case in Midland, the fact that both MISD and the judge no-showed a scheduled hearing raises the obvious question of whether they were avoiding it because they prefer to be no longer associated with the case.
THSC retained attorney Damian Castillo has already filed an appeal in the case, meaning that the case will soon be sent to the Midland County Court where it will be heard anew, giving Veronica the chance to have the entire case dismissed. THSC will provide updates on the case when a new hearing is scheduled. Local homeschool families will be welcome to attend and support Veronica and her family.
5/21/24 Case Update:
THSC contacted Midland ISD denouncing this overreach as not only unnecessary but unlawful. Midland ISD responded publicly by saying they followed all proper procedures, however, they have not responded to THSC’s letter or indicated what justification they have for seeking ongoing oversight of a family who is legally homeschooling.
Meanwhile, on May 24th, Veronica Rodriguez will re-appear in court before a judge who has ordered her to provide evidence of her homeschooling for inspection.
THSC is working with local homeschool father and attorney Damian Castillo to represent Veronica. On May 23rd, Damian filed an appeal to challenge the judge’s ruling that requires Veronica to present evidence of her homeschooling to the court.
Veronica and Damian will appear before the judge who previously threatened Veronica with jail time and seek to get the case dismissed.
Veronica’s Story
In a dramatic turn of events, what started as a simple act of parental choice quickly escalated into a legal nightmare. On May 24, Texas homeschool mom Veronica Rodriguez will be required to appear in court for an inspection of her homeschooling.
Veronica joined the ranks of thousands of parents who are choosing to homeschool on March 18, 2024, when she contacted her local public school in Midland, TX to withdraw her son Joseph. What she didn’t anticipate was the fierce backlash from the school district.
In the past five years alone, THSC has championed the cause of over 29,000 families by helping them navigate the public school withdrawal process. In Texas, a parent can withdraw a child from public school at any time during the school year with just a simple letter. It’s that straightforward.
Veronica did everything right to begin homeschooling her son. Reflecting on her decision, she shared, “As parents, we deemed it crucial to homeschool our son due to various reasons, primarily his anxiety. He has faced medical issues previously, which his condition improved but left him with lingering anxiety. Homeschooling allows us to address his anxiety without compromising his academics.”
Veronica and her son Joseph began to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with homeschooling. “Joseph has adapted well and continues to achieve his academic goals in a pressure-free environment,” she noted.
However, on April 29, six weeks after she began homeschooling, she received a court summons charging her with truancy for alleged unexcused absences from public school.
Veronica was accused of allowing unexcused absences from public school on 10 separate dates from the fall and spring. This included multiple instances where Veronica had documented evidence showing that she had informed the school in advance about Joseph’s sickness and, on one occasion, a family emergency that required her son to be absent.
Reflecting on this experience, Veronica recalls her son’s “unpleasant experience when he missed school due to illness. The teachers and staff interrogated him and made hurtful comments, causing more anxiety.”
However, at the court hearing, Veronica pled guilty, mistakenly thinking it was necessary for her to do so in order to simply pay a fine to resolve the issue. But instead of addressing the unexcused absences, the hearing turned into an inquisition of her homeschooling. She was bombarded with demands to provide curriculum details and weekly attendance logs, which are not legally required in Texas.
It was clear from the questioning that neither the school attendance officer nor the Justice of the Peace understood homeschooling at all. Veronica was told that she had to enroll her child in an “accredited homeschool”. But in Texas, there is no such thing.
When Veronica tried to explain homeschooling and said she needed an attorney, the Justice of the Peace said that she could get an attorney, but that her attorney would tell her the same thing: that she had to find an “accredited” homeschool for her son.
Veronica was wrongly informed by the court that her homeschooling was illegal and that she could face jail time.
In the end, the judge ordered Veronica to submit weekly attendance logs to the court, provide proof of her son’s enrollment in school, and to reappear on May 24 for a follow up hearing.
THSC is Fighting Back.
According to Texas law, parents have the right to homeschool their children without direct oversight of their curriculum by the school district. Homeschooling is legally recognized as a form of unaccredited private schooling, exempt from compulsory attendance laws as affirmed by the Texas Supreme Court in Leeper vs. Arlington ISD.
Homeschool parents in Texas are not required to submit their curriculum for review or make personal appearances to withdraw their children.
Veronica’s homeschooling is completely legal.
THSC contacted the school denouncing this overreach as not only unnecessary but unlawful.
Veronica’s story is a chilling reminder that even in Texas, where homeschooling freedoms are staunchly protected, parents must remain vigilant. By joining THSC, families gain access to invaluable legal support and advocacy, ensuring that their homeschooling rights are upheld and protected.
Veronica Needs Your Help
Veronica’s fight isn’t over. On May 24, she is required to reappear in court so the Justice of the Peace can further inspect her homeschooling. THSC is mounting a defense of Veronica’s rights as a homeschool mom.
Can you donate $50, $250, or $1000 to help us defend Veronica’s right to homeschool? This is a battle that Veronica, and all Texas families, can’t afford to lose.
Your donation will help us:
- Provide legal assistance for Veronica’s family.
- Ensure that homeschooling in Texas remains legally protected and free.
Your contribution makes a significant difference in ensuring that Veronica will be free to homeschool Joseph, and that all Texas parents can choose the best educational path for their children without fear of unlawful persecution.
Donate Now and stand with THSC to keep homeschooling free and protected!
