All American states mandate compulsory education for children in home, private or public schools.
Children not taught at home or in private venues must attend public schools without having to pay tuition or fees for required courses.
Supply and other user fees, however, may be charged for elective courses or for extracurricular activities, but not for instructional materials and equipment in non-elective studies.
The Fullerton School District in Orange County, Calif. now is requiring parents to purchase $1,500 laptop computers for their children in some of its 20 neighborhood schools.
California’s constitution guarantees a free public education to all residents—not just to those who can pony up big bucks for portable electronics.
Most public school districts already provide free student access to stationary desktops in classrooms or separate learning centers.
If laptops are required for school and home use, they should be provided by taxpayers and loaned at no cost to users. Period. (4 DECEMBER 2005)
