Juan Miguel Gonzalez's attorney, Greg Craig, did not return telephone messages. Thursday's edition of the Communist Party newspaper Granma said the school was arranged to keep Elian from falling behind in his studies and to free him from the Cuban exile community's grip. The INS, the U.S. Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Education gave clearance to Elian's private tutoring. They argue that he is not an official resident of the United States subject to state laws which would require him to attend public school. School starts the last week of August.
Nobody seems to know.
Home schooling is perfectly legal, but state law says a parent or guardian must sign a contract showing that the child is being taught curriculum appropriate for his grade. Nobody from the Wye Plantation or the federal government has contacted the local school board in regard to Elian's classes, Greenberger said. Let's see what happens with the courts.'' INS spokeswoman Cardona said Elian's instructor does not need Maryland teaching certification. Maryland education officials say they may view the situation differently if the boy is still here in the fall, when he would be scheduled to start second grade. This is not clear.