A Brazilian court has sentenced a couple, Audato and Ieda Denardi, to 50 days in prison for 'intellectual neglect' after they homeschooled their two daughters without a state-approved curriculum. The São Paulo criminal court ruled that the parents did not include programs on 'gender and sex education' and 'tolerance and diversity' in their homeschooling efforts for their daughters, aged 15 and 11, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International. The court also noted that the children were not properly integrated into Brazilian culture, citing their preference for religious and classical music over popular genres.
The Denardis' defense attorney, Isabel Monteiro, argued that the ruling was ideologically driven, particularly referencing the older daughter's musical preferences. The couple began homeschooling their daughters in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, believing that the schools were failing to provide adequate education. They officially withdrew their daughters from school in 2022, after which state officials began home visits and pressured them to re-enroll the children.
The Denardis expressed surprise at the ruling, stating they never expected to face imprisonment for their educational choices. Even state prosecutors recommended acquittal, noting that an independent educational psychologist found no signs of neglect and that the girls were thriving socially and academically. Despite providing over 3,000 pages of evidence to support their case, the judge rejected the prosecution's recommendation. The judge accused the parents of using their daughters in an ideological struggle and criticized the unregulated nature of their education.
The case has raised concerns about the legal status of homeschooling in Brazil, as the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that while homeschooling is not unconstitutional, it requires legislative regulation. A proposed regulatory framework bill passed in 2022 but has stalled in the Senate, leaving homeschooling families in a state of uncertainty. The Denardis' appeal will be heard by the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo.