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Conviction for intellectual abandonment reignites discussion about homeschooling in Brazil and receives support from foreign entities.
A case of homeschooling in Jales, in the interior of São Paulo, gained national and international attention after the conviction of Ieda Cristina Denardi and Adauto José Denardi.
The couple was sentenced to 50 days in semi-open prison for educating their two daughters at home, without school enrollment, for three years.
The accusation involves the crime of intellectual abandonment, which occurs when guardians fail to ensure the formal education of their children.
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Girls’ performance draws attention in the process
The case gained prominence because the teenagers were studying at home with their parents’ supervision.
According to information released by Brasil Paralelo and ACI Digital, the girls read about 30 books per year.
The teenagers also study English, Latin, piano, and music theory.
In this context, the mother returned to university to improve her daughters’ education.
Ieda Cristina Denardi graduated in Mathematics and Pedagogy to expand the educational foundation offered at home.
Public Prosecutor’s Office advocated for acquittal
The case is in the appeal phase.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of São Paulo had already advocated for the couple’s acquittal.
This advocacy occurred both in the first and second instances, according to information cited in the process.
International support amplifies repercussion
The repercussion reached the Alliance Defending Freedom International, known as ADF International.
The entity operates in the area of human rights and is recognized by the UN, OAS, and European Parliament.
In a statement, the organization informed that it requested to participate in the process.
The goal is to present technical arguments to the court and attempt to contribute to the reversal of the conviction.
According to ADF International’s lawyers, the reports in the process indicated good performance by the girls.
The entity stated that similar situations are usually treated as an administrative issue, not a criminal one.
Another show of support came from Jahlf, an international organization made up of family issues experts.
The president of the entity, the English doctor Thomas Ward, classified the condemnation as a “legal outrage.”
Situation of homeschooling in Brazil
Homeschooling still does not have its own federal law in Brazil.
In September 2018, the Supreme Federal Court decided that the practice is not prohibited by the Constitution.
The STF also stated that the model depends on regulation approved by the National Congress.
Since then, families adopting homeschooling remain subject to legal challenges.
The PL 1338/2022, which addresses homeschooling, is still under review in the Federal Senate.
Debate on home education also occurs outside Brazil
In the United States, homeschooling is allowed in all states.
Even so, the rules vary according to each locality.
In 2025, UNESCO began to recognize homeschooling as a valid modality.
This validation depends on meeting minimum quality standards defined by countries.
Could the case of the family from Jales change the debate on homeschooling in Brazil?
