jfem – you said “it’s not the government’s fault…” No one said it is. Even a neutral law of general applicability may not force a child to go to school against [the parents’] religious belief.
Zahavasdad – as long as the reason against attending school is a genuine religious belief I see no reason to distinguish jews from the Amish.
None of what I’m saying is justifying the sad situation with the schools. I’m just getting sidetracked with what I believe is the incorrect assumption by rebyidd that the kids are legally required to go to public school (or more specifically “It’s against the law not to be in school.”).