Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Attorney General Jerry Brown and 19 members of Congress are supporting families that choose to home-school in a challenge to a state appeals court ruling.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in February that parents must hold teaching credentials to educate children at home.

Schwarzenegger and Brown filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the appeals court to send the case back to a trial court to determine whether there are other ways for home schoolers to satisfy California's compulsory education laws.

They argue that the state has for many years given guardians who complete the proper paperwork the option of establishing their homes as private schools.

The congressional representatives -- Republicans from nine states -- also filed a brief Tuesday urging the court to reconsider its ruling.