September 10, 2026

Katy Duckstein created Roots Academy to work with other homeschool parents to provide instruction and socialization. Operating in Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs, Roots is an innovative hybrid program that doesn’t fit into a traditional class of school. In March, Katy received a surprise inspection that resulted in a cease-and-desist letter claiming that she was operating an unlicensed childcare center.

Roots is not childcare and is not a private school, but just because it doesn’t neatly fit into one of these boxes doesn’t mean the state can shut it down. Today, Katy is teaming up with the Institute for Justice to challenge the state’s determination that Roots is a childcare center and demanding respect for her constitutional right to provide education to willing families.

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