(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court says parents who homeschool are not under a deadline to begin that schooling, as long as the minimum instruction hours for the year are met by June 30.

The case stems from the 2011 convictions of Eric Thacker and his wife, Gail Morgan-Thacker, of violating Nebraska’s school truancy laws.

The Thackers moved to western Nebraska with their five children in March 2011. They were charged and convicted of the misdemeanors later that year when authorities said their children were not homeschooled or enrolled in public school from Aug. 17 through Oct. 4.

The Thackers appealed, saying they planned to begin homeschooling in November. A Dawson County District Court judge reversed their convictions, saying state law doesn’t require parents to begin homeschooling when public school classes begin.