Home schooling’s rise from fringe to fastest-growing form of education (Washington Post - 10-31-2023)

Homeschooling in America has increased for several years, with various factors contributing to its popularity. Here are five reasons for the increase in homeschooling:

1. Customized Education: Many parents opt for homeschooling to tailor their child's education to their specific needs, interests, and learning styles. This flexibility allows for a personalized curriculum that can cater to individual strengths and weaknesses.
2. Concerns About Public Education: Some parents are dissatisfied with the quality of education provided by public schools, citing concerns such as large class sizes, standardized testing, and a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching. Homeschooling provides an alternative that allows parents to have more control over what and how their children learn.
3. Religious or Philosophical Beliefs: Homeschooling often aligns with the religious or philosophical beliefs of parents. Some families choose to homeschool to incorporate their values, ethics, and religious teachings into their children's education.
4. Safety and Bullying Concerns: Safety issues and bullying in schools can be a significant concern for parents. Homeschooling offers a safe and controlled learning environment, free from the potential dangers and social pressures of public school.
5. COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of homeschooling, as many families turned to home-based education due to health and safety concerns. Even though it may have been a temporary measure for some, it exposed more families to the benefits of homeschooling.

It's important to note that homeschooling regulations vary by state in the United States, and families considering homeschooling should be aware of their state's requirements and guidelines. The decision to homeschool is a highly personal one, influenced by a variety of factors and considerations.

From the WaPo article:

"Home schooling’s surging popularity crosses every measurable line of politics, geography, and demographics. The number of home-schooled kids has increased 373 percent over the past six years in the small city of Anderson, S.C.; it also increased 358 percent in a school district in the Bronx."

and

Based on that figure and the growth since then in states that track home schooling, The Post estimates that there are now between 1.9 million and 2.7 million home-schooled children in the United States, depending on the rate of increase in areas without reliable data.

By comparison, there are fewer than 1.7 million in Catholic schools, according to the National Catholic Educational Association. About 3.7 million students attended charter schools in the fall of 2021, according to the most recent federal data.

It is a remarkable expansion for a form of instruction that 40 years ago was still considered illegal in much of the country.

The data shows what many families have already discovered: homeschooling matches families needs, wishes and belief systems. Charters, as important as they are to the school choice movement, are not keeping up.