In 1985, about 50,000 children were being homeschooled nationally. Today that estimate has risen to nearly 2 million.
That's still only 1.5 percent of school-age children. But by increasing by 15 to 20 percent per year, homeschooling is an educational choice that appears to be here to stay. It is the ultimate demonstration of parent involvement in education.
Last year, homeschooled children swept the top three places on the National Spelling Bee and Stanford University accepted 27 percent of its homeschooled applicants, almost twice its average acceptance rate. Homeschooling has gone from the fringe to the mainstream.
How Does It Work?
In 1983, only four states had laws that explicitly permitted homeschooling. By 1993, it was legal in all 50 states, subject to varying degrees of regulation.
In Michigan, for example, homeschoolers can choose to operate a home education program, requiring no notice or reporting. They may alternatively choose to operate as a nonpublic school, which does require them to notify their local school superintendent of their intent and to keep and submit records upon request. Both options allow parents to plan their own lessons, as long as they include basic academic subjects "comparable to those taught in public schools."
Who Homeschools?
More than 20 years ago, homeschooling was considered a far-out fringe phenomenon, with an image of the parents as graying hippies who wanted to protect their children from the "stifling conformity of the system." Then in the 1980s, Christian fundamentalists, dissatisfied with public schools, began to discover and take up homeschooling.
Today, the full array of American families — from Catholics, Muslims, and Jews to the non-religious — is homeschooling. Recent studies indicate that more parents are homeschooling due to "dissatisfaction with public school," whereas previously the No. 1 reason was religious motivation.
We also are seeing more people of color joining their ranks. A 2001 study by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that African-Americans make up 9.9 percent, Hispanics 9.1 percent, and other non-whites 5.7 percent of homeschoolers.
What About Socialization?
A 1993 study by J. Gary Knowles of the University of Michigan concluded that "as a group, the home educated adults in this study appeared stable, independent members of society, individuals who are participating in democratic communities."
Another study by sociologists Christian Smith and David Sikkink concluded that homeschooling families are more enmeshed in their communities than public school families. They are more likely to have voted in the previous five years, participate in community service activities and go to their local library.
How Do You Start?
The first step is to find out your legal obligations.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is one source of information on each state's homeschooling legislation.
Homeschoolers need to define their family's personal goals, set their child's academic goals and research the many learning tools that are available to home educators. Libraries and bookstores are filled with books on the subject. Magazines and newsletters abound for many different audiences, such as religious, secular, stay-at-home dads and single parents. A search on the Internet will provide an endless list of websites offering how-to advice.
Call local support groups to learn about annual homeschooling conferences, generally held in the spring and summer. Many families find it helpful to meet with a few successful home educators to ask questions and observe a day in their lives.
How Much Does It Cost?
Homeschooling is a full-time job, usually requiring one parent to give up a personal career outside the home. While it may provide intellectual stimulus to the parent/teacher, it provides no paycheck. Homeschoolers are also solely responsible for the purchase of their curriculum and school supplies, which can get expensive. Many families cut costs by making good use of their local library.
Whatever the advantages or disadvantages, homeschooling has become a viable option for many families. A bounty of information can help and a growing network of families can lend support. However, parents who desire to educate their children at home must be willing to commit many hours and make material sacrifices.
Bob and Maureen Whittmann are homeschooling parents from Michigan.