Homeschooling goes by many names. Home education, home-based education, and “unschooling” are just a few of the common names that you might hear when someone describes homeschooling. But what exactly is homeschooling? By definition, it is a form of schooling outside the traditional education system of public and private schools.
On a deeper level, homeschooling is parent and child-directed, where a personalized educational plan is created for each child, based on their individual needs. Similar to the traditional schooling model, homeschooling is an intentional educational act. But, there is more freedom involved in homeschooling. Parents have the ability to customize their child's education, all the way down to what curriculum they choose to utilize, and how they choose to teach. The possibilities really are endless.
The Recent Rise in Homeschooling
The homeschool community has been rapidly growing in the United States, especially after the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. The pandemic caused a drastic increase in the number of American families who chose to homeschool. According to the NHERI, the number of homeschooled students increased from 2.5 million in the spring of 2019, to 3.5 million during the 2021-2022 school year.
Why do Parents choose to Homeschool?
Many parents who choose to homeschool their children voice their concerns about the local school environment, safety, and negative peer pressure. Other reasons families may choose to homeschool are for religious reasons, dissatisfaction with the education system, and frequent lifestyle changes such as moving often or living nomadic lifestyles. Some families simply may want their child to experience a completely non-traditional schooling experience and choose to homeschool because of the ability to customize their schooling.
How does Homeschooling Compare?
Parents considering homeschooling their children might wonder what the academic, social, and long-term outcomes are for homeschooled children. The NHERI provides a plethora of research that shows how well homeschooled students perform in their education and how their social and emotional outcomes are quite positive. Much of the data provided supports the idea that homeschooled children receive a very solid education and are set for success as they enter adulthood.
Could homeschooling be right for your family? At Lily Lake, we strive to be a dependable resource for all in the homeschool community, regardless of where you are in your educational journey. If you find yourself wanting to learn more about homeschooling, reference our other blog posts for additional information, tips, and tricks. Happy schooling!
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