Homeschooling on the rise since pandemic; could have lasting effects on public schools
ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — The number of kids homeschooling in America has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.
What was thought to be a temporary surge has turned into a new way of life for a surprising number of families, with momentum that many believe could have lasting effects on public schools and redefine education in America.
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What was thought to be a temporary surge has turned into a new way of life for a surprising number of families, with momentum that many believe could have lasting effects on public schools and redefine education in America.
For the Yesawich family of Virginia, what began as a test of patience has turned into a valuable lesson.
"It took me definitely a good 12 to 18 months to fully comprehend the fact that homeschooling is incorporating life into learning,” said mom, Sandra Kim-Yesawich.
Across the country, many parents who thought home schooling wasn't for them, are turning out to be its biggest advocates, leading to unprecedented numbers of at-home students and shattering the homeschooling stereotype.
“It is unique to what your family needs, what your family goals are, and just the natural dynamic of your family,” says Dr Khadijah Ali-Coleman, an educator who studies home schooling.
The US Department of Education recently found homeschoolers spanning all demographics, with blacks and Hispanics the fastest growing groups.
“We found all kinds of people who are engaged in homeschooling,” said Paul Peterson, a leading scholar on education reform at the Harvard Kennedy School.
He says the reasons for homeschooling are just as diverse as its students.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly three-quarters of homeschooling families cited dissatisfaction with traditional academic instruction. Lack of diversity, safety concerns and bullying were also important factors for choosing homeschooling.
Peterson says some have found that gifted children prosper more with one-on-one education and families with children aren’t neuro-typical have opportunities to create personalized learning plansloo. About a third of home school families support a child with special needs.
Whatever the reasons, Peterson says now, resources are available, and parents have options.
“I think the new force arriving on the scene is being driven by online learning, and a lot of parents are saying, ‘You know what, I can educate my child at home because there's a lot of resources online. And for one reason or another, it works for this family,’” said Peterson.
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In 2021, the number of home schoolers increased in DC, Maryland and Virginia by nearly 50-percent or more according to state deparments of education.
Yvonne Bunn is Director of Government Affairs for the Home Educators Association of Virginia. She says this trend is bigger than just the DC region. “It’s nationwide,” said Bunn. “The trends that we're seeing across the nation are just like they are here in Virginia, large increases in the last few years with homeschooling.”
“I think it's a wakeup call for those that are in the educational establishment,” said Bunn.
In May of 2021, the US Census Bureau reported one in every 12 students in America was homeschooled.
But getting a consistently precise number is difficult because states track kids differently, some barely at all.
Some homeschooling organizations we spoke to for this report suggested that states keeping loose track of enrollment numbers may be intentional, to preserve funding as long as possible.
“I think there's some truth to what you're hearing from the homeschoolers, that school districts are reluctant to declare anybody, "unenrolled," said Peterson. But the districts have good reasons for thinking this way. And one of those good reasons is to make sure they get their state aid.”
To give you an idea of the money at stake, according to educationdata.org, Virginia, for example, gets nearly $13,000 per pupil, per year.
The state lost more than 46,000 students between fall of 2019 and fall of 2021, equaling a potential reduction of nearly 600-million dollars.
“The districts are going to be facing some challenging times in part, because there are just fewer kids in general,” said Peterson. “And in part, because there's more competition out there from other sectors of the education system.”
Sectors that many parents say provide solutions to their kids' academic and emotional needs.
