The homeschooling movement has grown over the last fifty years, and many parents choose to homeschool their children for various reasons. Homeschoolers must now be identified and tracked by state, and there is much research that has been done to study the success of homeschooled students. Although homeschooled students may not experience the same success in a traditional school environment, research has shown that homeschooling can be a successful way to educate children.
What is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is when a parent or guardian takes responsibility for educating their child or children at home rather than attending a traditional school. Homeschooling can be seen as a type of independent study in a family setting, as the parent has the control over the course of study and support structures needed to support their child’s education.
It gives parents the opportunity to tailor their child’s curriculum to their particular needs, interests and learning styles. Homeschooling gives parents control over the learning environment they provide, which can be a significant benefit for many types of children, including special needs students and those who benefit from a more personalized learning experience.
Homeschooling Statistics
Homeschooling is now a widely accepted form of education, and its popularity is growing steadily. The US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that there were
6 million homeschooled students living in the United States in the spring of 2019, representing 7% of the student population in the United States. This was a 0.
7 percentage point increase from the spring of 2012 and 0. 5 percentage points higher than in the spring of 201 According to the NCES, the majority of homeschoolers are white (6
7%), and the average family size of homeschool households was three children. The majority of homeschoolers (86%) have parents who hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Successful Homeschooling
Homeschooled students are generally viewed as successful due to their ability to learn in an individualized environment and progress at their own pace. The NCES study found that homeschoolers in the United States typically achieve higher scores on standardized tests than their peers in traditional school environments. In fact, the NCES found that homeschoolers score 33 percentile points higher on average than students attending traditional schools.
This difference in performance is even greater for minorities, with homeschoolers scoring 36 percentile points higher than their peers in traditional schools. Homeschooled students also demonstrate higher levels of academic engagement than their peers in traditional schools.
The NCES found that homeschoolers are more likely to take advanced classes and participate in extracurricular activities. According to the NCES, 59% of homeschoolers take at least one advanced course, compared to 48% of their peers in public school.
Homeschoolers are also more likely to participate in extracurricular activities like band, student government, athletics, drama, and volunteer work.
Factors That Affect Success in Homeschooling
The academic success of a homeschool student depends heavily on the level of commitment of the parent or provider. A parent must be committed to designing lessons, researching materials, and setting up controls and assessment to ensure the student’s progress. Homeschooling should also be tailored to the student’s particular needs and should be constantly monitored and revised where necessary.
Access to resources is also an important factor in successful homeschooling. Homeschoolers should have access to various materials, textbooks and activities that allow the student to explore their interests.
Parents should also ensure their child has access to a variety of social activities outside of the homeschooling environment, as this is important for the student’s development.
Conclusion
Overall, there is a growing body of evidence showing that homeschoolers can be successful if the environment is crafted to meet their needs. Parents of homeschooled children should be dedicated to providing a supportive and enriched learning environment, access to diverse resources, and the opportunity for social engagement. With these elements in place, it is possible for homeschooled students to gain a high quality education, and the achievement data shows that students homeschooled in the United States typically achieve higher scores on academic tests than their peers in traditional school environments.