Transitioning to Homeschooling Provides Freedom, Flexibility, and Flourishing

Though the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption, even to homeschooling families, there were a few silver linings. One of these was more outside-the-box thinking about education. Nearly every family in America was forced to try some version of homeschooling when schools were closed across the country, which opened many eyes to the benefits of individualized education, parent-directed education at home.

As schools struggled to settle on satisfactory policies for reopening, and 100% online virtual schooling only added frustration, more parents started looking into whether they could homeschool on their own, apart from the local school.

We now know now that homeschooling has doubled since 2020.

And it’s not just families trying out virtual education through their local public school. There is an important distinction between pandemic crisis schooling—where children follow the coursework requirements of their traditional school while physically staying at home—and homeschooling—where children follow the custom educational program directed and provided by their parents.

For a myriad of reasons, parents have continued to exit the traditional education system in favor of a safer, more customizable option: homeschooling.

Maybe you’re thinking about whether to withdraw your student from traditional school or whether to continue homeschooling next year. If so, keep reading.

As many parents have now discovered, homeschooling provides freedom and flexibility that leads to flourishing. So, it is unsurprising that children who began homeschooling because of the crisis will never go back—and they’ll be better off in the long run.

Freedom

While children enrolled in the traditional classroom or public-school virtual programs are subject to system-wide, bureaucratic policies on both curriculum and health and safety policies, homeschooling puts parents in the driver’s seat. Once behind the wheel, parents can customize an educational experience that is tailored to each child’s individual personality, needs, and goals.

It’s no secret that parental involvement in education has a direct correlation with better educational and career outcomes. It makes sense, then, to give parents the keys to the car, especially with all the resources, coaching, and mentoring available today.

Some parents are concerned that they may not be qualified to teach their own children. But this concern is a myth. Parents are always their child’s first and primary educator. And while specific regulations vary from state-to-state, all fifty states recognize the legal right of parents to educate their child at home.

Flexibility

Even before the COVID-19 global health crisis, a primary motivation for homeschooling was student safety. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, safety concerns became paramount, and homeschooling surged, as parents’ satisfaction with traditional education slipped. These trends continued through this past school year.

Because each child’s individual health conditions and learning needs are unique, a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t cut it. But flexibility is one of homeschooling’s most praised attributes.

Parents are best situated to assess the academic and health needs of their child and put together a program that is truly unique, just like each child. And help is available. Homeschool groups and organizations across the country have risen to meet the moment and equip parents to provide top-notch education at home.

At HSLDA, we’ve posted a new guide walking parents through the basic steps for getting started. As a first step, it’s critical to ensure you understand and comply with your state law. After that, connect with other homeschoolers in your area, explore your child’s learning preferences, find curriculum, plan out your ideal schedule and homeschooling space, then jump in. Questions will abound, but experienced homeschoolers and organizations in your community are no doubt happy to help answer questions and provide encouragement.

Flourishing

The freedom and flexibility of homeschooling empowers student flourishing. At HSLDA, we have heard regular reports from parents about how much they—and their child—are thriving since beginning to homeschool.

While these anecdotes are encouraging, they are also supported by the quantitative research on homeschooling, like Dr. Lindsey Burke’s recent research review. Burke is the director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, and she has conducted a review of 38 prominent studies on the academic outcomes of homeschoolers. The conclusion is clear: homeschooling students have largely positive academic outcomes. This conclusion is consistent with a review of homeschool students’ higher-than-average SAT scores, standardized achievement test scores, and college graduation rates.

Excelling academically is only part of the success story, though, as homeschooling is a wonderful tool parents can use to teach character, religious values, and other life skills.

As a homeschool graduate and dad, it is encouraging to see many other students and families positively impacted by homeschooling. Hopefully, parents will continue to consider homeschooling a mainstream educational alternative for years to come.

Conclusion

If you are considering homeschooling, know that you are not alone, and you can do it. You don’t have to commit to homeschooling forever, but like millions of families across the country, once you start, you may find that you just can’t quit.

At this year’s CHAP Convention, you have the opportunity to learn from other homeschoolers, find encouragement, and equip yourself to be a better homeschooling parent.