By Familyguide Contributor
The trend of homeschooling continues to grow even after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, according to a recent report.
A comprehensive study conducted by the Homeschool Research Lab at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy examined homeschooling rates across 21 states during the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Among the twenty-one states analyzed, nineteen showed an increase,” the report stated, further noting, “Only two exhibited a decline” – Vermont and New Hampshire.
The study identified “a clear upward trend in homeschooling” but concluded that “the underlying cause for this growth remains unclear.”
“What’s evident is that this time, the growth isn’t driven by a global pandemic or sudden disruptions to traditional schooling. Some other factor is fueling this increase,” they wrote.
Angela Watson, who heads the research lab behind the study, shared her insights with The Hill.
“It’s widely known that homeschooling surged during the pandemic,” she commented. “But there was a general expectation that when schooling returned to normal, as the pandemic subsided, everyone would revert to their previous educational methods. So, each year, we anticipate the numbers will drop, but we’re not seeing that happen to the extent we expected in education circles.”
While the Johns Hopkins study didn’t reach any conclusions about the reasons behind the continued rise in homeschooling, other sources have surveyed families who’ve chosen to opt out of conventional schooling.
“32 percent of homeschooling families cite their child’s special needs, which public schools can’t or won’t accommodate, as the reason for their choice, and 28 percent point to a child’s psychological or behavioral issues,” Vox reported, adding that 34 percent homeschool for religious reasons.
Familyguide previously reported on the increase in homeschooled students:
A recent study shows that homeschooling has continued to surge after more than one million students left public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Homeschooling experienced a 30% increase in 2021-2022 while public school enrollment decreased by over 1.2 million students within the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic,” The Christian Post reported.
The Urban Institute study found that “private school enrollment rose by 4.3% between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2021. Data collected between the 2019-2020 school year and the 2021-2022 school year indicated that homeschool enrollment increased by 30%.”
“[I]ncreased private school enrollment accounts for roughly 14 percent of the decline in public school enrollment, but increased homeschooling accounts for 26 percent,” explained Thomas S. Dee, the Barnett Family Professor of Education at Stanford University.
“For every one-student increase in private schooling during the pandemic, homeschooling increased by nearly two students,” he added.
You may also like
-
“Divine Intervention or Medical Marvel? Former TODAY SHOW Host’s Unbelievable Recovery Shocks Doctors!”
-
“Unlock Your Divine Hotline: Actress Reveals Surprising Truth About Hearing God’s Voice”
-
You Won’t Believe How This Robotic Mom Is Melting Hearts and Box Offices!
-
NFL Star’s Heartwarming Gesture: Scripture Reading for Newborn Daughter Leaves Fans in Awe
-
“5 Shocking Social Media Traps Your Teen Could Fall Into (And How to Prevent Them!)”