The challenge for state boards of education is meeting their obligations to ensure a quality education for all children while considering parents' right to educate their children. The controversy over home instruction can be reduced to a discussion about compelling state interest. This document provides state board members with concise factual information on key home schooling trends to stimulate discussion and enhance the decision-making process. Home schooling is becoming a serious policy issue because of (1) state boards' compulsory education obligations; (2) lobbying efforts of home schooling advocates; and (3) increased litigation activity. This report recommends that policymakers review existing communcation channels between public educators and home schooling parents. Policymakers should also (1) clearly define state home schooling criteria; (2) establish regulations to monitor home students officially enrolled in private schools; (3) strictly enforce registration; (4) require that parents hold at least a high school diploma or a GED certificate; (5) limit "process requirements" to submission of a text and materials list, a proposed syllabus, or name of the intended correspondence course; (6) require nationally normed standardized test results for children beginning home schooling after age 7; (7) require quarterly progress reports and yearly evaluations; and (8) establish policies for returning consistently failing students to approved public or private instruction. (MLH)