Data from state education agencies show that homeschooling has more than doubled, and possibly tripled, in the 5 years between the 1990-1991 school year and the 1995-1996 school year. By the 1995-1996 school year, from 1% to 2% of the total school-aged population were in homeschooling. Homeschooling has become a major sector of the private…

One manifestation of the demand for educational reform over the last 30 years has been the removal of children from public schools by their parents. This document looks at the history of early home schooling in the United States and presents demographic information concerning those families who have chosen this option. The academic achievement of…

This digest highlights some of the findings of the largest study of home schooling conducted to date (L. Rudner, 1999). For this study, 20,760 students in 11,930 families provided useable questionnaires and corresponding achievement test data. Home schooling parents had more formal education than parents in the general population, and many had…

Offers reasons why public schools should cooperate with local families educating their children at home: opposing home schooling is rarely fruitful; supporting home schoolers can improve public relations; home schooling offers otherwise unobtainable insights into child learning; and home-schooled students participating in district programs may…

Findings from a study of 19 families in rural Pennsylvania who educate their children at home show that, overall, these home educators are asserting their historical option of cultural agency and schooling. Their decisions have implications for the reform of public education. (SLD)

Twenty years ago, home education was treated as a crime in almost every state. Today, it is legal all across America, despite strong and continued opposition from many within the educational establishment. This paper explores the various factors behind its success and resiliency against antagonistic social and political pressures. In the early…

U.S. students now have four choices of schooling: public schooling, private-religious schooling, private-independent schooling, and home-schooling. Of these options, home-schooling is the most novel. Since legalization across the states in the last few decades, it has grown in importance and legitimacy as an alternative choice. Thus, it is now…

This document consists of 10 issues of "Australian Homeschool Journal" extrinsic across about a year and a half. This bimonthly serial offers a variety of news, information, and advice for parents who are providing schooling for their children at home. Issues usually contain: (1) articles or reprints of articles from other sources; (2)…

The Ohio Department of Education estimates that 15,000 children were being home-schooled in Ohio, based on a 1991 survey of school superintendents. This document presents an overview of home schooling and describes the nature and extent of home schooling in Ohio. Data are based on a review of literature, information received from national and…

This document summarizes home-school laws in each of the 50 states. The first part highlights features of state statutes. By 1997, 35 states had adopted home-school statutes or regulations. Forty-one states did not require home-schooling parents to have any specific qualifications. The second part provides profiles of each of the 50 state's…

This paper discusses the use of technology by families who home school. Issues addressed include the extent of home schooling in the United States, the use of computers by home school families; how the home-schooling parent learns to teach; how the parent helps children learn, including a discussion of unit studies; whether fathers as well as…

The prevalence of home schooling is increasing. Parents educate their children at home for the sake of security, morality, and educational quality. Not only does home schooling offer the advantages of closeness and security, but advocates also assert that education in the home results in greater reading proficiency. On the other hand, antagonists…

This brochure highlights educational materials for parents who teach their children at home. Many of the sources are available through libraries, public schools, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and online services. The pamphlet lists 12 magazines and newsletters now available to homeschooling families, 8 electronic sources, and 17…

The 1977 court case of a Nebraska home school that was not accredited and not approved by the Department of Education is reviewed and the State's position summarized. Nebraska regulations for exempting schools from accreditation requirements are explained. Comments are made on trends in home schools and private education in Nebraska. (PS)

Discusses rapid growth of underground educational movements, particularly of unapproved home schooling and fundamentalist Christian schools. Reviews existing state regulation of private education, its constitutional and policy implications, and offers alternative recommendations concerning compulsory attendance laws. An appendix lists basic…