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FACTS ON
HOMESCHOOLING Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.*
February 2003 Active and Visible in American Life · There were an estimated 1,700,000 to 2,100,000 children (grades K-12) home educated during 2002-2003 in the United States. Homeschooling appears to still be the fastest-growing form of education.
· Dr. Patricia Lines said that home education families “... have not turned their backs on the broader social contract as understood at the time of the Founding [of America]. Like the Antifederalists, these homeschoolers are asserting their historic individual rights so that they may form more meaningful bonds with family and community. In doing so, they are not abdicating from the American agreement. To the contrary, they are affirming it.”1
· Home education families are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources - they likely save American taxpayers over $10 billion per year.2 Academic Achievement · Dr. Brian Ray, in the most in-depth nationwide study on home education across the United States, collected data on 5,402 students from 1,657 families. Homeschool students’ academic achievement, on average, was significantly above that of public-school students. In addition, the home educated did well even if their parents were not certified teachers and if the state did not highly regulate homeschooling.3
· Home educators are able to be flexible and tailor or customize the curriculum to the needs of each child.
· In study after study, the home educated score better, on average, than those in conventional state-run schools (see table).2 | .... | Reading | Language | Math | | Public Schools | 50 | 50 | 50 | | Home Education | 65-80 | 65-80 | 65-80 |
· For learning disabled students, there are higher rates of academic engaged time in homeschooling and greater academic gains made by the home educated. “... [P]arents, even without special education training, provided powerful instructional environments at home...” (p. 11).4 Social Activity and Emotional Development · Studying actual observed behavior, Dr. Shyers (1992) found the home educated have significantly lower problem behavior scores than do their conventional school agemates.5
· Multiple studies show that the home educated have positive self-concepts.2
· Homeschool students are regularly engaged in field trips, scouting, 4-H, and community volunteer work, and their parents (i.e., their main role models) are significantly more civically involved than are public school parents.2 The Home Educated as Adults · Regarding the critical thinking skills of college students, researchers found no significant differences among high school graduates of private schools, public schools, and homeschooling.6
· A study of adults who were home educated found that none were unemployed and none were on welfare, 94% said home education prepared them to be independent persons, 79% said it helped them interact with individuals from different levels of society, and they strongly supported the home education method.7 For More Information
Key resources from NHERI www.nheri.org: (1) Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling: Facts and Stats on the Benefits of Home School (book, $9.99), (2) Home Schooling on the Threshold: A Survey of Research at the Dawn of the New Millennium (report, $3.95), and (3) Home-Based Education: The Informed Choice (video, $19.99). Order online www.nheri.org or add 30% shipping in the U.S. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) NHERI accepts contributions.* Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., is a researcher, writer, and speaker, a former professor of education and science (at the undergraduate and graduate levels), a former middle school and high school classroom teacher, and is the president of the National Home Education Research Institute. Dr. Ray holds his Ph.D. in science education from Oregon State University. National Home Education Research Institute
PO Box 13939, Salem OR 97309
(503) 364-1490 fax (503) 364-2827 www.nheri.org
COPYRIGHT © 2003 by Brian D. Ray To order multiple copies of this fact sheet, contact NHERI.
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Endnotes:
1. Lines, Patricia M. (1994, February). Homeschooling: Private choices and public obligations. Home School Researcher, 10(3), 9-26..
2. Ray, Brian D. (2002). A quick reference worldwide guide to homeschooling: Facts and stats on the benefits of home school, 2002?2003. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publ.
3. Ray, Brian D. (1997). Strengths of their own—Home schoolers across America: Academic achievement, family characteristics, and |
longitudinal traits. Salem, OR: National Home Education Research Institute.
4. Duvall, Steven F. (1994, August 30). The effects of home education on children with learning disabilities. A paper presented to the Home School Legal Defense Association..
5. Shyers, Larry E. (1992). A comparison of social adjustment between home and traditionally schooled students. Home School Researcher, 8(3), 1-8.
6. Oliveira (de Oliveira), Paulo C. M., Watson, Timothy G., & Sutton, Joe P. (1994). Differences in critical thinking skills among |
students educated in public schools, Christian schools, and home schools. Home School Researcher, 10(4), 1-8.
7. Knowles, J. Gary. (1991). Now we are adults: Attitudes, beliefs, and status of adults who were home-educated as children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 3-7, Chicago IL. (facts01.d6, 3/11/02; rev. 2/14/03) |
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