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The Rise of Homeschooling

In recent years, homeschooling has caught the attention of parents and educators, as well as national and local media, all across the United States.

The simple reason is that homeschooling is on the rise, and becoming more accepted as an alternative to traditional public and private schools.

According to the Department of Education, the number of students being homeschooled has doubled in size since 1999.

In fact, not only is homeschooling growing, but the families who are changing to home-based education also has become more diverse than ever before. For example, the number of black families homeschooling has reached close to 300,000 according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This is double the number from just 5 years ago. Blacks, who represent 16 percent of all public school students, now account for 10 percent of all homeschool students.

Hispanic families (8 percent) and other ethnic groups are not far behind, and also have seen their numbers rise significantly in recent years.

Today, there are approximately 2 million children being homeschooled. Most analysts predict that the number of parents homeschooling their children will surpass 2 million by 2018, and could reach 2.5 million by 2020.

What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is home education. This does not mean that all learning takes place in the home, only that the household, or parents, have complete control over the direction of what their children learn, how they learn it, and when.

 
In many ways, homeschooling is a more organic form of education that focuses on getting out of traditional classrooms that focus on a one-to-many, generalist education. A homeschool-styled learning environment is more personalized to the student, with individual attention. If your son is struggling in reading or writing, parents can take the time necessary to make sure he masters the concepts. In fact, unlike a traditional classroom where curriculum and resources are predetermined, a homeschool program can change curriculum and tactics to ensure a successful outcome. Likewise, if your daughter is excelling in math or science, there is no need to proceed at a slow pace or continue using a curriculum that may not be challenging enough.

In short, homeschooling is about one-to-one learning.

It is a place where you, as the parent, take control over organizing your child’s daily learning.

As a homeschooling parent, you can take on all the teaching responsibilities, or you can blend a combination of tutors and other parents into your child’s learning.

For most homeschoolers, the decision to leave a traditional public school is made to provide a broader exposure to the world. Though a common stereotype of homeschoolers is that they are sheltered because they are not constantly surrounded by a large number of their peers, the truth is that most homeschooled students have a lot of exposure to other children.

In fact, homeschooled children often have more lessons outside of the home. While most, if not all learning in a traditional public school takes place in the classroom, homeschool students often get outside of the home and travel to museums, art galleries, parks, science centers, and more as part of their learning.

Over the course of our history, Calvert Education has helped parents educate more than 600,000 students in all 50 states and in more than 90 countries around the world. We have done this by developing the curriculum and resources every parent needs to develop the skills their children need now and for the future.

To us at Calvert, homeschooling is the pathway to unlocking your child’s potential.

Everything we do is aimed at enabling you to be the best homeschool teacher you can be and to help your child reach his or her highest potential. By using proven methods and courses, we assure all students receive a rich learning experience that blends knowledge with mastering critical thinking skills essential for life.

Calvert is your partner every step of the way. With Calvert, you will receive our proven and time-tested curriculum, well-renowned as the finest homeschool curriculum available today, along with unparalleled homeschool support. And you will find a vibrant and supportive community, eager to provide helpful advice and guidance to help you throughout your homeschooling journey.