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Who Homeschools, Really? Working Paper No. 17

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Who Homeschools, Really? Working Paper No. 17
Language: English
Authors: Angela R. Watson, Matthew H. Lee, EdChoice
Source: EdChoice. 2025.
Availability: EdChoice. 111 Monument Circle Suite 2650, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Tel: 317-681-0745; e-mail: info@edchoice.org; Web site: http://www.edchoice.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Home Schooling, Stereotypes, Parents, Individual Characteristics, Student Characteristics, Family Characteristics, Political Affiliation, Religious Factors, Citizen Participation, Elementary Secondary Education, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Rural Urban Differences
Abstract: Homeschooling, the parent-directed education of a child in the home, grew rapidly during the pandemic despite some calls for restrictions. Homeschool participation continues to increase, and diversify, with parents opting into hybrid schools, co-ops, microschools, and virtual learning. Despite recent growth, many homeschool policies are based on stereotypes from decades ago about who homeschools and why. These flawed stereotypes underscore the need for reliable data on who homeschools and their motivations for doing so. Yet, data that could help us better understand this population are scarce and growing more scarce, and rigorous research evidence is limited. Nationally representative data on homeschooled families is limited and the future of federal sources for these data is unclear. Without conclusive evidence, stereotypes about who chooses to homeschool their children persist. This report provides new and timely information on today's homeschool population, several years after the pandemic. The result of the survey is a rich dataset that includes parent, student, and family characteristics; political and religious proclivities; civic engagement; and school sector participation for all children in the household. Thus, this study provides a more detailed and nuanced picture of today's homeschoolers, why they choose homeschooling, and what they prioritize as success in education. All analysis is weighted to be nationally representative.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED677213
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Homeschooling, the parent-directed education of a child in the home, grew rapidly during the pandemic despite some calls for restrictions. Homeschool participation continues to increase, and diversify, with parents opting into hybrid schools, co-ops, microschools, and virtual learning. Despite recent growth, many homeschool policies are based on stereotypes from decades ago about who homeschools and why. These flawed stereotypes underscore the need for reliable data on who homeschools and their motivations for doing so. Yet, data that could help us better understand this population are scarce and growing more scarce, and rigorous research evidence is limited. Nationally representative data on homeschooled families is limited and the future of federal sources for these data is unclear. Without conclusive evidence, stereotypes about who chooses to homeschool their children persist. This report provides new and timely information on today's homeschool population, several years after the pandemic. The result of the survey is a rich dataset that includes parent, student, and family characteristics; political and religious proclivities; civic engagement; and school sector participation for all children in the household. Thus, this study provides a more detailed and nuanced picture of today's homeschoolers, why they choose homeschooling, and what they prioritize as success in education. All analysis is weighted to be nationally representative.