If you’re wondering what’s driving the surge in homeschooling in the US, it’s the new COVID-19. This law is allowing more Americans to stay home and educate their children. But there are some negative stereotypes surrounding homeschooling as well. These myths can make homeschooling seems like a backwards decision. But, as Claire Dickson explains, the truth is much different than most stereotypes. Claire Dickson was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. She was pulled out of a Boston public school when she was five because her mother felt that structure was the enemy of education.
COVID-19 is causing a temporary increase in home-schooling in the US
One recent study is looking at the impact of COVID-19 on home-schooling during the pandemic. It found that home-schooling caregivers reported higher levels of psychological distress, work/social impairment, and decreased wellbeing. These findings were consistent across genders and age groups. In addition, home-schooling caregivers reported less support from their school.
The sudden shift to home-schooling due to the pandemic has been extremely disruptive, changing the day-to-day lives of children. In addition, the sudden shift to home-schooling has placed an increased burden on parents and caregivers, especially those who are responsible for children with diverse educational needs and disabilities.
However, despite the high prevalence of the virus among schoolchildren, severe cases of COVID-19 are rare. Most schools remain closed for now because the transmission risk is unclear. However, a recent study conducted by Lessler et al. evaluated the effectiveness of different strategies in reducing transmission rates of COVID-19 in school settings. While a consensus emerged that in-person schooling is a safe alternative to home-schooling, little data exist on the level of mitigation that is necessary to avoid an outbreak of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 outbreak has forced many countries to implement strict physical distancing policies, including national school closures. As a result, 1.4 billion students worldwide were left out of school. Although some countries have temporarily reopened their schools, most others remain closed. As a result, a temporary increase in home-schooling is predicted.
Home-schoolers do better on standardized tests
Studies have shown that home-schoolers do better on standardized tests than their public-school peers. One study conducted in 1999 looked at test scores of over 20,000 home-schooled students in the US. The results were astounding – home-schoolers scored significantly higher than the national average. The study’s results were even more impressive considering that it recruited homeschoolers from a special subgroup of families, those who subscribed to fee-based testing services.
In this study, home-schoolers performed better than their public-school counterparts on average, scoring 15 to 30 percentile points higher than their public-school counterparts. The study also found that home-schooled Black students scored better on achievement tests than their public-school counterparts. Although this study isn’t conclusive, it is certainly a start. The research was conducted by the HSLDA, a homeschooling advocacy group.
While most states require public schoolers to participate in standardized tests, some states allow homeschool parents to opt out. Taking standardized tests helps home-school students prepare for college and improve their test-taking skills. It also serves as a communication tool and helps to assess the quality of education a homeschool student is receiving.
While home-schoolers may be less familiar with standardized testing, many colleges still require them. For this reason, it is important to properly prepare your home-schooled child for these tests. The SAT/ACT scores are often the deciding factor when applying to college. It can be extremely difficult to gain admission to a college with poor test scores.
Home-schoolers stay in college longer
Home-schooled children are more likely to graduate from college than non-home-schooled peers. One reason for this is the fact that they do better on standardized tests and stay in college longer. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of College Admission shows that home-schooled students have a higher graduation rate than their non-home-schooled counterparts, with a median GPA of 3.46.
Home-schoolers are often at an advantage when it comes to online degree programs. Because they are used to learning at their own pace and using technology for assignments, they tend to excel in online schooling programs. Online schools offer flexibility in scheduling and class size, making it a good fit for home-schoolers looking to save money.
Home-schooled students have been in the spotlight in recent years. The study examined how the transition to college life is different for home-schooled students. In general, the students made a smooth transition. The longer the home-schooled students stayed in college, the better they adapted to their new surroundings.
Another benefit of homeschooling students is that they are more likely to make friends and socialize with other students. They will meet students who are similar to themselves and also have different learning styles and academic expectations. While some home-schooled students found classes easier to take, others had a harder time. However, the students who had difficulties at the start found ways to meet the demands of their professors.