Homeschooling Soared More Than 81% Since 2018 In This State
In this state, homeschooling soared 81% since 2018, and its popularity is only continuing to grow with families.
Long gone are the days when homeschooling was reserved for a select few families. Today, it is normal to find communities with tons of families who are opting to educate their children at home. There are many varying reasons for this, but altogether it depicts a shift in America’s education system. In Kentucky, the pandemic made homeschool a popular choice for many, and a new report says that the rate of families choosing this method has skyrocketed 81% since 2018.
CBS reports that families opting for homeschooling surged over the course of the pandemic. Information from Kentucky’s education department rose 81%. The belief is that extensive protocols enacted by schools in the state led many to choose this option. Likewise, families realized the vast benefits of this schooling method and decided to stick with this choice of education.
Location within the state also may have an impact on which families are switching to homeschooling. Some counties, like Jefferson and Boone saw significant increases over this time period. Boone County saw a 49% increase in nonpublic school participation.
Valeri Snively is a former Kentucky teacher who left the profession behind to teach her three children at home. For her family, the choice was simple. Homeschooling gave her the option to choose what works best for her children, as each one works well with varying learning styles.
This is one of the many benefits families are discovering when they make the switch to homeschooling. Class sizes in public schools are large. This means that teachers typically can’t attend to the distinct needs of each individual student and are forced to use a one size fits all method of teaching.
Others left Kentucky schools for safety concerns – but not necessarily for protection against the COVID-virus. School shootings and overall violence in schools have been on the rise for decades, as the situations have drastically escalated over the past few years. Angie Bunk is a Kentucky grandmother that now has taken to homeschooling her granddaughter. For her, the decision was made to ensure her safety from violent events in local schools that were near unavoidable.
Additionally, shifts in demographic statistics displaying who opts for homeschooling have likely impacted the surge in this finding as well. For decades, families who educated their children in the home tended to be white. While this group still makes up the majority of these families, data suggests that more and more Black and Hispanic families are making the switch from public school as well.
CBS also reported that Black and Hispanic students make up the fastest-growing homeschooling demographic. Black families opting for at-home learning more than quadrupled by October of 2020. This year, that number is only growing.
While it is clear that homeschooling has become a popular trend over the past few years, what isn’t as certain is whether or not this shift will stick. However, viewpoints on public schools suggest that its popularity is here to stay. Conservative families are leaving public education in droves, as their confidence drops to record levels. But at the same time, red states like Florida are championing sweeping legislation looking to reform public schools. If successful, this may bring certain families back to the system.
