Homeschooling rates in the United States have remained fairly steady for the past decade at around 3.3%. However, the COVID-19 pandemic ignited interest in homeschooling and other alternative schooling arrangements. This propelled homeschooling rates in America to 11.1% in the fall of 2020. In such an unprecedented environment of ever-changing restrictions and looming fears, families have been seeking solutions that can keep their family safe and their children engaged academically, emotionally, and socially. To plot and understand this shift, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the experimental Household Pulse Survey, which provides the first ever data-driven glimpse into homeschooling trends in America and how the pandemic has shaped them. The team at AAAStateofPlay visualized this fascinating homeschooling data here:
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Which states homeschool the most? Prior to the pandemic, homeschooling was most popular in Alaska, with 9.6% of households participating. By October 2020, that number had grown to 27.5%, an impressive 17.9% increase. That was the largest increase of state homeschooling rates during the pandemic. Why is homeschooling so popular in Alaska? The very nature of Alaska’s location and climate has created a culture of independence and self-sufficiency, so it’s no wonder that homeschooling is a popular option. Alaska also provides 30 official homeschool programs, which encourage freedom to choose or design a curriculum that resonates with a family’s educational philosophies, schedules, and goals. Beyond these programs, Alaska has minimal regulation over homeschooling. There are no notification, instruction time, parent qualification, subject, or assessment requirements.
Due to COVID-19, homeschooling has become something of a movement that shows no sign of stopping. Overall, the National Home Education Institute has found that the number of homeschooled children in grades K-12 has doubled from 2.5 million in 2019 to 5 million in March 2021. Fortunately, homeschooling can offer a wide range of benefits, such as more opportunities for play and physical activity, flexibility in learning opportunities, individual attention, a more relaxed and natural environment that reduces stress and anxiety, and closer family bonds.
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
