Parents feel responsible for conveying to their children their strongly held religious convictions, but few have the financial ability to send their children to private religious schools. Homeschooling offers the perfect solution for these parents, allowing them to easily share their beliefs and worldview with their children. More than 72 percent of homeschooling parents consider religion to be a factor in their decision to homeschool, while almost 30 percent consider it the main reason, according to the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).
Both gifted and special needs children have educational requirements that vary from the norm. Educating these children in a room full of 30 other students can prove difficult, even in the best schools and with dedicated teachers. Some parents feel they can provide an education more individualized to the specific needs of their student in a home environment. Even with neurotypical children, homeschooling provides the opportunity to explore interests and take advantage of strengths, allowing children to thrive educationally. Studies show this to be accurate, with homeschoolers scoring in the 84th to 89th percentile on standardized tests, according to a 2007 survey conducted by Dr. Brian D. Ray at the National Home Education Research Institute.
Sadly, bullying has risen to the surface of the nation's consciousness as multiple students have suffered emotionally and some have even committed suicide. In other cases, parents worry for their children's physical safety in schools. More than 85 percent of parents say concern regarding safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure contribute to their decision to homeschool their children, according to the 2003 NHES survey.
Important reasons for homeschooling vary from family to family, but almost nine percent of homeschooling parents cited other reasons for homeschooling, with another 11 percent noting this as a contributing factor in their decision. These additional reasons included flexibility, parental control over a child's education and the child's decision to be homeschooled.