If you live in a poorly performing school district, homeschooling offers the opportunity to provide your child with a high quality learning environment. According to a recent survey cited by Education Week, 50 percent of homeschooling parents say they do so because they believe they can offer their children a better education at home. A 2008 survey by Arizona-based Ellison Research had similar findings, stating that the majority of Americans have serious doubts about the quality of the U.S. educational system.
Advanced students are often bored working at the same pace as their classmates in public schools. Homeschooling allows a student to work at her own pace. In fact, 25 percent of homeschooled students are enrolled at least one grade ahead of their public school, same-age peers. Early graduation is a real possibility for students taking accelerated classes, and they can even earn an accredited college degree through online academies. Homeschooling can also improve the quality of education for special needs students, as they can work at a slower pace than their grade-level peers and learn in ways that best suit their unique learning style.
Each state has its own guidelines to ensure that the education homeschooled students receive is at least equal to that given to students in other types of schools. Thus, by meeting state standards a homeschooled student will learn no less than her public school peers and won't fall behind. In fact, several studies indicate that homeschooled students perform better on standardized tests than their public-school counterparts. The national average of homeschooled students' test scores is well above the national average.
Homeschooling gives parents a chance to tailor their child's education around their particular interests and to take into account their unique learning style. Many schools are cutting out field trips due to budget constraints, yet they can provide more learning opportunities in one day than a whole week of lectures. Fortunately, field trips are a frequent part of homeschooling curriculum and allow students to experience what they are learning. If their curriculum is related to their everyday life, they are much more likely to retain the information.
Parents are often largely left out of their child's learning experience in public schools. Homeschooling puts them right in the thick of it and allows parents to witness their child's likes, dislikes, revelations, struggles, hopes and aspirations. This can strengthen the bond between parents and child, as well as create memories to last a lifetime. Homeschooling can also create a bond between siblings. Learning together, growing, discovering and imagining new possibilities are things they will be able to share for a lifetime.