While the term "homeschooling" is broad, the U.S. Department of Education (in a 2003 study) defines students as homeschooled if "their parents reported them being schooled at home instead of a public or private school, their enrollment in a public or private school did not exceed 25 hours a week if they were being homeschooled part-time, and they were not being homeschooled solely because of a temporary illness."
There are a number of reasons families choose to educate their children at home, but the prevailing reason seems to be the poor state of public education. As the quality of education goes down and the risk of harmful peer pressure and violence rises, parents begin looking for alternatives. Many also have disagreements over the worldview being presented in many schools, which they often feel is out of touch or hostile to their morals and beliefs.
A 2008 U.S. Department of Education survey of parents who homeschooled their children found that the top three reasons were a concern for the school environment (88%), a desire to provide religious or moral instruction (83%), and a dissatisfaction with the academic standards at their schools (73%).
There are almost as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschooling families. Some use complete curricula; some buy a variety of materials for different subjects; some use library books and the world around them.
There are a number of complete homeschool curriculum providers in the market, including Alpha Omega Publications, the Robinson Curriculum, Bob Jones University Press, A Beka Books, Time4Learning and the Calvert School. Some provide materials that incorporate Christianity into every subject; some are entirely secular.
Websites such as Home School Inc. offer extensive inventories of secular and religious curriculum for parents to order, as well as state-specific legal guides to help parents follow local laws, which vary by state. There's also a wide range of information at the website of Home Education Magazine.
The advent of the Internet has made homeschooling a much easier prospect for many families. A wealth of educational resources and networking contacts is now available. Even the great art of the world is now available at the touch of a button, with online galleries and collections.
Adults who were homeschooled appear to benefit from the experience. A 2003 study ("Homeschooling Grows Up") found that homeschooled adults are active in their community, work in a variety of industries and occupations, and attend college at a higher rate (74%) than public school students.
In a nurturing environment with the right curriculum, homeschooled children seem to excel, scoring far above students from the traditional education system. A 1997 study found that homeschooled students placed in the 80th percentile or higher on standardized tests; the average student places in the 50th percentile.
The results speak for themselves, and even colleges are starting to notice. Many are actively recruiting homeschooled students who score well on standardized tests, such as the ACT and the SAT. A practice that was once stigmatized is now gaining wide acceptance as parents seek viable alternatives for their children.