I think what fascinates me most about this article is how little study has been done on homeschooling. I suppose, in my mind, I feel like the PS system has stuck its head in the sand about the movement. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2...MMT8qc8DFeZPejviqz3GzpBafggd&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1
I found a few statements quite interesting: With the modern schoolhouse only in place since the late 1800s, home schooling is hardly a new idea. But the number of home-schoolers has more than doubled since 1999, to more than 2 million as of 2010, representing nearly 4 percent of all K-12 students, according to Mr. Murphy’s book. A 2005 study by Clive R. Belfield, an assistant economics professor at Queens College, City University of New York, found students identified as home-schooled by the studies performed significantly better on the SAT college-entrance test than did public school students, even after controlling for differences in family background and other characteristics. Time-on-task studies in traditional schools have found students engaged with their studies only about a third of each day, he noted. “If you’ve really got engaged time for 130 minutes, you’ve probably added 30 minutes to what kids get in school."
I think the "sticking the head in the sand" would vary from district to district and state to state. I was at the local middle school today signing my kids up for football. (and other sports). I had a great conversation with both the vice principal and the guidance counselor about HS, what program I use and getting my son enrolled for his 1 class. I love that I have that option of doing both here in Washington state, if we moved back to Texas it would limit the patchwork option.
