The Kids Are All Right at Home: Texas, North Carolina, Nebraska Seeing Signs of a Pandemic Homeschooling Boom
Data suggests that there is currently a surge in homeschooling in San Antonio, driven by parents who are dissatisfied with the options provided by public schools during the pandemic.
Parents, frustrated with remote learning, uncertain of when their children will return to school, and to a lesser extent, concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms, are considering homeschooling as an alternative for their families, according to representatives of homeschooling organizations.
Jeremy Newman, the director of public policy at the Texas Home School Coalition, stated that people who are experiencing significant distress are desperately searching for solutions to get through each day.
Jube Dankworth, the Chief Operating Officer of Texas Home Educators, explained that parents were not willing to tolerate the inconsistency of public schools, which has led to a significant increase in interest and exploration of homeschooling.
The rise in homeschooling numbers could provide insight into the families that have chosen to unenroll from public schools. With children already at home, families in every state are opting to forgo Zoom classes and fully commit to homeschooling. Nebraska, for example, has reported a 56 percent increase in families officially registering for homeschooling, while North Carolina’s numbers have tripled compared to last year.
Interest in homeschooling curriculum began to emerge across the country during the summer, as state education agencies predicted the continuation of online learning into the fall semester. Robert Bortins, the CEO of Classical Conversations, a popular Christian homeschool curriculum used nationwide, reported a significant increase in inquiries from around 300 per week to 1,300 in just three days from July 6-8. Bortins mentioned that his sales team typically hears from families who meticulously research their options but is now hearing from families in desperate need of assistance.
According to Newman, the Texas Home School Coalition immediately sensed the panic among parents when schools closed in the spring. They launched a crisis homeschooling support website with a six-week curriculum aligned with what students would have been learning in public schools.
Unlike other states, Texas does not require homeschooling families to register with the Texas Education Agency, making it challenging for organizations that support homeschooling to gather accurate metrics.
After the Texas Education Agency announced its plans for reopening schools in July, which initially required parents to choose between fully virtual or in-person learning, the Texas Home School Coalition observed a staggering 1,500 percent increase in families completing an online public school withdrawal form within 24 hours.
Since then, the coalition has experienced double or triple the usual volume of calls in the lead-up to the school year, according to Newman. In previous years, Texas has seen a steady increase of approximately 6.5 percent in families transitioning from public school to homeschooling. This year, Newman expects San Antonio, along with the rest of the state, to experience a significant spike.
In San Antonio, the Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST) saw a sharp increase in requests for information about homeschooling, from around 20 per month to over 200 in August. This surge occurred as most local schools decided to begin the year with online-only classes. Rose Faubush, one of the new staff members hired by FEAST to handle the influx of new families seeking support, mentioned that the organization has also started offering homeschooling orientations and assistance in Spanish, reflecting the increased number of Spanish-speaking families.
Faubush explained that despite being one of the largest and most established homeschool organizations in the city, FEAST has a small office staff of four or five people, depending on how you count. Until now, they have managed their record-keeping with basic techniques.
Typically, families seek membership in groups like FEAST because of the sports, social events, and advanced courses they offer. Currently, many families are in a state of panic and need help navigating the homeschooling process.
Newman emphasized that individual families often find themselves homeschooling due to various crises, such as academic struggles, mental health issues, or sudden relocations. He highlighted that a five-year plan is not necessary when entering into homeschooling.
He also noted that some families are taking advantage of this opportunity to explore other educational philosophies, such as classical or nature-based learning.
According to Dankworth, many parents encounter difficulties with traditional curricula and end up exploring alternative options for homeschooling. They discover that their child requires a different approach and find success with curricula that are not offered in public schools. Dankworth believes that numerous pandemic homeschoolers will follow this path and continue homeschooling.
Dankworth has heard stories from pandemic homeschoolers who are experiencing positive outcomes. She states that these children have thrived while learning from home, even if it is through online platforms. They have become more relaxed in this environment.
Even if the majority of pandemic homeschoolers do not choose to continue with homeschooling in the long run, Newman suggests that the impact could still be significant. Currently, homeschoolers make up approximately 3 to 5 percent of Texas school children, which translates to around 300,000 students out of the state’s total population of 6 million children under 18. Businesses in the homeschooling industry, such as curriculum providers, support groups, and co-ops, base their operations on these numbers. Additionally, public schools rely on enrollment numbers for their funding projections, usually with little room for error.
Newman emphasizes that it does not take a majority of the population to have a significant impact on the market. Even a small percentage can create significant changes.