A small but growing number of Americans are choosing to homeschool their children. Most U.S. schools plan to stay closed, or open only part-time, this year and offer distance learning programs to students. Some parents worry their neighborhood school will not offer a strong online learning program. Others are concerned about the health of their families if schools do reopen, partly or fully. Still others are choosing homeschooling because local schools keep changing their plans for the new term. Homeschooling applications are on the rise in several states, including Nebraska, which has had a 21 percent increase. In Vermont, applications are up 75 percent. There were about 2.5 million homeschool students last year in levels 1 through 12 plus kindergarten. That represents 3 to 4 percent of all school-age children nationwide, reports the National Home Educators Research Institute. Brian Ray, its president, is expecting the number of homeschool students will increase by at least 10 percent.
What does homeschool mean?
to educate a child at home instead of sending them to a school
another name for a neighborhood school
to educate a child by sending them to a private school
getting detention at school
Approximately how many homeschool students were there in the U.S. last year?
1.5 million
2.5 million
2 million
5 million
The number of homeschool students is expected to increase by at least 10 percent.
20 percent
10 percent
25 percent
15 percent