Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Homeschooler? | Is Homeschooling Legal? | Who Homeschools?| What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling? | What is the History of Homeschooling? | Can My Child(ren) Participate in Extracurricular Activities? |
Simply put, homeschoolers are parents who elect to provide for the education of their children outside of a classroom setting and at their own expense. These parents choose to homeschool their children for a variety of reasons, but the common thread that weaves them together is their desire for their children to receive the best education possible. While parents may not do all of the teaching, they do direct and are responsible for their students’ learning.
Homeschooling is different from cyber schooling. Homeschool parents provide the funds for and select the curriculum/materials their students use. Cyber schools are really public schools at home; students receive teacher oversight and curriculum at state expense. Parents lose flexibility and freedom to direct the education of their children.
Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states but laws vary greatly from state to state. To find out more about the requirements of the PA Homeschool Law, please read the MDHSA Law Guide, a practical explanation of how to comply with the homeschool laws of Pennsylvania.
For more information on homeschooling in other states:
hslda.org/legal
Homeschooling in Maryland – Maryland Home Education Association
Homeschooled students come from a demographically wide variety of families with many types of family structures. The National Home Education Research Institute estimates that there are 2.5 million homeschooled students in our nation. In Pennsylvania alone, there are nearly 25,000 students being educated at home in both urban and rural areas according to the PDE. The number of homeschooled students in Pennsylvania, the U.S. and many other parts of the world continues to grow every year.
Homeschooling provides an incredible number of advantages. Some of the benefits that are most often reported by homeschool families are:
- Enhanced parent-child relationships and stronger sibling ties
- Individualized academic programs that allow students to progress academically at their own pace (For the fast-paced learner, this prevents boredom. For the slower-paced student, this minimizes frustration.)
- Ability to target specific areas of interest, giving students a head-start on future studies or careers
- More opportunities for hands-on activities and field trips, allowing students to experience things firsthand and not solely through a textbook
- Greater ability to participate in extracurricular and community activities, such as political campaigns and service opportunities
- More freedom to enjoy reading and following the student’s own interests, allowing them to develop a love of reading and learning
- More time to develop life skills and good learning habits
- Greater opportunities to share values, build character and develop leadership skills, thereby diminishing peer group reliance
For centuries, education took place mostly in homes, in small private schools of the parents’ choice, or in free schools sponsored by various religious or other organizations. However, attendance was not compulsory. In the United States there were home schools and local schools that were funded privately. Compulsory attendance was not an issue until the mid 19th century, when Massachusetts enacted compulsory attendance laws against the wishes of the majority of parents. It is interesting to note that before the compulsory attendance laws, the literacy rate in Massachusetts was 98%; after the compulsory attendance laws, the literacy rate was 91%.
The modern homeschooling movement started quietly in the 1960’s and 1970’s with the writings of men and women like John Holt and Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore. John Holt, a public educator, became dissatisfied with public schools and influenced many parents to abandon the schools and teach their children at home. He also started a newsletter, “Growing Without Schooling” which contributed greatly to the homeschool movement in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Moore advocated teaching children informally, delaying formal academics until the child reached 8 or more years of age. The Moores were strong leaders in the battle for the rights of parents to home educate their children, appearing on behalf of homeschoolers in court cases and in legislatures around the nation, including Pennsylvania. They were particularly influential in the Christian community. Many others contributed to the advancement of homeschooling.
In the 1980’s, an all-out battle ensued for the right to teach children at home. Many families all over the United States fought for the right to home educate their children. Some were prosecuted and/or fined, a few were jailed, and some had their children forcefully removed from their homes. After many court cases, legislation was passed in many states to enact homeschooling laws to allow parents to teach their children in their homes. Because of these early homeschool pioneers, homeschooling is now legal in some form in all 50 states.
Please remember that many have sacrificed so that you could have the legal right to home educate your children. Homeschoolers must not take that right for granted but must remain diligent in protecting their freedom to homeschool!
As the years have passed, homeschooled students have grown up, gone to college, entered the workplace, married and have begun teaching a second generation of homeschoolers. Homeschooling has proved itself. Students have done well in the post-high school world, and colleges often seek out homeschooled students because of their ability to work independently and for their love of learning. They have graduated from many institutions of higher learning, including state universities, private colleges (including MIT, Boston College, Yale, and Harvard), and some have even become Rhodes Scholars. They have become doctors, attorneys, public school teachers, computer programmers, college professors, and are engaged in many other professions and trades. Employers have found them to be industrious and hard working. Homeschooling, though not accepted everywhere, has found friends among educators and other professionals, and many of them are now homeschooling their own children. In summary, research and statistics show that the majority of homeschooled students have become productive, well rounded adults who have contributed positively to society.
Can my child(ren) participate in extracurricular activities?
The Equal Access Law of 2006 requires school districts to permit homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular activities for which the student otherwise meets the requirements. There is no provision for this in the MD Homeschool law.
Other FAQ
My child is young – not yet “school age” – what can I do to begin “homeschooling” now?
Enjoy the early years! While children are young, start doing fun and educational activities, encouraging their natural curiosity and development. Daily activities, such as setting the table, sorting laundry and matching socks, colors and shapes at the store, songs, and reading are just a few ways in which you can “educate” your child daily. Read “How to Homeschool Young Children” for more ideas.
Do homeschooled minors have to have work permits?
Homeschooled children must abide by all federal and state child labor laws. For information about Pennsylvania’s Child labor laws please read the Child Labor Law General Information page on PDE’s web site.
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