According to a recent report, a significant number of parents are considering pulling their children out of traditional public schooling and opting for home schooling instead. The Outschool State of Schooling report revealed that 23 percent of parents have lost faith in the traditional public school system since the pandemic, with 36 percent expressing interest in home schooling. This trend is reflected in the increase in the number of children being home-schooled, which rose from 3.7 million in 2023 to 4.3 million in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey.
The surge in home schooling can be attributed to several factors, including parents becoming more involved in their children’s education during the pandemic and concerns about the quality of traditional schooling. Mimosa Jones Tunney, the founder of The School House, noted that many parents feel that public schools lack a comprehensive curriculum and are too focused on screens and agendas. The lack of social and emotional learning in schools has also prompted parents to seek alternative options. Additionally, school safety concerns, including gun violence and bullying, have led to a rise in parents choosing home schooling as a safer alternative for their children.
Tiffany Sorya, the founder of the home schooling company Novel Education Group, also highlighted the increase in school shootings and bullying incidents as factors driving parents to opt for home schooling. With school shootings on the rise, concerns about safety in schools have become a major issue for parents. In 2023, there were 82 school shootings in the U.S., prompting many parents to believe that their children are better off learning at home. In states like Texas and California, parents are increasingly turning to home schooling as they feel that the traditional education system is not meeting their children’s needs.
The pandemic has also increased awareness among parents about what their children are learning in school, leading to concerns about the curriculum and ideological influences in public schools. The report found that 35 percent of parents were concerned about a “woke” or liberal agenda in schools, while 42 percent cited bullying as a factor in their dissatisfaction with traditional schooling. Many parents feel that they can provide a better educational experience for their children at home, away from the perceived shortcomings of the public school system, such as inadequate curriculum choices and safety issues.
Overall, the increase in interest in home schooling post-pandemic can be attributed to a combination of factors, including parental involvement in education, concerns about school safety, dissatisfaction with the curriculum and ideological influences in public schools, and a desire for a more personalized learning experience for their children. As more parents explore alternative options for their children’s education, the landscape of schooling in America may continue to evolve in the coming years.
