Homeschool is changing! I know that you as a homeschool leader see those changes.
In her 2012 book Home Is Where the School Is, sociologist Jennifer Lois broadly divided homeschoolers into two groups: first-choice and second-choice homeschoolers.
A 2017 Pioneer Institute whitepaper characterized the groups this way: “The ‘first-choice’ family is in essence the traditional homeschooling family, viewing homeschooling as a lifestyle and an integral part of a student’s growth.
‘Second-choice’ homeschooling parents might be described as ‘pragmatic homeschoolers,’ perhaps even ‘reluctant homeschoolers.’ . . . this sub-set tends to view homeschooling as a stop-gap solution to a school-based problem as opposed to an overall family lifestyle.”
As more people start homeschooling for different motivations other than as a lifestyle, raising life-long learners, or faith, how does your group adapt?
Are you accommodating the parents who are just looking for a stop-gap solution?
Here is what some groups are trying:
- Allowing more drop off students and less parental involvement
- Hiring more paid teachers
- Offering more parent education on how to homeschool
- Opening their formerly exclusive groups to allow public-school-at-home families to join
Share your ideas in the comments or join the I Am a Homeschool Group Leader group on Facebook and leave a comment.
Carol Topp, CPA
Helping Homeschool Leaders
