Home School Surge Continues in Arkansas

Home School

New data show home schooling has continued to surge across the United States — especially in Arkansas.

The Washington Post recently reported that among 32 states and Washington, D.C., the number of home school students has increased by 51% since the 2017-2018 school year.

The number of home schoolers rose in Arkansas from 20,331 in 2018 to 30,205 last year — nearly a 49% increase!

During the coronavirus pandemic, as many as one in ten families in Arkansas home schooled their children during.

Family Council has always believed families deserve options when it comes to education. That’s one reason we support home schooling.

Research shows parental involvement generally is tied to better educational outcomes for children. That’s true no matter how families choose to educate their children — but home schooling is particularly good for many families, because it lets them choose the education that’s best for them.

Home schooling is a great example of how giving families options can help their children flourish.

Family Council has supported home schooling for more than 25 years, because it empowers parents to give their son or their daughter the education that’s right for them. Home schooling in Arkansas has been incredibly successful as a result.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Mark Lowery Was a True Champion for Homeschooling in Arkansas

In Memoriam
Above: Rep. Mark Lowery and Jerry Cox visit following passage of Act 820 of 2021 prohibiting public schools in Arkansas from engaging in transactions with abortion providers.

On Wednesday Family Council learned Arkansas Treasurer Mark Lowery passed away at the age of 66.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement, saying, “Mark Lowery was a true champion for homeschooling. Legislation he sponsored over the years not only helps current homeschoolers, but it will help generations of homeschoolers yet unborn. Mark’s commitment to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was evident in the legislation he sponsored and in his statesmanship as a public servant. We need more elected officials like Mark Lowery. I consider him a true and faithful friend.”

As a state legislator, Mark Lowery sponsored many good bills, including:

  • Act 1469 of 2013, Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law that lets homeschoolers participate in interscholastic activities at public schools.
  • Act 635 of 2017 making it easier for home schoolers to file their Notice of Intent to Home School online or by mail.
  • Act 592 of 2017 letting home schoolers participate in interscholastic activities outside their resident school district if both school districts agree.
  • Act 453 of 2017 amending the state’s “Tim Tebow” law by letting home schoolers participate in interscholastic activities at any private school within 25 miles of the student’s home if the private school is a member of the Arkansas Activities Association and agrees to let the home schooler participate.
  • Act 173 of 2017 letting home schoolers take courses at their local public schools if the school is willing to enroll them.
  • Act 863 of 2017 requiring public schools to give home schoolers who re-enroll in school the very same rights and privileges as public school students and generally preventing the school from denying a home schooler appropriate class credits, proper grade level placement, and the ability to graduate.
  • Act 429 of 2019 preventing schools from charging home schooled students extra to take concurrent credit courses for college credit.
  • Act 430 of 2019 making it easier for home schooled students to access academic courses offered though the local public school system.
  • Act 820 of 2021 prohibiting public schools in Arkansas from engaging in transactions with abortion providers.
  • Act 623 of 2021 making it easier for a student to withdraw from a public school to home school.

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