Home Schooling Sees Uptick Following Pandemic: Report

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According to The Hill, a recent Census Bureau report shows an increase in home schooling since the start of the coronavirus pandemic:

“Before the pandemic, only 5.4 percent of households reported home-schooling children. During the pandemic, that number jumped to 11.1 percent.”

The Census Bureau’s report shows the percentage of households home schooling in Arkansas jumped from 6.8% in spring of 2020 to 10.3% by last fall.

That means as many as one in ten families in Arkansas home schooled their children during the 2020-2021 school year.

This year almost 30,000 Arkansas students — 29,880 according to Arkansas Department of Education — are enrolled in home schooling.

That’s a six-fold increase since Family Council launched the Education Alliance in 1998 and an 8,000 student increase since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 23 years the Education Alliance has supported home schooling in Arkansas, because it gives families the flexibility to provide the education that’s right for their children.

It’s good to see more families taking advantage of this excellent opportunity.

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Arkansas House Passes Home School Resolution

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Rep. Cooper presents H.R. 1021 in the House of Representatives.

On Tuesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.R. 1021 by Rep. Cameron Cooper (R – Romance) celebrating 35 years of home schooling in Arkansas.

The resolution highlights the benefits of home schooling as well as the way home schooling gives parents flexibility in educating their children.

H.R. 1021 passed easily on a voice vote while home schoolers from White County watched from the gallery above the House Chambers.

Home schooling has been legal in Arkansas since 1985, when former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton signed the state’s first home school legislation into law.

Home schooling has come a long way in the past 35 years, and home schoolers are leaving a legacy in our state.

Men and women who were home schooled as children are making a difference in Arkansas. They own businesses and are leaders in their communities.

Home schooling is great for the State of Arkansas. It’s good to see lawmakers recognize that fact by passing H.R. 1021.

You can read H.R. 1021 here.

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