Students enrolling in Texan public schools have recently dropped while the number of homeschooled students is growing.
The pandemic was the main reason why many families made the switch. However, now that the pandemic is over, the transition isn't stopping but increasing.
According to new data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requested by the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), there was a 40 percent increase in the number of students who withdrew from public school to pursue homeschool in the school year 2020-2021.
TEA, an organization tasked with overseeing public education, was able to track the withdrawal of students from grades 7 to 12. THSC revealed that, most likely, the younger ages have the highest withdrawal rates. They also stated that the measured increase in percentage is "undoubtedly lower than reality."
Assistant manager of public policy for THSC, Stephen Howsley, declared that this had been the "biggest jump" to homeschooling they have officially recorded so far. He expects to see an even bigger jump once the numbers for the school year 2021-2022 are released.
Reasons for the switch
There are three reasons for the switch.
First is the pandemic. It started the increase since homeschooling became a necessity because of the lockdown. When parents began homeschooling their children, they realized that homeschooling gave them control over their kid's curriculum. This is the second reason.
The third reason is a matter of safety. Due to mass shootings, though no clear data shows if the Uvalde tragedy triggered the increase in switch, the THSC observed a spike in interest in homeschooling.
KVUE spoke to one of the mothers who has been homeschooling her kids for the past four years.
Susan Shuffield shared that safety is always a concern, and so is cultural influence and socialization in this day and age. However, her main reason for the switch is that she has seen how her son "just blossomed" when homeschooled. Their story is proof that children do well when learning from home.
Why shift to homeschool?
THSC agrees with Shuffield. Many kids did "blossom" when they switched to homeschooling.
"Homeschooled students significantly outperform their public school peers on standardized tests. This remains true regardless of the education level of the parent, the income level of the family or the level of state regulation on homeschooling," Howsley revealed.
This is one of the promises of homeschooling. Aside from that, it also offers the benefits of freedom, flexibility, individualized education, and stronger relationships between child and parent.
Yet, homeschooling also has its cons as it has its pros.
Very Well Family reminds parents who are thinking of switching that homeschooling is a lot of work. Because of that, it means having a lesser time for themselves and even choosing the kids over their career altogether, which can result in missing out on certain opportunities. Too much togetherness might also be a problem along the way, and facing judgment and bias from other people who think you are doing too much as a parent.
Thus, to parents, before deciding to switch, it is advisable to do some soul searching first to determine whether it's the right choice for the children and whether it is what the family needs. Make sure that both parents agree. Most importantly, knowing and listening to what the children feel and think about homeschooling is a must.
