🔎 HOMESCHOOL RESEARCH & NEWS – April 2025

On the third Tuesday of each month we post a quick roundup of some recent academic publications and news about homeschooling, offered for your interest. These are typically university research papers, and they may have a positive, negative, or neutral outlook on home education. The title links generally point to the full text of each publication, which is often a printable pdf file. In some cases, a paid subscription may be required to read the whole article. The article abstracts or introductions below are quoted in full whenever possible, without editing.

We have six items for the month, on government regulation of homeschooling; homeschooling in the Philippines; homeschooling in Canada; alleged maltreatment of homeschool students; U.S. homeschooling trends; and public perceptions of homeschoolers:

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(1) The Hidden Children of Homeschooling — G. Brown (2025)

Abstract: In the past fifty years, homeschooling has rapidly transformed from a fringe movement to the preferred method of education for almost four million families across the United States. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a sharp increase in the number of homeschooled children and this number has remained high ever since. With more and more families choosing to homeschool, there is a surprising lack of regulation to ensure the welfare of these children in almost every state. Eleven states do not require parents to notify their school districts of their intent to homeschool; forty-seven states do not limit the ability of child abusers or sex offenders to homeschool; and only one state requires homeschooled children to undergo the same medical exams as children attending public school. Although most homeschooling parents prioritize the best interests of their children, there is evidence that a minority of parents take advantage of the lax regulations surrounding homeschool to abuse their children and avoid the robust mandatory reporting systems of public schools. This Note identifies the regulatory gaps that leave homeschooled children particularly vulnerable to abuse and argues that specific, minimum regulatory protections need to be adopted in every state to better monitor and ensure the welfare of homeschooled children.

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(2) Parental Roles and Strategies in Shaping the Academic Performance of Homeschooled Learners: A Mixed-Methods Approach — D.A. De Jesus (2025)

Abstract: This study examines the roles and strategies employed by parents to influence the academic performance of homeschooled learners. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines surveys of 100 homeschooling parents with in-depth qualitative interviews to analyze parental involvement comprehensively. Conducted between 2022 and 2024 across various communities in the Philippines, the study identifies key strategies such as consistent scheduling, personalized study plans, and emotional support, which significantly enhance learners’ academic outcomes. However, parents face challenges, including balancing multiple responsibilities and limited access to teaching resources. The findings emphasize the need to provide parents with adequate training and resources to optimize the benefits of homeschooling.

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(3) Exploring the Feasibility of Homeschooling as an Alternative to More Formal, Centralized Education — U. Jahn (2025)

Abstract: Most educators would be familiar with education provided to children in specific agencies such as “schoolhouses.” These agencies could be a one-room school building in a rural setting, or it could be a massive multi-storied school building in an urban setting. Minimal education is mandated in Canada for all children aged 5 years to 16 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents lost their jobs, and all schools were closed across Canada; parents were expected to teach their children at home. The COVID-19 pandemic elicited one type of homeschooling, however, on a regular basis there are many homeschooling practices across Canada. Internationally, homeschooling is viewed differently and may or may not be allowed. The Canadian federal government funds education and mandates that all children must attend school until the age of 16 years, but the provincial governments maintain jurisdiction of education provided in each province. Each province sets up a provincial curriculum through its own Ministry of Education that sets rules and regulations for education entities, including homeschooling. Homeschooling is readily available to allow parents to provide education for their children. The purpose of this research project is to describe the current state of homeschooling in the Western Canadian province of Saskatchewan and to explore its feasibility as an alternative to more formal, centralized education.

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(4) Homeschooling and Child Maltreatment: A Review of the Regulatory Context and Research Evidence in the United States — A. Luck et al. (2025)

Abstract: An increasing number of families in the United States have opted for homeschooling as an alternative to the formal schooling system. Estimates suggest that in the United States, between 5% and 11% of the school-age population participates in homeschooling each year—more than 1.5 million students across the country. Recent high-profile cases of severe child abuse and torture among homeschooled children, however, have highlighted the lack of mechanisms for the detection and prevention of child maltreatment. Though these cases have raised awareness about the potential risks of homeschooling, calls for tighter regulations are often met with resistance. Homeschooling advocates argue that increased regulation in the private homes of families criminalizes parents without sufficient evidence of heightened risk. Meanwhile, critics posit that policy intervention is needed to protect the subset of students at increased risk of maltreatment given the deinstitutionalized and isolated nature of homeschooling settings. In this discussion article, we examine the evidence for heightened risk of abuse and neglect in homeschooling environments through both a review of research and an examination of the policies surrounding homeschooling and child maltreatment across U.S. states. Because of the lack of reliable data and the topic’s highly political nature, empirical evidence is limited. We found that although some states have attempted to add explicit child protections to homeschooling law, most efforts have been unsuccessful.

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(5) Homeschooling Trends in the U.S.: A Snapshot — I. Pula (2025)

Abstract: Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reveals that 3.4% of K–12 students in the U.S. were homeschooled during the 2022–23 academic year, comparable to pre-pandemic levels. The primary reasons cited by parents for choosing homeschooling include concerns about the school environment, dissatisfaction with academic instruction, and the desire to provide moral or religious instruction. Additionally, some parents opt for homeschooling to address their child’s special needs or health issues. Another segment of students (1.8%) attended full-time virtual schools but weren’t categorized as homeschooled by their parents.

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(6) Perceptions of Homeschooled Students among U.S. Adult Populations: Implications for School Psychologists — F. Zakarian et al. (2025)

Abstract: Though homeschooled students comprise more than 2 million of all U.S. grade-school students, little research exists on how they are viewed by the general U.S. population, which has implications for their interactions with public school personnel, including school psychologists. Two studies assessed potential stereotypes. Study 1 participants (N = 182) listed terms associated with a homeschooled student. As predicted, negative topic groupings emerged, including being awkward and sheltered; yet, positive topic groupings also emerged. Study 2 participants (N = 249) read about a fictional student whose reasons for homeschooling were manipulated (religion, safety, parental dissatisfaction, no reason). Compared to a public-school condition, students in all homeschooled conditions were rated lower on positive social characteristics. Implications for school psychologists are discussed.

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What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Leo Term? 🎓

❡ Explore more: If you’d like to investigate the academic literature on homeschooling more extensively, the best place to start is Google Scholar, the special academic search engine from Google. Just enter a search term or phrase of interest (“homeschool,” “unschooling,” “classical homeschooling,” “deschooling,” etc.), and Google Scholar will return a list of research publications that mention your topic. In addition, for research prior to 2020 in particular, see the comprehensive bibliographic essay by Kunzman & Gaither (2020), “Homeschooling: An Updated Comprehensive Survey of the Research.” 🔎

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