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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 four items this month, on homeschooling and college; homeschooling in Malaysia; the meaning of success in homeschooling; and homeschooling and music:
(1) A Phenomenological Study of the Role of Noncognitive Abilities Related to Resilience in Homeschooled Students Managing the Transition to College — A.E. Malavé (2025)
Abstract: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the noncognitive experiences associated with resilience that contribute to the academic and social success of homeschooled students in their first year of college at XYZ University. Rutter’s (1999, 2006) resilience theory guided this research, emphasizing how individuals develop coping mechanisms to navigate challenges. This study examined how resilience-related traits, including self-discipline, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, influenced students’ college transitions. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected from 10 homeschooled students who had completed their first year of college or at least 30 credit hours. Participants shared their experiences through writing prompt questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Thematic analysis identified three major themes: Academic Preparedness, Social Adaptation and College Integration, and Career Aspirations and Professional Growth. Findings revealed that self-directed learning, time management, and perseverance were key factors in students’ success. While some participants initially faced social adaptation challenges, they over-came them through campus involvement, leadership roles, and community engagement. The study suggests that homeschooling fosters resilience by promoting autonomy and self-regulation. The results highlight implications for education policy and practice, suggesting that integrating resilience-building strategies—such as project-based learning, mentorship programs, and leadership training—into traditional high school curricula may enhance college readiness. Future research should explore comparative resilience development in traditionally schooled students and examine longitudinal effects of homeschooling on academic and career outcomes.
(2) Homeschooling Preschoolers in Malaysia: Exploring Parental Perceptions and Teaching Approaches in Early Childhood Education — M.A. Malik & A.N.M. Rujhan (2025)
Abstract: Homeschooling is an increasingly recognized alternative to traditional education, offering flexibility and personalized learning experiences. This study focuses on homeschooling for preschool-aged children in Malaysia, a practice that remains underexplored in the local context. With early childhood being a critical developmental stage, parents’ decisions to homeschool reflect their priorities and concerns regarding conventional schooling. The study aims to understand parent’s perceptions of homeschooling, the educational strategies parents employ, and how these approaches align with their values and beliefs. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with three Malaysian mothers who homeschool their preschool-aged children. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure diverse backgrounds and experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which identified four primary perceptions for homeschooling: the desire for customized education, personalized learning tailored to each child’s pace, a focus on family values and beliefs, and concerns about traditional schooling, including peer influence and curriculum alignment. Additionally, the findings revealed three key approaches used in teaching: reliance on credible educational resources, adaptable teaching approaches, and non-academic assessments focused on real-life applications and progress tracking. Guided by Attachment Theory and Constructivist Theory, the study highlights the central role of parent-child bonds and hands-on learning in the homeschooling process. These findings contribute to the understanding of homeschooling in Malaysia and provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers interested in alternative education. Future studies could explore the long-term outcomes of homeschooling on children’s development and learning trajectories.
(3) Who Homeschools and What Does “Success” Mean to Them? Experimental Evidence from a National Sample — A.R. Watson & M.H. Lee (2025)
Abstract: The U.S. homeschool population is of similar magnitude to the private and charter sectors. It is also growing and diversifying, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite recent growth, little is known about parents who choose to homeschool their children today. Even less is known about why parents choose this type of education. Parental attitudes and perspectives of student “success” will likely drive their educational choices, whether residentially assigned district public schools, alternative public schools, private schools, or homeschooling. However, little research has examined the importance of these attitudes on choice. In this study, we conducted a survey experiment of parent perspectives on student success, focusing on the homeschooling population. We use a fully randomized stated preferences experiment known as a conjoint experiment embedded in a nationally representative survey to evaluate these perspectives across five components, including standardized test scores, college matriculation, civic outcomes, academic skills, and religiosity. We also collect parental characteristic information, facilitating a comparison of today’s homeschooling parents and their other education sector peers. We find that homeschool parents look much like their other educationsector peers on various characteristics. We also find that homeschool parents value academic outcomes similarly to their non-homeschooling peers. This study adds to the existing knowledge with some of the only post-pandemic homeschool demographic data currently available and uses the most rigorous methods in homeschool research to date.
(4) Everyone Drums: A Music and Social Studies Homeschool Curriculum — E. Zemancik (2025)
Abstract: Everyone Drums: A Music and Social Studies Homeschool Curriculum aims to fill a gap in music education homeschool curricula. The workbook, parent guide, and paper work together to highlight percussion traditions from around the world as means to teach geography, history, culture, and of course music.
What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Hercules 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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❡ Join us! The aim of the River Houses project is to create a network of friendly local homeschool support groups — local chapters that we call “Houses.” Our first at-large chapter, Headwaters House, is now forming and is open to homeschoolers everywhere. Find out how to become one of our founding members on the Headwaters House membership page. 🏡
