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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 human rights; homeschooling in Brazil; homeschooling in Ukraine; and special needs homeschooling:
(1) Homeschooling Through a Human Rights Lens: What We Know and Don’t Know — S. Bianchi & C. Cerqueira (2025)
Summary: The practice of homeschooling is increasingly becoming a widespread phenomenon. However, this educational approach has been largely overlooked at the global level, particularly in terms of its human rights implications. The diverse contexts in which it occurs and the various reasons and motivations behind parents’ or legal guardians’ choice to homeschool may contribute to its escaping global attention. Nonetheless, safeguarding the right to education in every setting remains a core responsibility of the State.
International human rights law does not explicitly refer to the practice of homeschooling. Nevertheless, when rights and obligations pertain to the provision of any form of education, it is essential to consider how these apply to homeschooling.
This report examines how the right to education can be upheld with respect to homeschooling, highlighting existing tensions and offering considerations to guide policymakers in designing and monitoring homeschooling-related laws and policies. As homeschooling continues to evolve, adopting a rights-based approach becomes crucial, balancing freedom of choice with the need for quality education (through established minimum education standards) and accountability.
Key considerations include ensuring that homeschooling fosters child well-being, acknowledges the diversity of homeschooled learners and encourages exposure to cultural diversity. Governments must implement oversight mechanisms such as registration and evaluations, while ensuring regulatory capacity and providing parental support. Strengthening research and consultations will help refine policies that protect the right to education and ensure that homeschooling serves both individual and societal needs.
(2) Homeschooling in Brazil: Teacher’s Perspectives — K.E.A. Cardoso & A.A. da Nóbrega (2025)
Abstract: This research used a qualitative-quantitative approach to understand the perspectives of primary and public school teachers in some municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Norte on the regulation of homeschooling. It was concluded that it is necessary to continue the debate in order to better understand and participate in the regulation of homeschooling in Brazil. The teachers interviewed were opposed to the idea of allowing students to complete their education outside of a conventional school, considering it essential despite its shortcomings. Therefore, the research highlights the importance of listening to teachers, who play a direct role in this context, to inform decisions on the regulation of homeschooling in Brazil.
(3) Social and Pedagogical Conditions for the Development of Homeschooling in Ukraine — I. Myshchyshyn & Y. Dmytriv (2025)
Introduction: The transformation of educational systems usually occurs under the influence of civilizational progress, including social changes, the needs of the job market, and cultural development. Nowadays, however, active transformations in the educational system of Ukraine are mostly taking place as a result of crises in the social, economic, and political fields.
The state system of education underwent significant changes due to the spread of the coronavirus. Adaptation to such realities prompted teachers to create appropriate conditions for schoolchildren’s education to overcome barriers through the development of innovative models, forms, and technologies for the educational process.
Unfortunately, the outlined challenges did not lead to the culmination of crisis phenomena. They deepened even more with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of martial law throughout the country. The destruction of educational infrastructure, as well as the inability to provide secure conditions, once again emphasized the need to find forms and methods of education for schoolchildren that are more appropriate to the realities of the time.
(4) Educating Exceptional Minds: A Comparative Study of Homeschooling and Traditional Schooling for Students with Special Needs — D. Sabol (2025)
Abstract: This in-depth comparative analysis explores how homeschooling and traditional schooling impact academic achievement and social-emotional well-being for K–12 students with special needs. Drawing on research and real-life case studies, the report reveals that while homeschooling offers unmatched flexibility and individualized instruction, traditional schools provide access to specialists and inclusive peer environments. The paper emphasizes that success depends less on the model and more on the quality of support provided in either setting.
What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Cygnus 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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