Is Homeschool Harder Than Public School?

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Over the last few years, homeschooling has been drastically increasing in popularity, as statistics show that the number of homeschool students has been growing at between 2% to 8% per year in recent years. Despite this trend, concerns still arise about how difficult homeschooling might be compared to public school.

Homeschool isn’t harder than public school. However, homeschooling has its own unique set of challenges for both parents and children. Knowing how to address these challenges is crucial in creating a beneficial homeschooling experience.

The rest of this article will go into a detailed comparison of homeschooling and public school in different aspects. It will also provide ways in which homeschooling parents can address the challenges of home education for the benefit of themselves and their children.

Why Homeschool Is Easier Than Public School

For many parents, it’s far easier to enroll their children in public school because, in a sense, institutionalized schooling is intended to complement a typical adult day. While parents are at work, the children are kept busy in school under the care of teachers and other qualified staff.

It’s a win-win.

In comparison, the decision to homeschool your child demands a more wholehearted level of involvement in your child’s education. As a homeschooling parent, all the responsibilities an institution takes on become yours to undertake.

Homeschooling has proven to be just as effective as public school, if not more successful in many instances. However, it has its share of challenges that are worth considering when comparing it to public school.

Let’s consider these challenges from the perspective of the parent and the child.

Homeschooling Challenges for the Parent

At first glance, public school is a far more straightforward option for a child’s education. After all, everything from the facilities to the routine is already in place. Setting up homeschool for your children requires careful thought and preparation, in addition to significant budget concerns.

Financial Considerations

Learning materials are usually one of the highest costs for a homeschooling parent. Facilitating other learning opportunities, such as field trips and other extracurricular activities, is also another cost to consider.

Homeschool parents spend an average of about $600 annually on a single child’s education.

In comparison, because public schooling is supported by tax, public school can be significantly less burdensome financially for a parent.

Homeschooling Regulations

Homeschooling is subject to various laws that vary from state to state. If you’re planning to homeschool your child, some of the critical issues to look out for in your state guidelines include:

Does the state require notice of your intent to place your child in homeschooling?
Will you need to submit your lesson plan to state officials?
Does your state require you to have your child’s academic progress assessed each year?
Are you lawfully obliged to keep a record of your child’s test scores and other classwork?

Compliance with state requirements surrounding homeschooling is an added responsibility that a parent must undertake. In the case of public schools, this duty usually lies in the hands of the administration, leaving parents with little to worry about in the legal department.

Legal Qualification To Teach

While most states allow parents of any level of education to homeschool their children, a few others specify that the parent who’s primarily involved in teaching must at least have a high school diploma or GED.

If the parent doesn’t have these qualifications, they’re only allowed to homeschool through an umbrella school or under the supervision of a certified teacher.

On the other hand, public schools generally require teachers to be certified in their teaching subjects. This means that parents can rest easy knowing that their children are under the instruction of qualified individuals.

Homeschooling places the challenge of qualification on the parent, especially in states that make certain subjects mandatory for homeschoolers.

Finding the Right Curriculum

With a large number of homeschool curriculums available, narrowing down the right teaching approach for your child takes a lot of research and careful consideration. In comparison, public schools already have a set curriculum in place, and the task of implementing it in the most effective way falls on the teachers.

It’s important to consider that most parents choose to homeschool because they’re not satisfied with what and how available schools teach. Further, many homeschooling parents are more confident in the individualized curriculum and personalized learning environment that they can provide at home for their children.

Homeschooling Concerns for the Child

Homeschooling offers a unique learning environment that’s often beneficial for the child. When it comes to the student, key comparisons that can be drawn between home-based education and public school fall mainly under the academic and social aspects.

Academic Aspects

The academic performance of home-educated students typically surpasses that of children in public schools. This could be because homeschooled children can learn at their own pace. Public school students are often under pressure to grasp concepts as quickly as their peers, whereas a homeschooled child can spend time on a complex topic until they’ve mastered it.

Also, when given the right curriculum, a homeschooler is more likely to learn in a way that best suits them, as opposed to a public school student who is learning under a standardized approach.

The issue of socialization has long been a crucial matter in homeschooling. Public schools offer the opportunity to create social connections more easily.

However, homeschoolers are just as socially capable as their peers, if not better. Research has shown that home-educated children are less likely to engage in antisocial behaviors, are more politically tolerant, and are more likely to be involved in civic affairs.

By incorporating socialization opportunities such as learning co-ops, sports, and community-based activities, such as scouting and 4-H clubs, homeschoolers can have diverse social interactions just like their public school peers.

How To Cope With the Challenges of Homeschooling

Once your structure is firmly established, homeschooling can be an enriching experience for both parents and children. Here are some tips to help ease out some of the difficulties you might face as a homeschooling parent.

Homeschooling your first child can be a strain on the pocket, but once you have your library, class materials, and curriculum set up, the per-child cost of homeschooling goes down for the rest of your young ones.

Sharing resources with other homeschooling parents can help cushion the cost of purchasing new teaching materials. Perhaps you might know a fellow homeschooling parent who plans to use the same curriculum as you, or you could split the cost of buying the curriculum between the two of you.

Check used book sales, both online and in your area, where you can buy and sell teaching materials at a discounted price.

Stay Informed On State Guidelines

Your state homeschooling organization is a key source of information regarding legal requirements for homeschooling. Make a point to visit their website frequently to keep yourself informed on state guidelines for homeschoolers.

Reach out to other homeschooling parents in your area. Social media groups and homeschooling blogs are valuable platforms for sharing tips and offering encouragement and support.

A proactive homeschooling parent can successfully craft social opportunities for their child by working closely with their local community and homeschooling networks. Organized sports, for example, are an excellent way to build teamwork and other social skills for your little ones.

The Home Schooled Sports Network is a useful online resource that helps homeschooled kids come together to build teams and arrange sports events.

As part of some state regulations, public schools are required to allow homeschooled children to participate in extracurricular activities, such as clubs and sports. Reach out to your local public school to find out if they offer this opportunity to homeschoolers.

Homeschool co-ops aren’t only a great way to develop a support system from other homeschooling parents, but they’re also helpful in organizing group field trips to parks, museums, art galleries, and more.

Academic Performance

Preparing your child for academic success begins with choosing the right curriculum and setting up a conducive learning environment.

When selecting a curriculum, consider how your child learns best. Asking your child what and how they prefer to learn can help guide you towards choosing the right approach to their classes.

Set up a designated place where your child can learn comfortably and study quietly. Consider an open room that’s big enough to place bookshelves, desks, supplies, and learning materials.

Plenty of natural light, good airflow, bright colors, and fun educational posters are crucial in making the space comfortable and exciting. Remember to take the class outside every now and then on a nice, sunny day.

Summary

Homeschooling provides a unique opportunity to form a stronger bond with your child.

In addition to spending more time together, there’s something special about being a fundamental part of your child’s learning and development.

While homeschooling isn’t harder than public school, it does present its own particular challenges. But by staying informed and building a solid network and support system, these challenges will soon give way to substantial rewards for your child and you.