By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – A report on homeschooling in Kentucky was the topic during a meeting of the General Assembly’s Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee Tuesday.
Report author Deborah Nelson, presenting for the Office of Education Accountability, told the panel that enrollment in homeschooling is increasing across the nation and at a faster rate in Kentucky.
An estimated 3.3 percent are homeschooled nationwide, while the number in Kentucky is 3.6 percent.
In 2017, the statewide number stood at more than 26,500.
Deborah Nelson presents a report on homeschooling in Kentucky during legislative subcommittee on education assessment and accountability. (Kentucky Today/Tom Latek)
“Public school officials,” said Nelson, “worry that some families are reporting their children as homeschooled, but are not truly operating a homeschool.”
The report summarized available data and reviewed the legal requirements for homeschooling in Kentucky, compared to other states.
Nelson said the Kentucky Department of Education considers homeschools to be private, unaccredited schools operated by a parent or guardian.
“The Kentucky Constitution protects one’s right to educate a child consistent with conscience. They receive no state support or financial assistance, and because they are not accredited, a diploma does not necessarily have the same legal status as one from an accredited school.”
Nelson said there are numerous reasons families choose homeschooling, such as social, academic, religious, and the flexibility to address the individual needs of the child or family. More recently, homeschooling is seen as a solution for concerns about school safety.
“The Christian Home Educators of Kentucky surveyed members and reported the number one reason for homeschooling was a lack of trust in the information provided by public schools to parents or children,” Nelson said.
While information on outcomes for the majority of homeschooled students does not exist, Nelson said, “available data indicates homeschool graduates who enroll in Kentucky colleges, outperform public school graduates, although they enroll in lower percentages.”
She said requirements for homeschooled students in Kentucky are higher than some states, while lower than others.
The report, which did not include any recommendations, also found data to support claims that some families may be reporting their children as homeschooled, as a way to avoid legal consequences for public school truancy.
Other findings:
— State law authorizes the Kentucky Board of Education to play a role in establishing criteria required for attendance and scholarship reports. The board has not proposed regulations for the keeping of scholarship reports.
— State law requires home schools to keep attendance in a register provided by the Kentucky Department of Education, but the board does not provide such a register.
— The law allows the Kentucky Department of Education to play a role in inspecting attendance and scholarship reports, but the board currently does not play such a role.
— The Best Practice Document established in 1997 and updated since then attempts to provide clarity to homeschooling families and public school district. Many public school officials are not aware of the document or are confused about whether it represents the law or suggested practices.
By law, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, through the Department of Community Based Services, and local courts have sole authority to determine if a child is being educationally neglected. Currently, guidance and tools to make determinations of educational neglect are made based on the discretion of Department of Community Based Services workers or judges.
As a Homeshooling family, I think it’s imperative to educate you in this area that many Educational Proffessionals may not be aware of. The “majority” of homeschooling parents are invested in providing a higher efucation that extends beyond the current
standard. Many are educating their students Preparing them for college entrance exams with a rigorous schooling using various resources. Homeschooled students on average score higher than their peers on ACT,SAT & PSAT with many obtaining the Governors Merit Scholarship= a FULL ride to a instate university or college which is based on academic exc llencee
. In addition homeschooled students are being accepted into Ivy League school such as Harvard & locally
at the Louisville Speed Art School & go on to ontain masters degrees or even PHD’
Homeschooling is a parental right. In response to attendance, homeschooling families obtain their own attendance sheets & are well aware what is required by law however they should not be underestimated in reference to their rights.
Keep in mind the cost to homeschool is equal if not more financially than the typical average private school.
We as homeschooli families pay everything out of the pocket while being a one income family. Homeschoolers are achieving in not only academic areas, dual enrollment, in addition to important life skills. Teaching civics & instilling patriotism is vital to our community. Respect for authority, morals & values all contributed to a well balanced student-adult in society.
If I recall as I’m sure you do that certain things were expected & recorded ON our report cards they were character building starting in Kindegarten-high school citizenship, respect, courteous, trustworthy, independent. When you see a homeschooled student they will be with their families, going to work (work Co-op) volunteering, going to dual classes if not online. Students each individually have their own learning style that the achieve at learning thus mastering that lesson or course of study.
Addressing the concern of truanc, it app rests to me as a homeschooling family for 13 years that it isn’t truancy that needs to be a concern again as the majority of homeschool family’s are implementing a rigerious school teaching & accountability and time management all preparing the students for a future ito attend college or technical school. Homeschooling parents have adopted a weighted grading scale. Mastering the corse of study, adapting to learning style of the student, encouraging & nurturing the love of learning starts at a very age. Providing education at a level the student actually is learning whether it be at a Faster rate, dive deeper, if it’s slower rate then adjust if needed. It’s actually a healthier perspective than the alternative where the student despises school, becomes board & has behavior problems etc. There are numerous advantages of homeschooling all meant to assist the student & teach them to a responsible adult, future employer,& involved parent to eventually pass on those things the student learned.
Valerie C, what about the “homeschooling” families who aren’t homeschooling? What about these children who are being educationally neglected because of a lack of oversight?