Thirty years ago, if you weren’t happy with the public education in your district, there weren’t many other options. Private school was a possibility, but it would cost you. Today, there are over 2.3 million homeschool students in the U.S. alone. Homeschool has emerged as a popular choice among families across the U.S. and beyond, and it’s not just a backup plan anymore. It’s a proven way to set your children on a path to success. The digital age has opened doors to opportunities that never existed before, and it’s a huge positive for families of all shapes and sizes. Things have changed, and here’s why.

1. Freedom in Choosing the Right Technique

When it comes to our kids, we don’t want to settle. Families are realizing that just because the public school system and policies have decided that a chosen technique is the “right” way to educate children, that doesn’t mean we have to agree. Since the common core standard was first introduced across the U.S., 41 states have adopted it into their public school systems. However, this broad philosophy has quickly lost favor. It’s a standard for which of the “core” subjects (math and language arts) are to be mastered as each grade is completed. Common Core sets the desired end result, but because of that benchmark, there is added pressure for teachers and administrators to focus efforts on hitting those goals rather than focusing on mastering the best teaching techniques. In a homeschool environment, parents have the freedom to be an active participant in their children’s learning by utilizing the techniques of their choosing. In the Abeka curriculum, we use the spiral approach, which is designed to expose young minds to the most important concepts consistently throughout the school year and across multiple subjects, not just math and language arts. For us, the details matter, not just the end result. Our skilled researchers and writers do not paraphrase progessive education textbooks; they do primary research in every subject and look at the subject from the traditional Christian point of view. Every history assignment, every math flashcard, and diagrammed sentences are part of the success of your child. 

2. Flexibility 

As parents, you know your children better than anyone else, so you know what will work for them. After all, every child is unique, each with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. In a homeschool environment, with the right tools and materials, parents are able to lead lessons at a pace that works best for their kids and see great results, regardless of their own educational background. Research presented by the NHERI reports that homeschool students score 15-30 percent above traditionally schooled students on standardized tests, regardless of their parents’ level of formal education. And even though homeschool implies that a parent is leading their children’s education 100 percent of the time, the digital age has created an entirely new platform to homeschool, without putting the full responsibility of teaching on the parents–video homeschool. As popularity for video-based homeschool rises, the “school” experience is shifting to be online as well. Parents and students are able to attend digital open-houses, sample materials, and receive discounts without leaving their homes. Some families use video lessons supplementally for a subject or two, and some use them for the entire school year’s lessons. It’s flexible and mobile, and it creates freedom for mom or dad to be involved in their children’s education while also allowing them to take care of all their other responsibilities. 

3. Faith in Education

Your belief system is an important part of the foundation you’ve worked hard to build for your family and your children’s future. Outside a homeschool or private Christian school setting, there are not many ways you can guarantee your worldview and faith will be incorporated into your children’s education. The Abeka curriculum is based on the Christian faith, and because of that, our materials reflect those beliefs. But, the books taught in a public school system at some point will contradict Christian beliefs. So it’s no surprise that there are Christian families who are choosing to homeschool their children. Being able to incorporate Christian beliefs and a biblical worldview is a major reason many families choose to homeschool their children today.

4. Safety and Environment

Everything is up to you. You select who or what your child is exposed to while providing them with an academically rigorous program of study. Homeschool is a safe, secure option. Parents can determine the environment and the friendships their children are exposed to. Homeschool is an opportunity to protect your children from any unhealthy environment that could arise in a traditional school setting. And bottom line, every situation your child is exposed to is under your supervision.

Homeschool is growing in popularity in the U.S. because it’s not asking families from all over the country with different backgrounds to agree to a “one size fits all” style of education. It’s customizable to each family. As millions of families continue to choose homeschool over the years to come, it’s our mission to continue to rise to the occasion by providing as many options and resources as possible to our Abeka families.

Thinking about making the switch to homeschooling? Find out more ways to save here.