- Homeschooling is the education of children, usually by their parents, outside the established public school system. This may be a desirable option for parents who travel often and want to keep their children with them or for children who are ill or who have special needs. In the United States, homeschooling is often chosen by parents with strong religious beliefs who disapprove of the atmosphere in public schools or who want to instill moral lessons as part of their children's education.
- Requirements for homeschool curricula vary from country to country and from state to state within the United States. Some countries, such as Germany and Brazil, ban homeschooling outright. Other countries regulate homeschool curricula closely, requiring testing of homeschooled children once or twice a year. In the U.S., state homeschooling laws vary widely. For instance, in Michigan, a parent does not have to ask permission or notify anyone if she intends to start homeschooling her children. However, homeschool teachers must submit to testing and inspection by the superintendent of schools or his representative and are expected to provide instruction in several basic fields: reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics or social studies, literature, writing and grammar. In contrast, Alabama homeschooling parents must register with the Department of Education and must find an "umbrella school" to oversee their children's education.
- Various homeschooling curricula are available from niche publishers. A great many publishers offer Christian-based curricula for homeschoolers. This may be due to the fact that, according to a recent U.S. Census survey, about one-third of homeschooling parents in the United States cite religious reasons for homeschooling. These curricula cover basic topics, from reading to math to history, but often include additional material on morals and values, Bible readings and science lessons that include references to "creation science." Homeschooling parents may devise their own curricula, and some parents may work with their children to develop a child-driven curriculum tailored to each individual child's strengths and interests. Homeschool organizations and support groups exist in all 50 states and in countries around the world and are often a source for recommendations about suppliers of educational materials for homeschoolers.
- The benefits of a homeschool curriculum include allowing gifted children or developmentally delayed children to learn at their own pace. Homeschooling is also a welcome option for children who live in remote areas, far from public schools, or children whose parents feel the local public schools don't provide a positive and challenging atmosphere for their children. A variety of studies have shown that homeschooled children do as well as their public school peers on standardized tests, and a few even show higher standardized test scores for homeschooled children.
- Two criticisms of homeschooling are 1) that homeschooling doesn't allow children to be properly socialized and 2) that it's difficult for homeschooled children to gain admittance to good colleges. Many homeschool parents find that the first issue can be solved by enrolling children in extracurricular activities and clubs, such as sports leagues, art classes and the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, and meeting other homeschoolers for park days. The solution to the college admittance issue lies in keeping careful records of the homeschooling process, including what subjects are taught and any standardized tests the children may have taken. Most colleges and universities are open to homeschooled children who do well on college admittance tests such as the ACT or SAT.
