Homeschooling

Homeschooling or home schooling (American English), also known as home education or elective home education (British English), is the education of school-aged children at home or in places other than a traditional school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or online teacher, many homeschooling families use less formal, more personalized learning methods, more personalized and individualized methods of learning that are not always found in schools. The practice of homeschooling varies considerably. The spectrum ranges from highly structured forms based on traditional school lessons to more open, free forms such as unschooling, which is a lesson- and curriculum-free implementation of homeschooling. Some families who initially attended a school go through a deschooling process to detach from traditional school habits and prepare for homeschooling. While "homeschooling" is the term commonly used in North America, "home education" is primarily used in Europe and many Commonwealth countries. Homeschooling should not be confused with distance education, which generally refers to the arrangement where the student follows the curriculum and requirements of an online school rather than being educated independently and unrestrictedly by their parents or by themselves.

Before the introduction of compulsory school attendance laws, most childhood education was done by families and local communities. By the early 19th century, attending school became the most common means of education in the developed world. In the mid to late 20th century, more people began questioning the practice of school learning, which led to an increase in homeschooling, especially in the Americas and some European countries. Homeschooling has become a common and legal alternative to public and private schools in many countries, largely due to the Internet, allowing quick access to information. The regulation and legality of homeschooling varies by jurisdiction. Homeschooling has evolved from a niche practice to a more widely recognized educational option; there has been a significant increase in homeschooling.

There are many reasons for homeschooling, ranging from personal interests to dissatisfaction with the school system. Homeschooling is also an option for families living in remote rural areas, those temporarily abroad, those who travel frequently and therefore have difficulty enrolling their children in schools, and those who want to spend more time with their children. Health reasons and special needs can also explain why children cannot attend an outside-the-home school regularly and are at least partially homeschooled.

Critics of homeschooling argue that children may have fewer opportunities for socialization and, therefore, incompletely develop healthy social skills. Some are also concerned that parents may be unqualified to guide and advise their children or that abusive parents may use homeschooling to isolate their children. Critics also say that a child might not encounter people of other cultures, worldviews, and socioeconomic groups if not enrolled in a school. Therefore, these critics believe homeschooling cannot guarantee a comprehensive, neutral education without prescribed educational standards. Studies on homeschooled students typically rely on convenience sampling, which may disproportionately sample the highest-achieving homeschoolers. Researchers have identified a need for more representative samples in studying homeschooling.