Washington D.C.
The National Center for Home Education (NCHE), a division of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), released a study titled ‘Homeschooling Grows Up.’ Conducted by Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) and commissioned by HSLDA, the study answers homeschool skeptics who claim that homeschooling leads to poor socialization.
“Homeschool graduates are proving the critics wrong in every arena,” said Tom Washburne, Director of NCHE. Every homeschool family has confronted the question “Oh, you homeschool. What about your child’s socialization?” This study demonstrates that concerns about socialization are unfounded. Homeschoolers educated in the 1980s are coming of age and taking their place in society. In particular, the study found that homeschoolers are significantly more involved in their communities than the average public school graduate. Over 71% of homeschoolers participate in a voluntary, church or neighborhood association compared with 37% of U.S. adults. Over 76% of 18-24 homeschool graduates voted in a national/state election the past 5 years compared with just 29% of 18-24-year-old public school graduates. “Homeschoolers, typically identified as high academic achievers, are doing well as adults in society,” said Ray.