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For generations, the traditional school day followed a familiar pattern: children went to school during the week while parents worked and managed life at home. Today, more families are considering a different approach.
Homeschooling has become an increasingly visible part of the American education landscape. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 3.4% of K–12 students were homeschooled during the 2022–23 school year, up from 2.8% in 2018–19. More recent research also suggests that homeschooling continued to grow in many states during the 2024–25 school year.
So, why are more families choosing to educate their children at home?
1. Families Want More Control Over Their Child’s Education
One of the biggest attractions of homeschooling is the ability to create an educational experience around a particular child.
Instead of following one curriculum and one classroom schedule, parents can select materials, teaching methods, subjects, and pacing that work for their family. A child who needs additional time with mathematics can spend more time there, while a child who loves history, science, literature, or art can explore those interests more deeply.
For many families, that flexibility is a major part of the appeal.
2. School Environment and Safety Are Major Concerns
Parents’ concerns about the school environment are one of the strongest reasons families report for homeschooling.
In the most recent NCES data, 83% of homeschooling parents said concern about the environment of other schools was an important reason for their decision. This category includes concerns such as safety, drugs, and negative peer pressure.
Families may also be thinking about bullying, classroom dynamics, social pressures, or simply whether a particular school environment feels like the right fit for their child.
3. Families Want More Time Together
Homeschooling can also allow families to structure their days around one another rather than around a traditional school calendar.
The NCES found that 72% of homeschooling parents considered emphasizing family life together an important reason for homeschooling.
For some families, this means more shared meals, field trips, outdoor activities, travel, reading together, or simply having greater flexibility in how they spend their weekdays.
4. Parents Are Looking for Different Academic Approaches
Not every child learns in exactly the same way.
Some children thrive in a traditional classroom. Others may benefit from hands-on learning, individualized instruction, a slower or faster pace, or an educational philosophy that differs from what their local schools offer.
Dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools was identified as an important reason for homeschooling by 72% of parents surveyed by NCES.
Homeschooling gives families the opportunity to experiment with different approaches and build an educational environment around their child’s individual needs.
5. Technology Has Made Homeschooling More Accessible
Homeschooling today looks very different from homeschooling decades ago.
Families can access digital curricula, educational platforms, virtual classes, online libraries, tutoring, educational communities, museums, extracurricular programs, and homeschool co-ops.
That means homeschooling doesn’t necessarily mean a parent sitting at the kitchen table teaching every subject alone. Many families create a combination of home instruction, online learning, tutors, classes, community activities, and extracurriculars.
6. The Pandemic Changed How Families Think About Education
COVID-19 introduced millions of families to learning outside the traditional classroom.
Although pandemic-era remote schooling and homeschooling are not the same thing, the experience gave many parents a closer look at how their children learn outside a conventional school environment.
Some families returned to traditional schools afterward, while others discovered that a more flexible educational model worked well for them.
The growth of homeschooling has continued beyond the pandemic period, suggesting that the trend isn’t simply a temporary response to COVID-19.
Homeschooling Doesn’t Look the Same for Every Family
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that there is no single “homeschooling family.”
Some parents homeschool full-time. Others combine homeschooling with virtual classes, tutors, co-ops, extracurricular programs, or part-time educational opportunities.
Some families choose homeschooling for academic reasons. Others prioritize family time, religious or moral instruction, flexibility, or concerns about their child’s school environment. Often, several factors come together.
And homeschooling isn’t necessarily the right choice for every family. Traditional public and private schools can provide wonderful educational opportunities, friendships, extracurricular activities, specialized resources, and supportive communities.
The goal is ultimately the same: finding an educational environment where a child can learn, grow, and thrive.
Understanding Your State’s Homeschooling Requirements
Before beginning a homeschool program, families should be aware that homeschooling is regulated differently from state to state. There is no single set of homeschooling requirements that applies to every family across the United States.
Depending on where a family lives, state requirements may address things such as notification of intent to homeschool, required subjects, instructional days or hours, parent qualifications, academic assessments, testing, recordkeeping, or other forms of oversight. Some states have relatively few requirements, while others have more detailed regulations.
The U.S. Department of Education does not regulate homeschooling itself. Instead, it explains that regulation of homeschooling, including curriculum requirements, is primarily a state and local responsibility. Its website provides an interactive state-by-state resource where parents can find information about home-school regulations, including registration, licensing, accreditation, and other requirements.
Families can begin by visiting their state’s Department of Education or equivalent state education agency and looking for information about “homeschooling,” “home education,” or “home instruction.” Local school districts may also provide information about withdrawal procedures and any forms that families are required to submit.
Another useful national resource is the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which maintains an interactive legal map covering all 50 states and U.S. territories. Families can select their state to review information about homeschooling requirements, withdrawal procedures, testing, required subjects, recordkeeping, and other state-specific considerations.
Because homeschooling laws can change, families should always verify current requirements directly with the appropriate state or local education authority before beginning a homeschool program. Online guides can be helpful starting points, but they should not replace checking the current rules that apply to your particular state and circumstances.
In short: before you begin homeschooling, start with your state’s education agency, review the current requirements, and keep documentation of any forms, notices, assessments, or records your state requires.
How Childcare Can Support Homeschooling Families
Homeschooling doesn’t mean parents have to do everything themselves.
For families balancing homeschooling with work, household responsibilities, appointments, errands, or simply the need for occasional personal time, reliable childcare can make a significant difference.
A nanny can provide support during dedicated work hours, help supervise children while parents handle other responsibilities, accompany children to activities and appointments, or provide care for younger siblings while an older child completes schoolwork.
For homeschooling families, childcare can become part of the larger support system that makes an individualized education possible.
At Hometown Nannies plus, we understand that every family has its own rhythm, priorities, and childcare needs. Whether your family follows a traditional school schedule, a homeschool curriculum, or something in between, the right childcare support can help make everyday life a little more manageable. Contact us today to tell us your story.
Because there isn’t one right way to raise a family or educate a child. There is only the approach that works best for yours.
