The number of home-schooled kids in the U.S. hit 1.5 million in 2007, up 74 percent from when the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics started keeping track in 1999.
The percentage of U.S. students who are home-schooled increased from 2.2 percent in 2003 to 2.9 percent in 2007, USA Today reported.
Mike Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the declining quality of public education and safety concerns likely contributed to the increase.
But he said the strongest growth is among parents who cite moral and religious reasons for home schooling.
The numbers tell the story, Smith said.
"Home-schoolers are testing, on average, about 20 points above their public school counterparts," he told CitizenLink. “Home-schoolers are more likely to go to college. Home-schoolers are much more likely to get involved in a civic endeavor, much more likely to get involved in a political contest, much more likely to vote.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check out Focus on the Family's resources for home schooling families.
— Roger Greer
