Q. What is homeschooling?
A. Homeschooling is, in its simplest definition, educating a child outside the boundaries of a formal school

Q. Is homeschooling legal?
A. Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and in many countries. Each state in the United States has its own laws regarding compulsory attendance and most have specific homeschooling laws.

Q.  Why do families choose to homeschool?
A.  Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons. For some it is a lifestyle choice made long before their child was school-aged. For others, the choice is made because of some event or circumstance, which might include illness, moving to a school that can't meet a child's needs, violence in the schools, religious beliefs, scheduling, or a variety of others. There is no one overriding reason to homeschool. See also Why Do People Homeschool?

Q. How do families homeschool?
A. Families homeschool in a variety of ways. There are as many variations as there are families doing it. Some families duplicate school learning right down to textbooks, tests and grades (often referred to as "school-at-home"). Others take a more informal approach and use a combination of school-type resources, community resources and child-led discovery (a more eclectic approach). Some families allow their children to lead the way, supporting and encouraging their natural learning in areas of interest to the child (unschooling).

Q. How many homeschoolers are there?
A.  Nobody really knows. Several government agencies and homeschooling organizations have made educated guesses, but because not all states count homeschoolers, and because homeschools in some states are indistinguishable from other private schools, there are no hard numbers. Researchers currently estimate that there are 1.5 to 2 million homeschoolers in the U.S., representing 3 to 4 percent of the school age population.

Q.  Are parents really qualified to teach their children?
A.  Yes. Parents are their children's first and best teachers for most of their growing-up years. Only parents will put these specific children's needs first and search for the very best learning resources for their particular children. Children in a homeschooling situation receive individualized, personal attention from someone who has a vested interest in their success - their parents. If a parent is not qualified to teach a particular subject that a child needs or wants to learn, they have many options: hire a tutor, barter for instruction, get together with other families to create a class, learn along with the child, or find a community, distance-learning or online class. See also From Diapers to Descartes: A Journey of Discovery.

Q. What about socialization?
A.  This is the question that generally brings smiles of disbelief to the faces of homeschooling parents and children. Homeschooling allows children to learn social skills from and with children and adults of a wide variety of ages. The older, more experienced help the younger or less experienced. No artificial, age-segregated borders separate the children as they interact. Support groups are available in many communities and are a good resource for finding friends. For homeschooled children, socialization means learning to get along, not to go along! See also Homeschooling - A Social Experiment.

Q. Can homeschooled students go to college?
A.  Yes, even without a diploma and without ever having stepped foot in a high school. Homeschoolers have been accepted at excellent colleges across the country. The Learn In Freedom website has an extensive list of Colleges That Admit Homeschoolers.

Q.  Homeschoolers are winning national and international competitions -- are they all competitive geniuses?
A.  Children who homeschool are a diverse lot and vary in aptitude, ability, and interest. Few rise to the level of national or international competition but those who do have what most homeschooled children have -- supportive and encouraging parents who help them to achieve their goals. See also Homeschool Soup.