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February 14, 2006
Institutionalized Home School
Not sure why this 2000 article is just hitting the Cato Institute's website but it had some interesting things to say about home school learning levels.
I also find Clinton's interesting comment, "and if they don't prove that they're learning then they have to go into a school -- either into a parochial or private school or a public school." What if they're in public school and they aren't learning, should we force them into home school?
Anyhow....
Home School and Histrionics
The most reliable data are from a 1998 study by Dr. Lawrence Rudner of the University of Maryland in which over 20,000 home-schooled students took standardized tests and completed other questionnaires. Unlike previous studies, Rudner's was conducted on a comparatively large sample and included only families who agreed to participate before knowing their children's test scores. The study concludes that "in every subject and at every grade level of the [tests], home schooled students scored significantly higher than their public and private school counterparts." Furthermore, the study shows that home-schooled children had average scores that fell between the 82nd and the 92nd percentile in reading and reached the 85th percentile in math. By the eighth grade, the average home-schooled student is performing four grade levels above the national average.
Four grade levels...something to consider.
Posted by Jesse at February 14, 2006 1:21 PM
Comments
It goes to show how important parents are in the lives of their children. Parents will have far more influence on their children than a teacher can whether they home school or support what is taught by the teacher.
Posted by: Bill at February 22, 2006 9:22 PM