
Homeschooling is surging, as parents want more agency over their child's education. An estimated 4.7 percent of kids are now homeschooled, up from 2.8 percent in 2019, the most recent year reported by federal data. But with public school enrollment down by nearly 1.3 million students compared to pre-pandemic levels, some are taking notice and calling for more oversight.
The Washington Post editorial board recently made that case, arguing, "It's not the average home-schooler policymakers should be worried about—it's the child who is left far, far behind." In their view, "where there's no oversight, there's no guarantee that children will learn skills considered foundational in public education and essential to adult life."