Black Homeschoolers: Nowhere Left to Go

Abstract

Homeschooling in the US has stereotypically been perceived as a white, middle-class, religiously based phenomenon. Recent estimates suggest that the homeschool population is roughly equivalent to the charter school population at approximately two million students (Economist, 2012). Yet, the topic of homeschooling has been largely marginalized within the literature and even within the discussions of school choice. This ostracizing of homeschooling perpetuates the elitist stereotype of homeschool families. However, media reports and homeschool research experts suggest trends toward ethnic-minority families increasingly choosing home education over conventional schools. The increased diversity among homeschool families may be the result of neo-liberal policies, which place an emphasis on individual choice. Eve n within this school choice model, public schools will still be needed because not every family can homeschool and inequities exist in access to educational alternatives such as charter schools, magnet schools and private schools (Andre-Bechely, 2006 ; Orfield and Frankenberg, 2013). However, public school policymakers, practitioners and researchers should take note of, and learn all they can from Black home educators for school reform purposes. Authentic democracy happens when the voices in the minority are heard (Parker, 2003). Therefore, if school reformists want to know how to improve public schools, part of the answer must come from those families who have experienced them, but chose to homeschool.