Beyond Basic: The State's Role in Ensuring Equal Educational Opportunity for Homeschooled Students

• In Event: 16.060 - Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: 16.060-8 - The Politics of School Choice and Educational Opportunity

Abstract

In this extant era of school choice marked by performance-based accountability, homeschooling occupies a unique position. Unburdened by state-sanctioned accountability, homeschooling represents an increasingly popular educational choice among families in North Carolina (NC) and Georgia (GA). Both states have a constitutional obligation to ensure that each child receives a sound basic (NC) and quality basic education (GA). Although the homeschooling population has risen 61.8% since 2003, research remains scarce. Based on two empirical studies- one with predominantly White homeschool educators in NC and the other with Black homeschool educators in GA- the authors demonstrate the impacts of homeschool laws and policies on homeschool educators who intend to provide their children a sound basic or quality basic education.

Authors

• Gwen D. Roulhac, Durham Public Schools

• Cheryl A. Fields-Smith, University of Georgia