Understanding Homeschool Parents' Curriculum Choices

• In Event: Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development Poster Session 1

Abstract

We surveyed 1,500 parents who homeschooled a child participating in a talent search
program (grades 4–12). Results address the following two research questions: (1) What
motivates these parents’ decision to homeschool a high-ability child? (2) How does knowing
their child’s gifted status inform parents’ understanding of the learning needs of their child and
their choice of homeschool curricula?
We received 643 responses (42.3%) to the survey’s open-ended questions on these topics,
which we investigated using qualitative content analysis. Preliminary results suggest that
flexibility in instructional scheduling and pacing, together with curricular choice, are key factors
in parents’ decision to homeschool, and that their curricular choices are guided by goals
including challenge, individualized pacing, and the family’s value system.

Authors

• Ahmed Almhawes, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Jennifer L. Jolly, University of Alabama; University of New South Wales

• Michael S. Matthews, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Matthew C. Makel, Johns Hopkins University