| Homeschooling has become more and more popular | | | | 35 percent of U.S. adults. |
| with each passing year. With the current state of our | | | | Homeschooling continues to demonstrate strong |
| nations educational system, this comes as little surprise | | | | academic achievement statistics as well. The South |
| to many who have decided to educate their children | | | | Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools |
| on their own. Still, homeschooling is often | | | | revealed that the graduating class of 2006 scored 137 |
| misunderstood and decried by both by parents of non | | | | points above the national average for SAT's and just |
| homeschooled children as well as the federal and | | | | under 200 points above the state average. |
| state regulatory agencies who govern it. | | | | But what about getting into college? Unfortunately, |
| The benefits of homeschooling are many while the | | | | some homeschooled students face institutional and |
| detriments are few, according to Dr. Brian Ray, author | | | | governmental provision that make the college |
| of "Homeschooling Grows Up," a study analyzing the | | | | application process more involved than it is for children |
| social implications of homeschooling students. | | | | with a public or private education. While some are |
| According to the study, over 71 percent of | | | | merely formalities, others can be a major obstacle to |
| homeschooled students participate in a voluntary | | | | homeschooled graduates trying to get into the college |
| capacity within a social or charitable organization, | | | | of their choice. It can be especially difficult for |
| compared with only 37 percent of U.S. adults. | | | | homeschooled students who want to attend a college |
| Additionally, 76 percent of homeschooled graduates | | | | or university outside of their home state. Standardized |
| between the ages of 18 to 24 voted in a national or | | | | testing helps with credentials, but these measurements |
| state election in the past five years compared to only | | | | of college preparedness are rarely sufficient on their |
| 29 percent of 18 to 24 year-old public school | | | | own. |
| graduates. Perhaps even more telling of the social | | | | Perhaps it's time to take a look not only at the benefits |
| impact of homeschooling is that only 4.2 percent of | | | | of homeschooling, but why those benefits cannot be |
| homeschooled graduates consider our nation's political | | | | properly recognized within our current educational |
| process too complicated to understand, compared to | | | | system. |