More proof that 'no child left behind' has left behind an entire generation.......
On Aug 13, 4:16 pm, Bruce Majors <[email protected]> wrote: > New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement > * > > Ian Slatter > Director of Media Relations > > August 10, 2009 > * > > Each year, the homeschool movement graduates at least 100,000 students. Due > to the fact that both the United States government and homeschool advocates > agree that homeschooling has been growing at around 7% per annum for the > past decade, it is not surprising that homeschooling is gaining increased > attention. Consequently, many people have been asking questions about > homeschooling, usually with a focus on either the academic or social > abilities of homeschool graduates. > > As an organization advocating on behalf of homeschoolers, Home School Legal > Defense Association (HSLDA) long ago committed itself to demonstrating that > homeschooling should be viewed as a mainstream educational alternative. > > We strongly believe that homeschooling is a thriving education movement > capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who > will have a tremendously positive effect on society. > > Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from > teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service > workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers > have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. > This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which > demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler. > > The last piece of major research looking at homeschool academic achievement > was completed in 1998 by Dr. Lawrence Rudner. Rudner, a professor at the > ERIC Clearinghouse, which is part of the University of Maryland, surveyed > over 20,000 homeschooled students. His study, titled *Home Schooling Works*, > discovered that homeschoolers (on average) scored about 30 percentile points > higher than the national average on standardized achievement tests. > > This research and several other studies supporting the claims of > homeschoolers have helped the homeschool cause tremendously. Today, you > would be hard pressed to find an opponent of homeschooling who says that > homeschoolers, on average, are poor academic achievers. > > There is one problem, however. Rudner’s research was conducted over a decade > ago. Without another look at the level of academic achievement among > homeschooled students, critics could begin to say that research on > homeschool achievement is outdated and no longer relevant. > > Recognizing this problem, HSLDA commissioned Dr. Brian Ray, an > internationally recognized scholar and president of the non-profit National > Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), to collect data for the 2007–08 > academic year for a new study which would build upon 25 years of homeschool > academic scholarship conducted by Ray himself, Rudner, and many others. > > Drawing from 15 independent testing services, the *Progress Report 2009: > Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics* included 11,739 > homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known > tests—*California > Achievement Test*, *Iowa Tests of Basic Skills*, and *Stanford Achievement > Test* for the 2007–08 academic year. The *Progress Report* is the most > comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed. > The Results > > Overall the study showed significant advances in homeschool academic > achievement as well as revealing that issues such as student gender, > parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the > results of homeschooled students. > *National Average Percentile Scores**Subtest**Homeschool**Public School* > Reading8950Language8450Math8450Science8650Social Studies8450Corea8850 > Compositeb8650a. Core is a combination of Reading, Language, and Math. > b. Composite is a combination of all subtests that the student took on the > test. > > There was little difference between the results of homeschooled boys and > girls on core scores. > > *Boys*—87th percentile > *Girls*—88th percentile > > Household income had little impact on the results of homeschooled students. > > *$34,999 or less*—85th percentile > *$35,000–$49,999*—86th percentile > *$50,000–$69,999*—86th percentile > *$70,000 or more*—89th percentile > > The education level of the parents made a noticeable difference, but the > homeschooled children of non-college educated parents still scored in the > 83rd percentile, which is well above the national average. > > *Neither parent has a college degree*—83rd percentile > *One parent has a college degree*—86th percentile > *Both parents have a college degree*—90th percentile > > Whether either parent was a certified teacher did not matter. > > *Certified (i.e., either parent ever certified)*—87th percentile > *Not certified (i.e., neither parent ever certified)*—88th percentile > > Parental spending on home education made little difference. > > *Spent $600 or more on the student*—89th percentile > *Spent under $600 on the student*—86th percentile > > The extent of government regulation on homeschoolers did not affect the > results. > > *Low state regulation*—87th percentile > *Medium state regulation*—88th percentile > *High state regulation*—87th percentile > > HSLDA defines the extent of government regulation this way: > > *States with low regulation:* No state requirement for parents to initiate > any contact or State requires parental notification only. > > *States with moderate regulation:* State requires parents to send > notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student > progress. > > *State with high regulation:* State requires parents to send notification or > achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other > requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification > of parents, or home visits by state officials). > > The question HSLDA regularly puts before state legislatures is, “If > government regulation does not improve the results of homeschoolers why is > it necessary?” > > In short, the results found in the new study are consistent with 25 years of > research, which show that as a group homeschoolers consistently perform > above average academically. The *Progress Report*also shows that, even as > the numbers and diversity of homeschoolers have grown tremendously over the > past 10 years, homeschoolers have actually increased the already sizeable > gap in academic achievement between themselves and their public school > counterparts-moving from about 30 percentile points higher in the Rudner > study (1998) to 37 percentile points higher in the *Progress Report*(2009). > > As mentioned earlier, the achievement gaps that are well-documented in > public school between boys and girls, parents with lower incomes, and > parents with lower levels of education are not found among homeschoolers. > While it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion, it does appear > from all the existing research that homeschooling equalizes every student > upwards. Homeschoolers are actually achieving every day what the public > schools claim are their goals—to narrow achievement gaps and to educate each > child to a high level. > > Of course, an education movement which consistently shows that children can > be educated to a standard significantly above the average public school > student at a fraction of the cost—the average spent by participants in > the *Progress > Report* was about $500 per child per year as opposed to the public school > average of nearly $10,000 per child per year—will inevitably draw attention > from the K-12 public education industry. > Answering the Critics > > This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It attempts > to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism of the > Rudner study was that it only drew students from one large testing service. > Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers participating > with that service were automatically non-representative of the broader > homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by using 15 > independent testing services for this new study. There can be no doubt that > homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in > the*Progress > Report*. > > While it is true that not every homeschooler in America was part of this > study, it is also true that the *Progress Report* provides clear evidence of > the success of homeschool programs. > > The reason is that all social science studies are based on samples. The goal > is to make the sample as representative as possible because then more > confident conclusions can be drawn about the larger population. Those > conclusions are then validated when other studies find the same or similar > results. > > Critics tend to focus on this narrow point and maintain that they will not > be satisfied until every homeschooler is submitted to a test. This is not a > reasonable request because not all homeschoolers take standardized > achievement tests. In fact, while the majority of homeschool parents do > indeed test their children simply to track their progress and also to > provide them with the experience of test-taking, it is far from a > comprehensive and universal practice among homeschoolers. > > The best researchers can do is provide a sample of homeschooling families > and compare the results of their children to those of public school > students, in order to give the most accurate picture of how homeschoolers in > general are faring academically. > > The concern that the only families who chose to participate are the most > successful homeschoolers can be alleviated by the fact that the overwhelming > majority of parents did not know their children's test results before > agreeing to participate in the study. > > HSLDA believes that this study along with the several that have been done in > the past are clear evidence that homeschoolers are succeeding academically. > Final Thought > > Homeschooling is making great strides and hundreds of thousands of parents > across America are showing every day what can be achieved when parents > exercise their right to homeschool and make tremendous sacrifices to provide > their children with the best education available. > > *Other Resources*** > ** > > Read the full report. <http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/default.asp> > > Printer Friendly > Version<http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200908100.asp?PrinterFriendly=True> > > © Site Copyright 1996-2009 Home School Legal Defense Association > P.O. Box 3000 · Purcellville, VA 20134-9000 · Phone: (540) 338-5600 · Fax: > (540) 338-2733 · E-mail: [email protected] > HOME <http://www.hslda.org/default.asp> | > SEARCH<http://www.hslda.org/search.asp> > | FEEDBACK <https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/feedback.asp> | PRIVACY > POLICY<http://www.hslda.org/pdef/privacypolicy.asp> > | USER AGREEMENT <http://www.hslda.org/pdef/termsofuse.asp> | > ADVERTISING<http://www.hslda.org/ads/default.asp> > > Supported by the > [image: Home School Foundation] <http://www.homeschoolfoundation.org/> > *Home School Foundation* > <http://www.homeschoolfoundation.org/>www.homeschoolfoundation.org > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:38 PM, kirkz2006 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > But, since most are being taught religion, I'm sure "libertarain" Paul will > > call for a ban on homeschooling! > > > Study: Homeschoolers score 37 points higher > > Costs also average $500, compared to $10,000 at public school > > Posted: August 11, 2009 > > 8:28 pm Eastern > > > By Bob Unruh > > © 2009 WorldNetDaily > > > A newly released study from the Home School Legal Defense Association shows > > that not only do homeschoolers incur expenses only 5 percent of what public > > schools spend on each student, they score nearly 40 points higher on > > standardized achievement tests. > > > "These results validate the dedication of thousands of homeschool parents > > who are giving their children the best education possible," said Michael > > Smith, president of the advocacy organization. > > > The HSLDA said homeschooling in the United States already includes about 4 > > percent of the school-aged population and is growing at about 7 percent a > > year, now involving some two million children. > > > The report, "Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and > > Demographics," was conducted by Brian Ray of the National Home Education > > Research Institute. > > > The survey included 11,739 homeschool students in all 50 states for the > > 2007-2009 academic year, and the HSLDA said the results were consistent with > > previous studies on homeschoolers' achievements. > > > Drawing on the results from 15 independent testing services, the Progress > > Report 2009, the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever > > completed, showed homeschoolers who participated in the California > > Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and Stanford Achievement Test > > scored 37 percentile points above public school students on standardized > > tests. > > > The study also showed that achievement gaps common in public schools and > > linked to income levels and other factors mostly were absent or minimal in > > the homeschool community. > > > The study showed homeschooled boys scored at the 87th percentile and girls > > were at the 88th percentile. Students where the household income was under > > $35,000 scored at the 85th percentile and students in homes with a household > > income over $70,000 were at the 89th percentile. > > > There was only slightly more variance linked to parental education, too. > > Children whose parents did not have college degrees were at the 83rd > > percentile and children in homes where both parents held college degrees > > were at the 90th percentile. > > > "Because of the one-on-one instruction homeschoolers receive, we are > > prepared academically to be productive and contributing members of today's > > society," Smith said. > > > "Homeschooling is a rapidly growing, thriving education movement that is > > challenging the conventional wisdom about the best way to raise and educate > > the next generation," said Smith. > > > Regarding costs, the average public school spends nearly $10,000 per child > > per year, but the Progress Report said the average homeschool parent spends > > about $500 per child per year. > > > Ian Slatter, director of media relations for the HSLDA, cited the 100,000 > > students graduated each year from homeschools as a reason the activity is > > getting more and more attention. > > > "Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from > > teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service > > workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers > > have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. > > This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which > > demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler," the HSLDA > > report said. > > > Homeschoolers achieved the 89th percentile in reading, 84th in language, > > 84th in math, 86th in science and 84th in social studies. > > > The 37-point margin was significantly higher than the 30-point margin > > reported in a 1998 study on the issue, the HSLDA said. > > > "This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It > > attempts to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism > > of the Rudner [1998] study was that it only drew students from one large > > testing service. Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers > > participating with that service were automatically non-representative of the > > broader homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by > > using 15 independent testing services for this new study. There can be no > > doubt that homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated > > in the "Progress Report." > > > WND had reported only weeks earlier on an HSLDA assessment that determined > > moms and dads can teach their own children as effectively as any "certified" > > teacher. > > > The report by Chris Klicka, senior counsel for the HSLDA, is titled, "The > > Myth of Teacher Qualifications." He revealed that having "certified" > > teachers actually has a negative impact in some situations. > > > He reported, "Educational research does not indicate any positive > > correlation between teacher qualifications and student performance. Many > > courts have found teacher qualification requirements on homeschoolers to be > > too excessive or not appropriate. The trend in state legislatures across the > > country indicates an abandonment of teacher qualification requirements for > > homeschool teachers. In fact, Americans, in general, are realizing that the > > necessity of teacher qualifications is a myth. The teachers' unions and > > other members of the educational establishment make up the small minority > > still lobbying for teacher certification in order to protect their > > disintegrating monopoly on education." > > > The assessment said, "One of the most significant studies in this area was > > performed by Dr. Eric Hanushek of the University of Rochester, who surveyed > > the results of 113 studies on the impact of teachers' qualifications on > > their students' academic achievement. Eighty-five percent of the studies > > found no positive correlation between the educational performance of the > > students and the teacher's educational background. > > > "Although 7 percent of the studies did find a positive correlation, 5 > > percent found a negative impact," the report said. > > > __._,_.___ > > Messages in this topic > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/message/576594;_ylc=...>( > > 1) Reply (via web post) > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyZD...>| > > Start > > a new topic > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJldm...> > > > > Messages<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/messages;_ylc=X3oDMT...>| > > Files<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmb...>| > > Photos<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJl...>| > > Links<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmY...>| > > Database<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/database;_ylc=X3oDMT...>| > > Polls<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmc...>| > > Calendar<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMT...> > > [image: Yahoo! > > Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdTVicmk5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycEl...> > > Change settings via the > > Web<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmaG...>(Yahoo! > > ID required) > > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily > > Digest<[email protected]?subject=email+delivery:+Digest>| > > Switch > > format to > > Traditional<[email protected]?subject=change+delivery+format:+Traditional> > > Visit Your Group > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYm02Y2Y...>| > > Yahoo! > > Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe > > <[email protected]?subject=> > > Recent Activity > > > - 5 > > New > > Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJ...> > > - 1 > > New > > Photos<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/spnew;_ylc=X3oDMTJmN...> > > - 9 > > New > > Files<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJna...> > > > Visit Your Group > > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Realabortiondebate;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNGpmMDl...> > > Give Back > > > Yahoo! for > > Good<http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJtYzVzcjJrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEE...> > > > Get inspired > > > by a good cause. > > Y! 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