Basically we are spending $10,000 per student each year to what...keep teachers and administrators employed, to keep construction companies in business building new schools, to babysit our children while exposing them to malcontents, bullies and gangs? Why not? It is the American way of life. After all, our government knows best. Hmmm? How did Lincoln manage to become president with less than three years of formal schooling?
On Aug 13, 1:16 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.orgOn 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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