Homeschooling
Homeschooling has become quite a prominent means of obtaining an education. Homeschooling is a middle ground for parents who do not want their children in public school, but do not want to or cannot pay the price of private or charter schools. And as mothers and fathers are continually pulling their children out of public schools and into the home, the requirements for those who are teaching have improved to ensure that children are getting the same level of education they would in a classroom setting.
Public schools do not always have adequate funding from the state government. As budgets are slashed, so too are the number of teachers available per child as well as the resources that students and teachers receive. This includes updated textbooks and replacement tables and chairs for the classroom. As a result of not having updated material, some teachers have to start charging parents for new classroom items or asking them to provide their children with a long list of items at the start of the year. This is not always affordable for the parent and can cause problems with learning.
Private schools and charter schools are an alternative to public schools. They do not have the same financial restrictions because their funding does not come from the local or state governments. School supplies are kept up to date and teachers are in larger supply, meaning the student to teacher ratio is better than that of public schools. However, in order for a child to attend a charter or private school it costs the parent thousands of dollars every year. The amount varies based on the school and the location but it can cost the same as a college tuition for some students. This is not always reasonable either.
This is why so many parents are turning toward homeschooling. Parents who stay at home to rear their children are taking it upon themselves to now offer them an education at the same time. But as this rises in popularity so too do the requirements. Many governments are either requiring or strongly recommending that parents who are homeschooling get training and certification in teaching. They are also providing regulated classroom textbooks and tests which students have to pass the same as those in public or private school. There are even support groups among homeschooling parents where tricks and tips are provided.
With so many new homeschooling parents, the need to ensure the quality of education remains high is growing. That being said many governments are offering support groups, regulated textbooks and tests, as well as training for parents who are homeschooling.