By Kallan Arkeder LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (NCC News)–The National Home Education Research Institute released an update on their homeschooling student population study. There are currently 1.96 million homeschool students nationwide, and they project the homeschool student population will reach over two million students by 2020.
According to this study by the National Home Education Research Institute, the homeschooling student population grows between two and eight percent annually. In order to accommodate the growing number of homeschooling students, the Liverpool Public Library offers weekly educational programs for the homeschooling students. Deanna McGregor, Liverpool Librarian, sees about twenty to fifty homeschooling students at the library’s different weekly programs.
“We’ve definitely seen it growing in popularity and I think the libraries are catching on to that and so most libraries offer homeschool programing or you know educational resources that can be checked out,” McGregor said.
Families choose homeschooling for a variety of reasons such as more one to one interactions, scheduling liberty, specialized educational curriculum, opportunity to explore individualized student interests as well as many more. M.J. Chermak, homeschooling parent, wants her two sons to be able to develop without the pressures found in a classroom.
“I want to give my kids the chance to kind of know who they are before being told who they need to be and what they need to accomplish,” Chermak said. “I want them to decide for themselves.”
This week students learned about the laws of physics in a STEAM club focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math. The library offers diverse programs to attract homeschooling students of all interests.
“In addition to the STEAM club we do other educational activities,” McGregor said. “So we have two different book clubs. We have a creative writing group for the teens and we have what we call ‘homeschool hangout’ which is where we provide games and a space for families to get together and share ideas.”
The goal of the Liverpool Public Library’s homeschooling programs is to get students to interact with each other and get out in the community
“Each family is on their own homeschool journey,” McGregor said. “So we just try to offer something that would fit well generically as a field trip.”
With the projection of the homeschooling student population reaching above two million students by next year, the Liverpool homeschooling program has grown in popularity as well.
“I think one of the reasons why these programs are so popular is because it is a chance for the kids to interact,” McGregor said. “We have seen them become more at ease with each other and the adults that are involved.”
