Related Literature

Overview of Homeschool Population

Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago seemed to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on “mainstream in the United States. (Ray, 2018) According to Brian D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), There are about 2.3 million home-educated students in the United States as of spring 2016. Estimates of the number of homeschooled children have risen from 1.1 million school-aged children, or 2.2% of the school-age population, in 2003 to approximately 2.04 million in 2011, with a per annum growth rate of around 7%-8% that has been consistent since the late 1990s. (Dempster, 2015) Some of the main reasons parents homeschool their children is the belief that they should play an active role in their children’s education, believe they have the ability to help their child succeed in school learning, and perceive that contextual factors in their lives make involvement of homeschooling possible. (Green & Hoover-Dempsey, 2007)

The trend of homeschooling is continuing to increase in the United States and homeschool students’ academic achievement has many positive claims. In a review of peer-reviewed research, Ray (2018) found that in 11 out of the 14 peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement, there was a definite positive correlation with achievement for the students. Ray also found that 78% of peer-reviewed studies in existence of this article showed a statistically significant positive connection with home education. This research shows that homeschooling can lead to students with higher academic levels. Within the research physical activity was not measured.

A study done by The University of Georgia found that homeschool students persistently claim a preference for the home school setting. However, when quality instruction is desired in sport and physical activity, the children do not expect their parents to be capable of providing the instruction. (Baker, K. 1999) When comparing the literature both parents and students claim a preference for the homeschool setting but, the students do not expect their parents to provide them quality sport and physical activity instruction.