Home Schooling: More Pupils, Less Regulation
nytimes.com
nytimes.com
<< Until recently, Pennsylvania had one of the strictest home-school laws in the nation. Families keeping their children out of traditional classrooms were required to register each year with their local school district, outlining study plans and certifying that adults in the home did not have a criminal record. At the end of the year, they submitted portfolios of student work to private evaluators for review. The portfolio and evaluator’s report then went to a school district superintendent to approve. >>
Pretty scary that "in half the states, children who are taught at home never have to take a standardized test or be subject to any sort of formal outside assessment."
The purpose of the certification for public schools is to allay parent fears of unsafe strangers (to them) having contact with their children. It makes no sense in a homeschooling situation (it might make sense as a requirement aimed at people offering paid in-home child-focused services to homeschooling parents, but that's a different issue.)
The film "Waiting for Superman" shows how terrible US schools are, and why so many people make the reasonable choice to home-school.
It doesn't feel like people always put the child's needs first.
Jesus Camp: http://imdb.com/title/tt0486358/
Waiting for Superman: http://imdb.com/title/tt1566648/