Admissions Officers’ Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Homeschoolers
By Mimi Rothschild
With the recent growth of homeschool families in numbers in addition to press popularity, the traditional schools of education are getting the jitters. There are some school districts that are experiencing declining attendance in classrooms, which ultimately results in reduced funds allotted to these school districts. Homeschool education is growing at a surprising rate of seven to fifteen percent annually.
The concept of homeschool education is not new to the US. In fact, the nation has had a bright history of home schooling. During the 17th and 18th centuries, parents would act as tutors and teach their children in their homes. Products of home schooling include legends and iconic figures like Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie, among other notable personalities.
By the time compulsory attendance in traditional schools gained prominence, the homeschool education populace dwindled to such an extent that it became controversial and illegal in some states. However, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, homeschools came into the limelight again, as many families became disillusioned with the quality of public education. The writings of critics of public education also influenced parents to opt for homeschool education for their children.
Now that homeschooling is common and legal in almost all the states in the US, there are college and university admissions officers who continue to ponder as to how to deal with a rising population of newly graduated homeschool students seeking admission. The number of homeschool children between grades 9 through 12 is estimated to be above 14,000.
A report is being prepared to examine the stance taken by the college admissions personnel toward the homeschool graduate and the perceptions they have with regard to the student’s talent in the college. College admissions policies for homeschool applicants and the attitude and openness with which the homeschool graduate population is welcomed have been studied and analyzed. It has been reported that fifty-five admissions officers hailing from different college admissions counseling departments across various regions participated in this study. The members or the officers were from accredited institutions, and had been working at these institutions for more than four years. They were subjected to an electronic survey where they were asked to give their opinions in a three-part questionnaire. The information gathered was developed as crucial data on the homeschool admissions policies of four-year colleges and universities across various states in the US.
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