Homeschooling, Virtual Learning, and the Eroding Public/Private Binary

ABSTRACT

Regulators ubiquitously dichotomize schooling into two discrete sectors: public and private. Although homeschooling is regulated in some contexts as a third sector, the general approach is to treat it as a species of private education by subjecting it to public regulation while simultaneously denying it public funds. But the public/private binary is increasingly difficult to sustain as charter schools multiply and, especially, as virtual schooling increasingly penetrates primary and secondary education. Public school systems are deploying virtual education in ways that erode once impermeable walls between public and private. Many obstacles to homeschooling will fall with those walls—particularly obstacles related to government financing of homeschooling activities.

KEYWORDS:

• charter schools
• homeschooling
• online schools
• virtual schools

Notes

1. This discussion, along with other charter school materials in this article, relies heavily on the discussion and citations in Saiger (2013).

2. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-808 (2014 & Supp. 2015); Fla. Stat. Ann. §§ 1002.37, 1002.45 (West 2012 & Supp. 2015); Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-319.1 (2012 & Supp. 2015); Idaho Code Ann. § 33-5504A (2008 & Supp. 2015); Iowa Code Ann. § 256.42 (West 2012 & Supp. 2015); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 20-A, § 19152 (Supp. 2015); Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. Ch. 71, § 94 (LexisNexis 2013); Miss. Code. Ann. § 37-161-3 (West 2009 & Supp. 2015); Mo. Ann. Stat. § 161.670 (West 2010); Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-1201 (West 2009 & Supp. 2015); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-30-3 (West 2011); S.C. Code Ann. § 59-16-15 (2004 & Supp. 2015); S.D. Codified Laws § 13-33-24 (Supp. 2015); Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 30A (West 2012 &Supp. 2015); Utah Code Ann. § 53A-15-1002.5 (LexisNexis 2013 & Supp. 2015); Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-212.24 (2011 & Supp. 2015); W. Va. Code Ann. § 18-2E-9 (LexisNexis 2012).

3. Online schools run by education management organizations (EMOs) saw the same rate of growth during the time period. For-profit and nonprofit EMO-operated schools enrolled 11,500 students during the 2003–2004 school year and almost 115,000 students in 2010–2011 (Miron, Urschel, Aguilar, Mayra, & Dailey, 2012, p. 18).