Summary Home Study Survey Results ~ 2005
The Home Study Survey reached about 1000 homeschoolers through direct mail, email, and message boards in addition to word of mouth. We received 164 responses resulting in a 16% return rate. Every county in Vermont is represented. More responses came from Central and Northern Vermont as opposed to Southern Vermont. Almost all of these respondents are enrolled in home study.
This survey shows that parents spend a great deal of time planning for the next school year. Depending on how they write this plan, the course of study that is submitted is not always helpful to the education of their children. If the course of study were eliminated, they would spend just as much time planning, and in some cases less, because they would not have to rearrange the information to fit a prescribed format that has little to do with how they educate their children. There are those that do like to have what they do arranged into a traditional format and therefore do not mind supervision by the department.
It is clear that homeschoolers would like the statute changed into a less restrictive law. They do not want, nor have time to do more paperwork. The idea of not submitting a course of study after the first year or two appealed to 82% of respondents. Opposition to change is minimal and even some that do oppose change are only doing so out of fear that the statute might be changed in other ways that are not positive for homeschooling.
The majority of parents do not feel supported by the department while others do not want support from the department at all. A few are undecided about how the department displays support because they have not had reason to need support. When it came to the department respecting parents 68% responded with ways in which the department could show more respect to parents. Some stated they felt no respect at all while others do feel some respect. Suggestions to provide more respect of parents included changing the law to reduce the amount of paper work, view parents as having the best interests of their child at heart, innocent until proven guilty, support tax credits, continue to provide high quality newsletters, support parent taught driver education, be more of a consultant or facilitator rather than controlling content and trust parents in that they know their children best in providing an age and ability appropriate education.
Responses collected byVermont Home Education Network and Christian Home Education of Vermont
www.vhen.net
This study is online at http://www.vhen.net/survey_results.html
Complete Home Study Survey Results ~ 2005
The Home Study Survey reached about 1000 homeschoolers through direct email, message boards, snail mail, and word of mouth. We received 164 responses resulting in a 16% return rate. Every county in Vermont is represented. More responses came from Central and Northern Vermont as opposed to Southern Vermont. Almost all of these respondents are enrolled in home study. Comments from homeschoolers are included.
1. How much time do you spend planning your up coming school year?"
The answers ranged from a couple of hours to all year long. 81% of respondents spent between a few hours to two months to plan the upcoming year. This includes research of available materials to purchase; interest areas and level of children, field trip planning, conferences and homeschool meetings, etc. 19% take 6 months to a year to plan for the upcoming school.
"Many hours that I should be using teaching or actually preparing for the following school year."
"It takes a long time going over curriculum and ordering books and supplies."
"I plan as I go taking one day at a time."
"About 2 weeks thinking about official curriculum - the rest of the time we make it up as we go along."
"It's a continual, ongoing process rather than a set task."
2. Do you find the detailed course of study to be helpful to you?"
51% said no, 26% said yes and 22% said somewhat.
"Detailed plans are not necessary as in my experience; it is much easier to be more thorough in some areas without having the "details" hanging over my head."
"The detailed course of study is not how I plan my upcoming school year."
"The course of study does not help me plan."
"When I first started homeschooling, yes, I think there's a place for it, but now, I have 6 children, and have been homeschooling for 8 year, so it really seems like it's redundant to me."
"As a new homeschooler I found it helpful but I feel that after that it is not needed."
"It gives my year a framework that I can refer to."
3. "If the detailed course of study was eliminated would you spend as much time on planning your upcoming school year?"
80% said yes and 20% said no.
"Yes, because the detailed course of study has nothing to do with my planning."
"I would still have to plan, but I wouldn't need to spend that extra time formatting it for the Dept of Ed and then getting stressed about having everything in place before the public school year begins."
"Planning curriculum? paperwork?
"Yes - because the two are not related."
"No. I would spend the same amount of time on research but it would leave me the flexibility to make course changes throughout the year based on interest and mastery of material. It would also save the time of developing the paperwork the state requires each year."
4. "If you could eliminate one part of the current enrollment process what would it be?"
Eliminate the submission of the course of study (52%), the annual assessment (11%), the whole process (8%), Form B (5%), annual enrollment to periodic enrollments (4%). The remaining 20% listed things such as eliminating signatures from outside teachers to listing every book to dropping approval of enrollments to attitudes.
"I think the state makes it tedious to say the least to register to home school children."
"I understand that the state has to "track" us to some degree, but I KNOW they do not have such detail on children attending the public schools."
"A change to family enrollment rather than individual enrollment would be ideal."
"I would like the State of Vermont to trust the parents to be responsible for their children."
"The attitude - from the Dept. of Ed - that we are asking their permission and seeking their approval in how we educate our children."
5. Would you support a change to the law that no longer required the submission of the course of study after the first or second year?"
82% said yes, 14% said no and 6% said maybe or didn't know
"Absolutely, it would be a good idea for the first year only to require a submission. That is the year that parents are getting a feel for where their child is and where they need to go. If the dept was in a supportive role instead of a "police role" parents would feel more comfortable."
"Not totally, I think sending at least a brief outline would be adequate."
"Definitely…that would free up the home educators who have established state approval to be able to spend more time teaching their children rather than worrying about unnecessary paperwork and reporting."
"No, but I would support a law that made the submission of the course of study easier."
"I'd love for public schools to submit similar information to parents annually!"
6. Would you oppose any change to the current statute?"
No, as long as it is not more restrictive (60%), depends on what the change is (20%), yes (11%), not sure (8%). Many of the yes responses were to say that they oppose any change that increased the restrictions on homeschooling.
"Only if it made it more restrictive."
"Yes, I would oppose any change that places greater power over homeschoolers in the department of education…."
"Yes, anything that restricts the parent's decision on what, when, and how to teach their children."
"Yes, I do not want it any stricter."
"I am not opposed to any changes that increase the freedom of parents and children to learn at home."
"No, as long as it was in favor of allowing more time to focus on our students rather than reporting more detail to the state."
7. "Would you like to see the current statute minimally changed?"
Yes (67%), maybe, would depend on change (12%), no (10%), no opinion (5%), unsure (5%), totally eliminate (1%) Some no responses were to say that they would oppose small changes that increased restrictions.
"Not really, I'd love for public schools to submit similar information to parents annually!"
"No, I'd like to see it substantially changed."
"I would like to see it radically changed. Minimum changes in a positive direction would be welcomed."
"Sure if it decreases the requirements currently in force."
"….acknowledge that we have the most intrinsic interests in our children's education by giving us the absolute freedom & authority to oversee their education. -open the doors of communication."
"No, I like this law. I feel it makes the parents think about the curriculum and plan what is best for their children, knowing someone will be reviewing it and OK'ing it or denying [it] adding suggestions, etc."
8. If you do not enroll would a change to the law that no longer required the submission of the course of study after the first or second year change your mind?"
Less than 15% of all respondents answered this question. 5% said a change would cause them to reconsider and 10% said no. This should not be taken as an indication of how many of the respondents were non enrollers. Many who obviously enroll answered the question any way.
"I do enroll; however, if Vermont gets any more restrictive, I won't."
"I do enroll and wish I never did. [Elimination of the submitted course of study] would totally change my desire not to enroll."
"Any changes in the law would cause us to reconsider our position, regardless of whether we are enrolling or not. changes increasing the authority of parents would make us more likely to enroll. Any changes increasing the authority of the State would make us less likely to enroll."
"If I did not enroll already, this change would cause me to reconsider."
"If the filing requirements kept me from enrolling (which they don't), then yes, a reduction in the requirements would cause me to reconsider."
9. Does your family feel supported by the Department of Education?"
No (52%), Yes (29%), Unsure (17%), Somewhat (1%)
"I feel like the dept. of Education is trying to be our masters instead of our servants and I would be afraid to ask them for help when I may need it for fear they would try to make us put a child in public school and that is against my religion."
"I feel tolerated."
"No - they're the scary "watching over our shoulders: powerful bureaucrats."
" No, It is just someone to be afraid of!"
"However, it's not a question of "support". Department of Education is not simply supporting home study; it has taken and been granted, above what the statute intended, the right of approval and the power to disapprove what a family is doing and, possibly, force a family to do something that is against their better judgment and perhaps even against their conscience. We do not feel "supported"; we feel "watched". And we feel the pressure of being controlled."
"Yes, I've had great experiences with them."
"I basically view it as no news is good news."
"Generally, yes. I've often found dept. staff to be very helpful in answering my questions, especially early on."
"I don't really require support."
10. What would the Department have to do to show that it respects parents as educators?"
68% of respondents had suggestions for ways in which the department could show that it respects parents. 14% found no lack of respect and 17% had no answer or opinion.
"NO, I feel like they make things more difficult."
"Supported…no. Monitored…yes. Respected…no. In fear of.. yes. And I have my masters in education and am a former pubic school teacher."
"No. On the contrary, I see them as intrusive, and their cheery statements as pretty hollow, as all this paperwork is really for them to keep tabs on me, and not for my benefit."
"If you have to submit a portfolio every year and it shows that your children are progressing well, and you have been running a successful homeschool for a couple of years then why do we need to submit and go through the enrollment process?"
"Trust us to prepare for our school year as we see fit for each individual child."
"I believe that the options that are given to evaluate our children's progress at the end of each year is sufficient to show that they are progressing in their schooling without wasting time on a detailed course of study that isn't even looked at again until it's pulled out at evaluation time."
"….after they [parents] have "proven" themselves legitimate educators. This would offer a measure of respect to those homeschooling families who have always fulfilled their obligations in the past and are obviously serious about providing an adequate, if not excellent, education for their children."
"Write your correspondence with an attitude of cooperation rather than making me feel like I need your approval to go on."
"Kids learn in different ways, at different speeds - this is why we homeschool and this is what is so great about homeschooling. The state process should honor this."
"[dept can show respect by] Allowing us to decide what our children need to learn and when it is best for them to learn it."
"Trust that we know what is best for our children."
"Stop requiring us to bend and scrape."
"Understand that they [parents] do it because they genuinely care about their children's education, and consider them [homeschoolers] a positive part of the Vermont landscape; not a hindrance, or group to be tolerated. As a by-product of this respect, the department would be willing to work toward making the current statute more in line with other states in the country."
"Allow more flexibility as far as changes to curriculum mid year.would like to feel that I have more latitude to really follow my child's interests without worrying if the state will think it is OK."
"Trust us and not require so much information."
"….trust us, be flexible."
"Trust that if I've been homeschooling for 8 year with several children and the public school test scores are in the 90th percentile that I probably know what I'm doing so don't ask me for more samples!"
"This truancy thing makes me feel like a criminal if my paperwork isn't ready and submitted by August."
"The level of stress regarding truancy could be greatly diminished if we could eliminate approval of our minimum COS."
"Support elimination Statute 166b.(b) and use a policy of trust in parents' judgment."
"Trust us. ck off on the yearly curriculums to be sent in.felt more freedom when I taught at a Catholic School than I do as a Home Schooler."
"…change of attitude - There are those who "act" supportive, yet treat parents as if they are not the 'trained expert'."
"Not be so critical of the material we send in, trust us as parents more."
"[deliver choice of assessment then…] I will keep my records here at home, and if the state has any concrete evidence that I am breaking the law, then by all means they should act on it. Otherwise, they can best show their respect by leaving me be."
Additional comments by homeschoolers:
"The people I have dealt with at the state have for the most part been great….Bottom line, I don't hate the state!"
"…. the requirement of a "Minimum Course of Study" is a great hindrance, and I feel, intrusive. As I am an unschooler, it is not a good fit with my philosophy on how to "educate" my children. It is a useless exercise for me….its enforcement sends the subtle message that the state thinks we need guidance, which most homeschoolers do not…[it] is restrictive and one-dimensional, in the sense that it assumes that homeschooling is doing school, at home."
"When I started in the late 1980s, I was required to submit a curriculum.asked our local school for a copy of their 1st grade curriculum.what?had none! I was being asked to submit something that the local school didn't even have to do even though it impacted many more children.was shocked and disheartened.that point on, I never took the State seriously. I never respected them as I felt they never respected me."
"I would hope that some day parents would be able to school their own children as they see fit, and not have to go through all the red tape that we seem to need to do today. I know that I would feel a lot more trusted if left to my own teaching methods, without having to keep the state up to date on what I'm doing. would also have more time to teach and not need to spend so much time with the paperwork, and it just seems that my family would have a better schooling experience."
"We are required to submit an enrollment course study, notify the state every time we make a change to that study and then submit proof that we taught the items to the child as stated with a portfolio or other means. is an overkill of information. some parents they feel constantly "watched" and this distracts them from their teaching."
"….relax the demands on parents for what they are going to teach their children….parents generally don't know what the child will be learning. We can give a very general idea but that's it. We can, however, give you more details on what they already learned."
"I also greatly appreciate the work load for what once was a small state home study department."
"I feel like I don't get to really plan my curriculum out the way I want to because I'm up against a deadline."
"With some people at the Dept of Ed home study section it seems like they feel they have to "do" something. They can take this to mean criticize, monitor, supervise, police. It can be so cold….the attitude there is that these homeschooling parents may be 'neglecting' their children."
"The course of study makes you feel like you have to do what it says."
"I wish I didn't get the feeling that the planned curriculum I submit is "set in stone."
"Many of us homeschool because we want to inspire our children to LOVE learning and follow their own interests. That can be hard to do if we feel stuck to a lesson plan we submitted at the beginning of the year while a child suddenly becomes interested in something completely different. Not having to submit a course of study each year would allow us some flexibility. I really have no problem with being required to cover the 5-6 basic areas…..I'd just like a bit more freedom to follow my child's lead or allow them to go at their own pace."
"…. [homeschooling is] a very responsible, viable way of raising a close-knit, civically responsible family."
"I would support a change in the requirements that would reduce or simplify the process without eliminating it."
"In Philadelphia…..the philosophy is who cares what you were planning -- it only matters how the child grew and learned."
"A yearly evaluation would be fine but the submitted course of study from us is pretty much invented to satisfy the paperwork people…..It does not reflect what we are doing at all- it is for the state file only. BTW- my daughters are 1 to 4 years ahead of their 'building schooled' peers in EVERY area."
"I really would like to see the Dept of Ed. change its function.works. Not only do children get wonderful education, but it also builds loving families and memories to last a lifetime.should be encouraged not discouraged. ler's do so at great sacrifice and they should be applauded not made to feel like "big brother" is watching over their shoulder looking for a means to deny them their homeschooling status.change this."
"Let us educate - be there only as consultants - keep home study enrollment simply and avoid the VT state standards. They are dragging us all down."
"I have been above board with the department for over 16 years and they have definitely been a hindrance and a headache."
"For our family, homeschooling is a way of life as much as an educational option. current requirements by the state seem to be at odds with the inter-discipline, multi-age teaching style that is representative of most homeschooling families."
"I appreciate the intentions of the DOE and the Home Study Program. However, my experience and my understanding of the experiences of many other home educators tells me that we home educators are feeling put off by the enrollment process.are working very hard to give our children the best education we can according to what we feel is best for them. We feel that we deserve the trust of the State in doing our jobs, and part of the way the State can show that trust is to make the notification/enrollment process easier and more "friendly."….. I am glad the DOE is desirous of hearing the voices of home educators, and I hope the relationship between the DOE and home educators continues to grow to the benefit of both."