Over 50% of Parents Say Their Child's Special Learning Need was 'Extremely Important' to Their Choice to Homeschool

Homeschool Program Take Charge of Your Child's Education Says At-Home Learning Offers "Educational Freedom, Particularly for Gifted and Special Needs Students

SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 20, 2022 / When the COVID-19 pandemic surged, many schools throughout the country closed forcing many parents to turn to homeschooling as an option to educate their children. Researchers predicted that the high number of parents who were homeschooling their children would decrease after the schools reopened. However, this prediction is proving to be just the opposite. In the 18 states that shared data through the current school year, there was a 63% increase in homeschooling during the 2020-2021 school year, with only a decrease of 17% for the 2021-2022 school year.

For students, homeschooling also increased their sense of safety and reduced negative behavior. A recent survey from EdChoice, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides families with educational choices, found that 68% of homeschooled students felt an increased sense of happiness, while as many as 60% of families reported improved behavior since homeschooling.

Families of children with special needs are also drawn to at-home learning with 52% of respondents saying that their child's special learning need was very or extremely important in their choice to homeschool. Under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special needs includes those with disabilities, including the gifted and learning disabled.

Mary Resenbeck, a former teacher, Homeschool Parent Coach and author of Take Charge of Your Child's Education! says home-based learning is critical to the educational development and success of special needs students.

"When I discovered my children had dyslexia, I was terrified because there was nothing designed to help them master core subjects in the school system," Resenbeck says. "My children's self-esteem soared once we, as a family, decided to homeschool. It allowed them to focus on what they were great at and didn't spotlight all their academic struggles, allowing them the confidence to enjoy their successes and master their gifts to succeed."

According to the latest data from Education Week, 14% of all students in the U.S. are special education students. The data varies from state to state, from 9.8 percent in Texas to 19.5 percent in New York. Additionally, 38% of the 2.5 million homeschooling students have special needs. Almost three times higher than the 14% of students being served in public school special education programs nationally.

Another benefit of homeschooling is that children get to spend more time with their parents and family, providing them with emotional and psychological support which is of particular importance for special needs learners. According to Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D., a foremost authority on child development, "homeschooling parents retain the ability to guide their children gradually to a connected type of independence by way of the natural dependency of childhood."

For parents who are considering homeschooling as an option for their children, Resenbeck, a former teacher, adds that it is an exciting time for "educational freedom" and that special needs families have more options than ever before with educational consultants, special needs therapists, and homeschooling teachers available to create programs centered around their child's passions, gifts, and talents.

"The bottom line is, homeschooling a special needs child allows the parent to create a flexible and tailored schedule for their child's specific needs," Resenbeck says. "It enables them the freedom to embrace who they are and the ability and power to shine."

About Take Charge of Your Child's Education

Take Charge of Your Child's Education is a family-centered program designed to help parents and students thrive in a homeschool setting with the Maverick Learning Method.™ The Maverick approach to homeschooling allows each child to thrive by using stress-free family-centered techniques and providing a solid foundation that highlights the child's talents, gifts, and passions, so they succeed as adults. Parents also learn how to create a learning environment where children of all ages and abilities work together, engage with one another, and follow an individualized academic plan that matches and grows with them at their own pace as they master different subjects.
CONTACT

Mary Resenbeck
www.maryresenbeck.com
resenbeckm@yahoo.com
(858) 354-9673

SOURCE: Take Charge Of Your Child's Education