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Homeschooling on the rise in Indiana, across the country

Indiana is one of the least-restrictive states for homeschooling.

INDIANAPOLIS — Homeschooling is quickly becoming a more popular choice for parents in Indiana. In fact, the number of kids homeschooled has increased significantly over the past decade.

Indiana is one of the least-restrictive states for homeschooling. Families do not have to register with the state or any other agency. That makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact numbers of Hoosier students learning at home.

However, the Indiana Association of Home Educators said it is tracking consistent growth here and across the country. Across the U.S., there were nearly 2.5 million students learning at home during the 2019 school year. 

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

By 2021, that number grew 3.1 million.

Kori Simmons started homeschooling her daughters after the pandemic and said she can tailor the day’s lesson to her family’s needs.

“It’s literally a process of learning 24/7,” Simmons said. “We might sit on the floor and work on our spelling, then, get up and go do something else.”

Every day is different when it comes to homeschooling for the Simmons family.

Simmons taught her daughters, 8-year-old Sage and 4-year-old Ida, math and science at the pumpkin patch.

There is no set curriculum. Some parents choose to be a part of a structured program or decide their own.

Simmons said she was able to teach Sage cursive — which is no longer taught in public schools.

Sage is dyslexic and had a difficult time writing letters, according to Simmons.

“Because of the way cursive was written, it allowed her to keep it straight in her mind, so she just flew right through those,” Simmons said.

Parents who homeschool have freedom to choose what their kids learn and when they learn it. However, despite how parents choose to teach their children, Simmons said they’re all in it together.

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