Why Work In The Homeschool Industry?

As the public school workload increases and salaries stagnate, many teachers and educators are looking for new opportunities. Working in home education as a curriculum developer, online school teacher, remote lecturer, or even UX expert might be the change of pace you’re looking for!

For the longest time, homeschoolers made up a small percentage of school-aged American children. However, the number of homeschoolers has been growing steadily over the past 10 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Here are a handful of reasons to consider jumping into the diverse homeschooling industry:

1. Over 3.5 million children in the United States are homeschooled

From the United States Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey, approximately 3.62 million children were homeschooled for the 2022-2023 school year. This is an incredible jump from the 2019-2020 school year, with an estimated 2.5 million children in homeschools.?

The pandemic may have initially motivated the recent spike in homeschooling, but the children aren’t returning to public schools as initially predicted, even years later. According to the National Center for Education Resources, some of the most common reasons parents homeschool include a desire to provide a safer learning environment, the ability to teach morals or religious values, an emphasis on family life, and a dissatisfaction with the academic quality of public schools.

2. Homeschoolers are estimated to be about 13.2% of all children in the US

Homeschooling has been a steadily growing alternative to traditional schools, especially within the last five years. By the end of May 2022, homeschoolers were 5.22% of school-aged children in the United States. From 2016-2021, the average population of homeschoolers has grown by about 8.8% annually (National Home Education Research Institute). As of 2023, we estimate that 13.2% of all school-aged children are homeschooled, as homeschooling continues to provide children with a safe and personalized approach to education.

3. Homeschool growth has now outpaced private and public schools

Homeschooling is now becoming so popular that the percentage increase of homeschool enrollment has exceeded the enrollment rate for both public and private schools. In 2023, the Washington Post noted that the total number of homeschool enrollment had increased about 50% over the past six years, while public schools saw an increase of only 7%, and private schools saw a decline of 4%. Homeschools are often much more affordable than private schools and offer more freedom and flexibility than traditional schools.

4. School choice is becoming a popular topic in state legislation

In 2023, a record number of 20 states voted to implement or expand current school choice resources. While each state’s rules are different, the majority of the new legislation expanded opportunities for public schools, offered tuition assistance for private school students and homeschoolers, and created new voucher opportunities and educational savings accounts that all students are eligible for. As new legislation creates funding opportunities to make homeschooling more accessible, we’re expecting to see the enrollment trend continue upward for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond.

How Working for Homeschoolers Can Work For You

With more and more families homeschooling each year, the demand for great homeschool content and resources continues to rise. In addition, with the newfound popularity of school choice on state ballots, the potential for innovation and diverse educational approaches in the homeschool world continues to grow.?

A career in the homeschooling industry can give teachers new opportunities in the evolving educational landscape and also offer a new way for education professionals to make a difference in the lives of so many more children. Without the traditional school calendar, many of these positions allow you to enjoy remote work opportunities and flexible days off.

Find out how working with homeschool families can change the trajectory of your career by checking out Miaplaza's current job openings!