The Choice Channel

“The decision by an increasing number of parents to home school their children has begun to have an affect on the attendance at public schools. In some areas, the number of children now attending home school has more than doubled in recent years. Public schools receive federal funds for each enrolled student. Since the amount lost per capita is more than five thousand dollars, many districts are losing several hundred thousand dollars per year due to home school. Some school districts are using innovative methods to lure home school families back to the public school fold. Setting up learning centers for home school students is one means traditional schools are using to restore ties with students who have left the public school system. Home school students who attend these learning centers are counted as part-time public school participants. However, learning centers do not allow religious education to be part of a student’s studies while on campus nor can center money be spent on religious resources. For these reasons, many parents who choose to home school their children on religious grounds object to the learning center approach.” (04/26/06)