May 6 — June 17, 2021
Homeschooling has been undergoing a transformation in recent years. In the wake of Covid-19, early evidence also indicates that millions of parents began homeschooling during recent school closures. However, as homeschooling evolves, there remain many important questions about the practice. The purpose of this conference is to improve understanding of critical topics in homeschooling by considering empirical research, expert analysis, and parents’ experiences with homeschooling.
How to attend the conference
The webinar series will be hosted across six panels on Zoom.
Advanced registration is required.
All panels run from 12-1 p.m. EDT.
Agenda
Moderators
Paul E. Peterson, Director, Program on Education Policy and Governance, Harvard University
Daniel Hamlin, Professor, University of Oklahoma
May 6
Is it time for a change to homeschool law?
Does the law on homeschooling need to be revised? What are appropriate restrictions on homeschooling? What rights should homeschoolers have?
Panelists
Elizabeth Bartholet, Professor, Harvard Law School
Michael Donnelly, Senior Counsel, Homeschool Legal Defense Association
Eric Wearne, Professor, Kennesaw State University
James Dwyer, Professor, College of William and Mary
Michael Donnelly's slides from this presentation are available here.
May 13
Growth and diversity in post-pandemic homeschooling
What is homeschooling? Who homeschools their children? Has Covid-19 altered the homeschooling landscape?
Panelists
Sarah Grady, Statistician, US Department of Education
Brian Ray, President, National Home Education Research Institute
Commentator
Cheryl Fields Smith, Professor, University of Georgia
Sarah Grady's slides from this presentation are available here.
Brian Ray's slides from this presentation are available here.
May 20
Are homeschoolers prepared for life?
How is the academic preparation of homeschoolers? What trends do they see in life outcomes?
Panelists
Christian Wilkens, Professor, State University of New York, Brockport
Jennifer Jolly, Professor, University of Alabama
Commentator
Robert Kunzman, Professor, Indiana University
May 27
Are homeschoolers socially isolated?
How involved are homeschoolers in their local communities?
Panelists
Daniel Hamlin, Professor, University of Oklahoma
David Sikkink, Professor, University of Notre Dame
Commentator
Michael McShane, Director of National Research, EdChoice
June 3
Is child abuse greater at school or homeschool?
What do we know about the incidence of child and sexual abuse that occurs in schools and in homeschool households?
Panelists
Charol Shakeshaft, Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
Angela Dills, Professor, Western Carolina University
Commentator
Martin West, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
June 10
Is homeschooling an international movement?
What trends in homeschooling are occurring internationally?
Panelists
Ari Neuman & Oz Guterman, Professors, Western Galilee College
Philippe Bongrand, Professor, CY Cergy Paris University
Christine Brabant, Professor, University of Montreal
Commentator
Albert Cheng, Professor, University of Arkansas
June 17
Parents’ experiences with homeschooling
What is it like to homeschool? What are the reasons? Has Covid-19 changed the homeschooling experience?
Lead Panelist
Michael Horn, Co-Founder, Clayton Christensen Institute and Homeschooling Parent
Parent Panelists
TBA