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A Parent Talks About Homeschooling

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - About two million US kids are home schooled, growing annually by 7% to 15% in the past decade. Quinn Cummings, parent of a homeschooler and author of a book, The Year of Living Dangerously; Adventures in Homeschooling, offers firsthand experience in The Wall Street Journal on this increasing trend.

While the term "homeschooler" once implied "an off the grid anarchist who makes her own yogurt," today many homeschooled kids are from military families who move a lot, future Olympians who practice hours daily, gifted or those with disabilities.

Regarding socialization, Cummings cites studies in which 67% of former home schoolers report being "very happy," as opposed to 43% of the general population. College admission officers found home schoolers have better ACT scores, higher averages, and are more likely to graduate in 4 years.

Cummings, who couldn't handle the math for her daughter, found an online course and she follows with other examples where bricks and mortar schooling is changing.

Learn more at Online.WSJ.com.

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