The Article
Professor David Plank and doctoral student Tara Donahue examine home schooling in Michigan and the state’s role in monitoring home school families.

Discussion
The authors point out that if you live in Michigan, chances are you know somebody who home-schools his or her children. “And, if you do, chances are you know more about the education those children are getting than the state of Michigan does.” The reason is that Michigan does not monitor home school families at all. In fact, the authors note that Michigan does not have an accurate account of how many students are home schooled. About 2,000 home school students report to the Michigan Department of Education. However, the researchers estimate that there may be as many as 100,000 home school students who do not report to the state. Parents who home school their children in Michigan can, under exemption (3)(f) of the compulsory attendance law, have no relationship with the Michigan Department of Education. In fact, parents operating a home school under exemption (3)(f) are under no obligation to report to any public agency. Because Michigan does not monitor closely home school students, the researchers conclude by proposing some changes. “Fewer than 2,000 home school students report to the Michigan Department of Education, but the total number of home school students in Michigan is many times that number. There is no reason to doubt that most of those students are receiving a sound education at home. Still, the state has a constitutional obligation to insure that all students are being educated. At the very least, the state should amend the current 3(f) exemption to required that home school parents register with the Michigan Department of Education or their local ISD. … The system would not infringe on the rights of parents to educate their children, but it would signal that the state takes seriously its obligation, and that of parents, to leave no child behind.”

What It Means To You
How prevalent is home schooling in your district? Does seem fair to require parents of children who are home schooled to register with the state? To what extent should home-schooled parents be accountable for their children’s education?

For More Information
Donahue, T. & Plank, D.N. (2003). “Michigan’s role in monitoring home schools.” Policy Brief Number 15. You can read the full report at the Education Policy Center’s Web site at www.epc.msu.edu

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