Are Homeschooled Kids at a Disadvantage?

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While homeschooling is not the right choice for every family, those families that choose it are not condemning their children to a second-rate education, nor are these children failing to acquire the skills that will enable them to become productive members of society. Research shows that these children become active in the civic and political lives of their communities at higher levels than traditionally-educated peers.  They also develop excellent leadership skills. In an evaluation of the college performance of three matched sets of students (one set of homeschooled students, one set of privately schooled students, and one set of publicly schooled students), the homeschooled students scored first in 42 of 63 performance indicators, including positions of leadership. The study author concluded that the homeschooled students “were readily recognized for their leadership abilities.” A researcher at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto praised homeschooled adults for being “well-versed in basic business principles,” and as having the “discipline to either run their own business or become quite focused employees.”