By Grace Huffstetler, OMAHA, NE- According to data from the Nebraska Department of Education, homeschooling has increased 31% in the last five years. It is perceived as a sheltering way of education, but children who partake develop just as much social abilities and life skills as a public-school student.
Homeschooling has steadily risen over the past few years. According to a report on John Hopkins School of Education, 4.02% of K-12 students in Nebraska were homeschooled in the 2022-2023 school year, and 4.26% in the 2023-2024 school year.
In a homeschooled setting, the pace can be set to accompany the child’s specific needs. There are lessons taught in a home classroom, and the children are given assignments to build their independent learning. Emilee Brandl, a homeschool mom with four kids ranging three to ten years old, says her kids have a full schedule that is not exclusive to learning at home. Her goal is to not just teach them traditional subjects, but to build them as growing people.
“I’m not just teaching you this subject, but I want to teach your heart, and your character and your mind,” Brandl says.
Homeschooling isn’t just at home. There are co-ops, where homeschool families come together in classroom setting and have their kids interact and learn together. “Our Lady of Trust” Homeschool Cooperative is one of these co-ops, that’s a part of the Catholic church St. Stanislav, near South 41nd and L Street.
Families come to the school building to meet once a week. There are 17 families and 74 students in the group, with the parents acting as “tutors” for their children. Many academic subjects are taught, such as art, sciences, history, languages, and math for the higher leveled students.
Nicole Treves is the Liasson for Our Lady of Trust Homeschool Cooperative. She manages the agreement with the building space, and coordinates classes for the nursey up to 6th grade. She feels that students can really focus on learning and mastering subjects here than they would in a public school.
“If our students were struggling or behind in an area and we wanted to slow down so that our student could master that, there’s no room for that in the standard brick and mortar school.” Treves says.
One of the biggest reasons parents homeschool is focus on their childrens’ upbringing as a whole, rather than just their education.
“We feel like at their young age, we want to make sure they do have a firm foundation of their faith and their morals.” Brandl says.
If you’re a parent considering homeschooling, there’s many resources available at the Nebraska Department of Education to help inform the decision that’s right for you and your children.
Watch the full report by Grace Huffstetler here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-UqfHnqwRw
