K-12 Conundrum

A PSU RCL Issue Guide

Introduction

Scout Bucks

Education is perhaps the single most important goal a person can pursue in life.

Knowledge expands the mind, broadens one’s horizons, and connects people across the world.

Even the simplest secondary education can change someone’s future. Without the ability to read,

calculate, or write, finding a job becomes

much harder. According to the Bureau of

Labor Statistics, nearly 75 percent of US

jobs require a high school diploma (Torpey

and Watson). Beyond academic skills,

social competence, critical thinking, and

self-management are absolutely essential

qualities that are often developed in an

education environment. Some even argue

that these soft skills are the real keys to success and should be the primary focus of early

education (Doyle). Much scientific work has been done to explore these questions, and the

literature on the importance of education is vast.

Yet, one need not turn to studies and statistics to know that education is important.

Cultures around the world and throughout the ages have known and recognized this simple truth.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the

~1~
living differ from the dead.” On another continent, Confusicous wrote, “Education breeds

confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace” (Juma). Finally, the Bible, the most

purchased book in the world, tells adherents, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get

understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (ESV, Prov. 16.16). Our modern understanding

and our ancestral heritage point to the same conclusion: education is important.

This attention to education has been with the United States of America since before its

founding. Early Massachusetts Puritans are credited with beginning the first tax-funded public

schools in the new world as early as 1635 (Chen). Such schools were designed to teach young

children basic literacy, in keeping with the Protestant view that all people ought to read the Bible

for themselves. Later, in 1647, the Massachusttes government enshrined this sentiment in the

Old Deluder Satan Act. This law required towns with more than 50 families to devote public

funds to the education of their children (Carleton). This format of public education spread

throughout the northeast and bears much resemblance to the country’s modern public education

system.

Despite this resemblance, it has been a long road to the current system. After the

revolution, public education was largely

neglected on a national level, leaving

the states to make a wide variety of

education mandates. Reform only

came in the 1840’s with the work of

Horace Mann and Henry Barnard,

culminating in the establishment of the

Department of Education in 1867 (Chen). Lincoln was also a champion of education reform,

~2~
seeing education “as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in”

(Juma). Through the rest of the 19th century and early twentieth century, quality of education

increased, but any progress was marred by segregation. Despite civil rights legislation to rectify

this, the US still struggles with racial inequality in the public school system.

Throughout the history of US education, one idea has been a constant. That idea is that

education of the nation’s children is imperative. Amalgamating this with America’s values of

choice and liberty yields the unsurprising result that there is more than one way to get an

education in this country. Beyond standard public education, there exists private schools, which

vary greatly in their focus and scope. Additionally, parents have the option to homeschool their

children if all else is unsatisfactory. However, as America has often found, with freedom comes

responsibility. In this case, it is the responsibility of parents and children to choose the most

viable and suitable option to foster growth and learning. This often causes great stress and

debate as to the “best” type of K-12 education. Despite the numerous articles and blogs claiming

to know the answer, it is probable that there is no one right answer. More likely than not, the

best type of education varies for each student. Thus, it becomes necessary to carefully consider

each of the three main options -- public, private, or homeschool -- and explore the pros and cons

of each. Important questions to consider will undoubtedly include:

● What is the quality and type of education received from each school?

● What extra services does the school offer?

○ Ex: Counseling, Disability, College Preparedness

● What extracurricular activities are supported by the school?

○ Ex: Clubs, Sports

● What values are being taught at the school?

~3~
 ○ Ex: religious vs secular

● What does the school cost?

Careful contemplation of these questions will help parents and students to choose

between three main modes of education. The first is standard public education which currently

serves about 80 percent of K-12 students in the US. These schools are most directly regulated by

their home state and are funded by state school taxes. The federal government also provides

some assistance and sets holistic education guidelines (“Public and Private School

Comparison”). Second are private

schools. Many private schools are

religiously affiliated or operate with

specific goals, like an emphasis on

STEM education. These schools often

restrict access or charge tuition, and they

serve 16 percent of the K-12 population

(Kennedy). Finally, homeschooling

accounts for the final four percent of the US education network. Homeschools take the forms of

parent instruction, private tutoring, and group homeschooling. Homeschooling laws vary by

state, with northeastern governments like Pennsylvania’s enforcing the strictest oversights

(“Homeschool Laws by State”). Each of these options brings its own benefits and challenges,

and it is the duty of every parent and child to weigh these against their own needs to find the best

match. The future of the student and the nation depend on it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made this choice more important than ever. Many public

schools, due to their large size, were forced to shut down and resort to virtual learning. Parents

~4~
who could not stay home or find daycare were left wondering what to do with their young

children. Many began to look towards smaller private schools which stayed open for the answer.

Private schools were also able to provide more teacher-student interaction, which may have

attracted students who find isolation oppressive (Bouchrika). Other parents who had the luxury

of the ability to stay home

with their child felt they

were basically

homeschooling their

children already.

Complaints of low quality

online education were a

major factor that drove up sales of homeschooling materials for one firm. Sales were also higher

in states that reopened quickly, suggesting fear of premature reopening to be another factor

pushing parents towards alternative schooling. These reasons are so strong that the president of

the National Home Educators Research Institute predicted that the Coronavirus pandemic will

push the number of homeschooled children to ten percent (Mission). Regardless of the eventual

result, it is clear that now is the time to consider the relative strength and weaknesses of different

schooling techniques available in the US.

Approach 1: Public School Education

Leeann Runkle and Jack Pence

Public School has historically been the primary option for parents when it comes to

selecting the right medium for their education (Digest of Education Statistics). Public school is

~5~
the easiest option for most parents because they do not have to set aside extra money to send

their children to private school or dedicate the time needed for homeschooling. However, just

because it is easiest for parents does not mean it is the best for the student’s future.

Lack of Individual Attention

One of the detriments of public education is the lack of individual attention they provide

to the students. Public schools are funded by each state which means that their budget only

allows for a certain number of teachers to be hired. In 2015, there were approximately 16

students per teacher in public schools, and in densely populated areas, some classes doubled the

16 student per teacher mark. In the same year, private schools had approximately 12 students per

teacher and could afford to keep that ratio with the student tuition (School Choice in the United

States: 2019). With more students per teacher in public schools, students are faced with larger

class sizes.

One of the more extreme examples of this is at Denfeld High School in Duluth,

Minnesota, where 49 kids were put into a classroom requiring some to sit on the floor

(Hollingsworth). The national student-teacher ratio for public schools may be 16, but this

statistics include special education and other support teachers. The national average student class

size is approximately 22 students (“Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS)”). It simply is not

feasible for teachers to go to each student individually and adhere to their needs.

Furthermore, these large class sizes lead students to be disengaged and misbehave more

in public schools because they lack the attention they need. These drawbacks lead to a decrease

in standardized test scores and overall learning. On the other hand, large class sizes encourage

students to learn independence, but many students lack the discipline and maturity to be

independent in their studies (Sosnowski).

~6~
 Furthermore, lack of attention in public schools can lead to learning disabilities going

unnoticed for many years into a student’s education. This is because an unknown learning

disability can get lost in the crowd. The student may be moving along with their peers, but they

may still fall behind due to their learning disability. Similar to the differences in pace among

students with learning disabilities, students who learn quicker are also put at a disadvantage. A

quick learner may be getting good grades, but the work may not challenge them which does not

give the students the crucial problem solving and study strategies they need for further education.

Diversity

Public schools provide students with a diverse atmosphere.

Diversity among students matters because it allows them to:

- Develop a sense of empathy by recognizing what others have gone through.

- Understand the value of perspective in life and encourage them to share their own

perspectives.

- Embrace change and maintain an open mind in life despite what others have gone

through.

All of these reasons prepare students for their future in the workforce, and lead them to live a

meaningful life. Public schools are becoming increasingly diverse and for all of the reasons

above, students are directly benefiting. In the graph below, the trend in diversity can be clearly

seen:

~7~
Percentage distribution of students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by

race/ethnicity: Fall 2000, fall 2017, and fall 2029

Soure: The Condition of Education

These effects do not only apply to diversity in race and ethnicity but culture, religion,

socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity as well (“Importance of Diversity”).

With the number of students in each public school being around 526, and the percentage of

minority populations increasing across the nation, a diverse atmosphere will be present in nearly

all public schools (School Choice in the United States: 2019). Not only is there an increase in

diversity among students, but instructors are becoming more diverse as well. The students’

education may be less personalized, but they will be taught by a greater variety of instructors.

This enhances the students’ education by allowing them to be taught by instructors who have

similar backgrounds as well as instructors with very different backgrounds which gives the

students perspective. Ultimately, diversity in public schools give children a glimpse of the

different backgrounds that people can have and sets them up for success.

~8~
 Due to the high number of students in public schools, crucial social skills are developed.

Interaction between students allows them to learn effective communication skills. These skills

will help students when networking themselves later in life, and it will also teach them how to

collaborate efficiently with their peers. Along with the effects of a diverse learning environment,

these social skills enrich public school education (“Social Skills…”).

Opportunity

More children go to public schools than private and homeschool. Out of the 56.4 million

students who attended school in fall 2020, over 50.7 million of them went to public school(“The

NCES Fast..”). Due to the large number of students attending, public schools are able to offer

more opportunities to students. Public schools typically offer more extracurricular activities for

students. There are more sports teams for students to join due to the increased ability to fill teams

due to larger size than private schools. Public schools also provide more opportunities for

students to learn music, theater, art, and other creative outlets for little to no cost.There are also

more clubs and organizations for students to participate in at public schools. Public schools are

able to offer students these opportunities because they have the money from the government to

pay for these programs and the students to fill them. Despite the large class sizes, public schools

still offer a well-rounded education with opportunities for students to advance. State

governments require certain standards for public school both educationally and otherwise. Along

with this, public high schools typically offer a wide range of advanced placement classes, early

college enrollment, or other ways to push students to reach their full potential academically.

Students at public schools have more course options to choose from due to the higher amount of

public school teachers when compared to private schools. Students have an opportunity to branch

~9~
out and try different subjects. These all combine to give students at public schools a well rounded

education and experience.

Affordability

One of the biggest proponents of public school education is the affordability of it. The

federal government provides a small amount of money to each state to choose how to distribute

it. This amount is in the millions but is less than 3% of the federal budget (“Who Pays for…”).

The state then decides which schools and programs get more money and how much is to be

covered by the local government. Most school’s funding is a mixture of state funding, property

taxes, fundraising efforts, and donations. The breakdown of the states and the percentage of the

school revenues provided by the state funding and property taxes are found in the two maps

below.

Maps from The Condition of Education

The problem with relying too heavily on property taxes to fund schools is inadequate

education in poor communities. The schools in these areas are not getting as much revenue from

~ 10 ~
property taxes as prosperous communities and are therefore providing lesser education to these

children. Because of this inadequacy, states are providing vouchers to students in these

communities. These vouchers are essentially a scholarship to attend the school of their choosing,

either public or private. This method is highly scrutinized as it takes more revenue away from

schools that really need it.

Pros Cons

Affordability Lack of Individual Attention

Diversity Higher Dropout rates

Well-rounded education More school violence

More Opportunities for students Lack of school revenue in poor communities

Social Interaction Standardized testing

Approach 2: Homeschooling

Heidi Mencl and Jocelyn Millorino

The concept of homeschooling has been around for many years, although it didn’t gain

much popularity until recently. It has since become one of the fastest growing schooling forms in

the U.S, with even more of an interest due to

the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What used

to be only parents teaching their children has

evolved into a complex technological system

practically the same as what has become

“zoom university”. Rather than having

parents as teachers, students have the

~ 11 ~
opportunity to have real, qualified teachers behind the screen, who are able to monitor their

coursework and offer any advice if needed through programs such as Connections Academy,

Calvert Education, or even online private schools like Laurel Springs School (Cavanagh). Even

then, it still isn’t the preferred choice for many families nor do families always have the funding

and resources needed to educate from home.

Ability to Tailor Coursework Around Special Circumstances

Homeschooling allows students to learn from the comfort of their own home, or

anywhere, that isn’t a classic school setting. This is especially beneficial in areas where public

schools may not be the best option academically or if private schools are too much of a financial

burden for the family. Students are able to tailor their coursework to meet their specific needs,

whether they be academic or extracurricular. If a student is struggling in mathematics, but is

excelling in English, he or she can spend an extra hour or two trying to master the math concepts

and significantly less time on English for the day. Similarly, the student is allowed to take more

rigorous classes if he or she desires. Studies have shown that students learn better in smaller

environments for a number of reasons, such as more individualized help and feeling more

comfortable to ask

questions. Moreover,

homeschooling also

allows students to focus

on other interests

outside of school, such

as sports or traveling.

For example,

~ 12 ~
homeschooling has been beneficial to many of the top athletes, including Shaun White and

Serena Williams (“Famous Athletes Who Chose Homeschooling”). These athletes were able to

prioritize their training time, altering their school schedules to fit around their practices rather

than trying to find practice time after an 8-hour school day.

This type of learning can also accommodate the unique circumstances that some families

face, such as frequent traveling or those in the military. The children don’t have to go through the

same stressful first day of school over and over like they would have to if they attended regular

private or public schools. This allows for the education to remain consistent, even when the

location might not. In combination with that, students are able to learn in a quieter setting,

allowing them to focus more.

According to the National Home

Education Research Institute,

homeschooled students performed

above average on standardized tests and

15 to 30 percentile points higher on

standardized academic achievement

tests that are taken at public schools.

More than three-quarters of

peer-reviewed studies concluded that homeschooled students outperformed those at public and

private schools (Ray). But, since teachers aren’t always there to monitor a student’s work, the

student can focus simply on passing the tests instead of actually grasping the concepts. Cheating

is significantly easier when one isn’t being watched by a teacher as he or she takes a quiz or test.

Social Skills and Opportunities

~ 13 ~
 Studying at home allows the student to learn other skills that might not be taught at

conventional schools. These include cooking, laundry, and even filing taxes, a skill which can be

learned from the parents, allowing them to be better prepared for adulthood. The National Home

Education Research Institute identified that 69% of all peer-reviewed studies done on

homeschooled students’ success in adulthood indicated that those who learned at home were

better prepared and successful in the “real world” (Ray). Homeschooled students participate in

more service projects, vote, and perform better in college than many of the public or

private-educated students (Ray).

Despite these advantages, with students being educated at home, there is a possibility of a

lack of exposure and communication with peers of the same age. There are no clubs, school

sports, or dances that these students could

attend. Having an outlet where students

can interact with others outside of school

is imperative to developing and

maintaining social skills. However, there

are still opportunities to have

homeschooled children engage with other

students if they are able to. For example,

students can participate in local camps that run independently of public schools. Even scheduling

a “play date” can help students interact with others. On the flip side, there can even be a lack of

competition in schoolwork and the desire to succeed due to the student not having other children

around. Even mundane tasks such as interacting in pairs of two on an assignment can have a

major impact on social skills such as communication, compromising, and teamwork. At the same

~ 14 ~
time, homeschooled students are less exposed to drugs, alcohol, sexual harassment, bullying, and

peer pressure, all of which can have detrimental effects on one’s academic performance and

physical and mental states. Obviously, there are clear strengths and weaknesses that come with

homeschooling, and it ultimately comes down to the student-parent situation to determine which

approach is best fitting.

Pros Cons

Private Requires a lot of time and resources from

parents

One-on-one environment Requires parents to be qualified in order to be

effective

Incredibly personalized Restricted access to extracurriculars and

networking opportunities

Students can specialize early Limited social interactions

Approach 3 : Private Schooling

Emily Shank and Esha Sharma

Contrasting to public education and homeschooling, private schools are another option

that families can consider when deciding where to send their children. Private schools are

independent entities that are not funded by the government and that require students to pay

tuition in order to fund their operation (“Private Schools”). The rigorous education and close-knit

classroom setting of both private schools provide fair help and attention for every individual.

Despite this, the expenses needed to attend private schools and the lack of diversity present in

their population can turn families away from pursuing this path of education.

Rigorous Course Offerings

~ 15 ~
 Private education offers various advantages for students preparing for college. Starting a

high school career in an intimate classroom setting allows students to initiate a drive to achieve a

successful career. Learners part of the

private school education are challenged by

a high standard resulting in a larger grade

point average allowing enrollment in

world-class colleges to be possible as seen

in the figure on the left. A study

conducted, The High School Longitude

Study 2009, indicated that 95.8% of

students who started private education as freshmen in 2009 attended post-secondary education in

2016. This percentage scored greater than the 70.9 % of students who attended public schools

and chose to pursue post-secondary education. Because of the rigorous coursework and intimate

educational settings, students receive better quality enrichment and are prepared to handle a

successful career.

Personalized Classroom Setting

In addition to the quality education and higher

standards granted by private education, students and teachers

develop close relationships within the classroom. Because

there are drastically smaller class sizes within a private school,

students are able to receive intellectual growth through

mentorship by scholarly professors and instructors. The NCES

Schools and Staffing Survey found that ‘Private high schools

~ 16 ~
on average are less than half the size of public schools. In central cities, for example, the average

size of a private high school is 398, compared to 1,083 for a public school.” With this benefit in

private schooling, students have more opportunity to address academic problems and get them

resolved quickly granting them more time to progress with the course work. Additionally,

teachers soon get to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their students allowing them to

personalize student’s education when it applies (Kennedy). With these benefits, private students

are granted quality education and opportunities to receive the necessary aid to perform well in

their subjects.

Unique Opportunities in Extracurriculars and Arts

Private schools also grant exposure to unique opportunities in arts and extracurricular.

Considering private schools have the ability to formulate their own curriculum, administrators

can add various unique elements and courses for their students (Kennedy). Students are able to

obtain more experience in finding their talents and to have the freedom to expand their interests

as they desire. By putting a major emphasis on personal values and incorporating various

components into a student’s curriculum, students are able to develop the initiative to take part in

unique opportunities and experiences granting them the chance to find possible career

opportunities and be counseled to choose the right beneficial option.

Expensiveness

Although there are many benefits to sending a child to a private school, there are also

some downfalls that come with this rigorous education. The most clear cons of this path are the

expenses. According to Education Data, the average cost of private education nationally

(including both elementary and high school) is $12,350 per year. This would mean a child’s

entire schooling from grades K-12 would cost over $160,000 total. Although this is only an

~ 17 ~
average, it is difficult to find a

relatively cheap private school

in a convenient location that

wouldn’t require extra fees,

like for transportation.

Additionally, costly textbooks

and class readings, necessary

technology such as laptops,

uniforms, clubs and athletics, and much more can add up for a family along with the tuition to

just attend the school. The average cost of private school, including both tuition and extra fees,

comes out to be $16,050 per year, which is upwards of $208,000 every year for sending a child

to private school from grades K-12 (“Average Cost of Private School”). The yearly fees are only

the beginning of a much larger expense that private education requires. Such a large price tag is

not feasible for all, and may cause the benefits of private school to be obsolete for some families

due to this cost.

Lack of Diversity and Sheltered

The expensiveness can lead to a larger

domino effect, as it can prevent entire

demographics from being able to obtain a

private education. It is a rare find to see a

student from a relatively lower

socioeconomic background attending a

private school. There has also been a steady

~ 18 ~
decline in children from middle-class families receiving a private education (Murnane).

According to a working paper published by The Civil Rights Project, children from

lower-income families only made up 9% of private schools in 2015 (Ee). So, this can lead to the

conclusion that the primary demographic for private schools is that of wealthy children.

Similarly, private schools have an overrepresentation of white students in their population. As of

2015, white children made up 68.6% of the private school population, while students of color

(specifically Black, Hispanic, and Asian children) made up only 26.6% of private schools (Ee).

Looking at how economically and demographically segregated private education is, it is clear

this form of schooling lacks diversity. Students who attend private schools aren’t exposed to the

various types of people that are present in the real world. This can not only negatively impact

white students, as they are secluded and put into a bubble that isn’t reality, but can also cause

students of color who attend private schools to feel isolated and detached from their racial or

ethnic background. A lack of diversity can lead

to more deep-rooted problems in the private

school system that cause the few students who

are not white to be stereotyped and singled-out

amongst their peers. The documentary,

American Promise, highlights two Black

student’s journeys, Idris Brewster and Seun Summer, while attending a primarily white private

school in New York from grades K-12 (Ohikuare). Their struggles are very apparent as their

“Blackness” was deemed unusual by fellow students and administration, causing them to feel

ostracized (Ohikuare). Ultimately, the seclusion from the real world and lack of diversity that

private schools have can make this form of education a less desirable option for families. This

~ 19 ~
issue, along with the overwhelming pressure to perform well academically, can cause students to

feel overwhelmed and make them less likely to attend a private institution.

Pros Cons

Personalized/Small Classes Expensive

Rigorous education Lacks diversity

Diverse and Numerous extracurriculars and Bubble/Sheltered

similar opportunities

Helpful during the college application process High pressure to perform well

Conclusion

Sarah Pendleton

Deciding how to educate young people is a conundrum that has plagued parents and

communities for centuries. Society’s general opinion on the optimal form of education is

constantly shifting. Parents are trying to make the most of their means in order to give their

children the best opportunities to create a good future for themselves. Some parents have the

resources to have a genuine decision in front of them, having the money to be able to afford

private school or the time and education to home school. Other parents realistically only have

one option available to them. The children are often at the mercy of the decisions of their

parents, but the education they receive in their formative years will help shape their personalities,

their future plans, and their place in the communities they inherit.

Public school finds its strength as a jack of all trades. The entire saying goes, “A jack of

all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Whether public

education is the best option or not is up to the individual, but public school certainly has a lot of

versatility providing an often diverse student body numerous and extracurricular activities all

~ 20 ~
without paying thousands of dollars for tuition. What private schools lack in diversity of their

curriculum and student activities they make up for in quality and funding. Public schools are at

the whims of the incomes of the surrounding neighborhoods when it comes to funding. While

homeschooling can provide the most specialized education, it can also restrict socialization and

peer interactions. Homeschooling also requires a lot of time, resources, and qualifications that

some parents cannot provide.

As you continue to weigh the merits of each type of education, here are a few questions

for your consideration:

● What type of schooling did you receive: public, private, or home school? Did you get to

influence the decision?

● What shortcomings do you think your education had? What do you think went well?

● How do you think that your educational experience has shaped who you are today?

● Do you have friends with different educational backgrounds? Do you feel like you are at

a significant disadvantage or advantage in comparison to them because of those

educational differences?

● What aspects of your education do you think prepared you the most for applying to

college? Attending college?

● Did your type of education help or hurt you while transitioning to college? Or even when

you moved from elementary school to middle school to high school?

● Have you worked a job? What aspects of your education prepared you for finding and

keeping a job?

● If you could go back and change what type of education you received, would you? Why?

~ 21 ~
 Works Cited

"Average Cost of Private School." EducationData.org,

educationdata.org/average-cost-of-private-school.

Bouchrika, Imed. “101 American School Statistics: 2020 Data, Trends & Predictions.” Guide 2

Research, Guide 2 Research, 25 June 2020,

www.guide2research.com/research/american-school-statistics.

Carleton, David. “Old Deluder Satan Act of 1647.” The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle

Tennessee State University, 2009,

www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1032/old-deluder-satan-act-of-1647#:~:text=Old

%20Deluder%20Satan%20Act%20of%201647%20(1647)&text=Commons%2C%20publ

ic%20domain.

Cavanagh, Sean. “Data Snapshot: Who Are the Nation's Homeschoolers?” Market Brief, 4 Jan.

2018, marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/data-snapshot-nations-homeschoolers/.

Chen, Grace. “A Relevant History of Public Education in the United States.” Public School

Review, Public School Review, 17 Feb. 2021,

www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/a-relevant-history-of-public-education-in-the-united-s

tates.

Cremin, Lawrence A. “Horace Mann.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica,

2021, www.britannica.com/biography/Horace-Mann.

Doyle, Alison. “What Are Soft Skills?” The Balance Careers, Dotdash, 26 Sept. 2020,

www.thebalancecareers.com/what-are-soft-skills-2060852.

Ee, Jongyeon, et al. "Private Schools in American Education a Small Sector Still Lagging in

Diversity." The Civil Rights Project,

~ 22 ~
 www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/integration-and-diversity/privat

e-schools-in-american-education-a-small-sector-still-lagging-in-diversity/Ee-Orfield-Teit

ell-Private-School-Report_03012018.pdf.

English Standard Version. Bible Gateway,

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A16&version=ESV.

“Famous Athletes Who Chose Homeschooling.” Sport World School, 12 Mar. 2020,

sportworldschool.com/famous-athletes-who-chose-homeschooling/.

“Henry Barnard.” Connecticut History, CT Humanities,

connecticuthistory.org/people/henry-barnard/.

“Homeschool Laws By State.” HSLDA, Homeschool Legal Defense Association, 2021,

hslda.org/legal.

Hollingsworth, Jana L. “49 Kids in a High School Class? Duluth Class Sizes Reach Largest in

Teachers' Memories.” Duluth News Tribune, Duluth News Tribune, 7 Oct. 2012,

www.duluthnewstribune.com/2439901-49-kids-high-school-class-duluth-class-sizes-reac

h-largest-teachers-memories.

Juma, Norbert. “180 Quotes About Education and the Power of Learning.” Everyday Power,

Everyday Power, 2 Feb. 2021, everydaypower.com/quotes-about-education/.

Kennedy, Robert. “How Private Schools Evolved in the United States.” Boarding School Review,

28 Feb. 2018,

www.boardingschoolreview.com/blog/how-private-schools-evolved-in-the-united-states.

Mission, Kan. “Interest in Homeschooling Has 'Exploded' Amid Pandemic.” MPR News,

~ 23 ~
 Minnesota Public Radio, 12 Aug. 2020,

www.mprnews.org/story/2020/08/12/interest-in-homeschooling-has-exploded-amid-pand

emic.

Murnane, Richard J., et al. "Who Goes to Private School?" Education Next, President & Fellows

of Harvard College, 17 July 2018,

www.educationnext.org/who-goes-private-school-long-term-enrollment-trends-family-inc

ome/.

Ohikuare, Judith. "When Minority Students Attend Elite Private Schools." The Atlantic, 17 Dec.

2013,

www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/12/when-minority-students-attend-elite-pri

vate-schools/282416/.

"Private Schools." Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20school.

“Public and Private School Comparison.” National Center for Education Statistics, U.S.

Department of Education, 2019, nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=55.

Ray, Brian. “Homeschooling: The Research, Scholarly Articles, Studies, Facts, Research.”

National Home Education Research Institute, 16 Jan. 2021,

www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/#:~:text=General%20Facts%2C%20Sta

tistics%2C%20and%20Trends&text=The%20homeschool%20population%20had%20bee

n,%2D2020%20to%202020%2D2021.&text=Today's%20roughly%204.5%20million%2

0homeschool,over%20%2465%20billion%20for%20taxpayers.

“Reasons Parents Homeschool.” Coalition for Responsible Home Education, 21 Oct. 2020,

responsiblehomeschooling.org/research/summaries/reasons-parents-homeschool/.

~ 24 ~
“Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS).” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home

Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education,

nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/tables/sass1112_2013314_t1s_007.asp.

“Social Skills: Promoting Positive Behavior, Academic Success, and School Safety.” NASP

Center, National Association of School Psychologists,

www.naspcenter.org/factsheets/socialskills_fs.html.

“Some Fascinating Facts About Homeschool vs Public School.” Homeschool World,

www.home-school.com/news/homeschool-vs-public-school.php.

Sosnowski, Jana. “Statistics on How Poverty Affects Children in Schools.” Education, 29 Sept.

2016, education.seattlepi.com/statistics-poverty-affects-children-schools-3636.html.

The Condition of Education - Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education - Elementary

and Secondary Enrollment - Racial/Ethnic Enrollment in Public Schools - Indicator May

(2020), nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cge.asp#info.

The Children’s School. “Advantages of a Private School Education.” The Children's School, 8

Oct. 2020, www.tcsatl.org/blog/advantages-to-a-private-school-education/.

“The Importance of Diversity in the Classroom.” School of Education, drexel.edu/

soe/resources/student-teaching/advice/importance-of-cultural-diversity-in-classroom/.

“The NCES Fast Facts Tool Provides Quick Answers to Many Education Questions (National

Center for Education Statistics).” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home

Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education,

nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372. sp.

Torpey, Elka, and Audrey Watson. “Education Level and Jobs: Opportunities by State.” U.S.

~ 25 ~
 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sept. 2014,

www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/article/education-level-and-jobs.htm#:~:text=About%2

084%20percent%20of%20jobs,school%20diploma%2C%20and%20bachelor%27s%20de

gree.

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Digest of

Education Statistics, 2018 (NCES 2020-009), Chapter 1.

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d18/ch_1.asp

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). School Choice

in the United States: 2019 (NCES 2019-106). https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/

pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2019106

“Who Pays for Education?” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association,

www.ushistory.org/gov/12c.a

~ 26 ~