Date

10-2019

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Steve Vandegriff

Keywords

Home School, Cooperative Group Home School, Homeschool co-ops, Home school Education

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

In its current format, homeschooling has become the fastest growing method of education in the United States. Over 3% of American children are currently being homeschooled. Because of this rise, considerable research has been done both to support and to critique the concept and practice of homeschooling. Recently, a subgroup has emerged within the larger homeschooling community and is known as a cooperative group, or co-op. Some homeschool families still choose to be the sole educators of their children. Other parents have intentionally come together to cooperatively educate their children. This has not gone unnoticed, or without criticism. This study sought to answer this question: How can the following factors (Social interaction, Concern of other educational environments, Religiosity, Moral instruction, Physical/mental needs, Illness, Special needs, Option for a non-traditional education) influence whether a parent will use a co-op format of homeschool education. This study also evaluated how the social learning theory relates to homeschool education. A survey-based descriptive design was used for this study. The participants were comprised of a convenience sample of both co-op home schoolers as well as traditional homeschoolers residing in Fairfax County, VA. The instrumentation for this study will include question #17 of the National Home Education Research Survey. Overall, the factors together were found to be insignificant. All findings and conclusions regarding future research are stated at the conclusion of this study.

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