Ep. 2: Homeschooling After the Pandemic: What the Data Really Shows | Dr. Angela Watson

Homeschooling is no longer a fringe movement — it’s a growing, dynamic part of the American education landscape. In this episode of Raise Them Up, host Fred Zielonko welcomes Dr. Angela Watson, Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Professor of Education at Johns Hopkins University, to unpack what’s really happening behind the surge in homeschooling.

Dr. Watson shares insights from nearly a decade of research and introduces the Johns Hopkins Homeschool Hub, a groundbreaking resource that brings together homeschooling policies, regulations, and participation data from across the United States — all in one place.

Together, Fred and Dr. Watson explore:

• How the pandemic reshaped education and accelerated interest in homeschooling
• Why homeschooling looks radically different from state to state
• The growth of learning pods, micro-schools, and hybrid models
• Why younger students are driving much of today’s homeschool growth
• How homeschooling is expanding within Black, Latino, and diverse communities
• The challenges policymakers and researchers face due to inconsistent data and terminology
• What the future may hold as families move more fluidly between public, private, and home education

This episode offers encouragement for parents, clarity for those considering homeschooling, and valuable perspective for anyone concerned about the future of education. Whether you’re a longtime homeschooler, newly curious, or simply want to understand the trends shaping our schools, this conversation provides both insight and hope.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Johns Hopkins Homeschool Hub
  https://education.jhu.edu/homeschool-hub/
• Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy
  https://education.jhu.edu/edpolicy/
• Journal of School Choice
  https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wjsc20/current
  

Raise Them UP! is a production of The Family Vision, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents prepare the next generation to make an impact for Christ.