In the last five years, the number of Kentucky students being educated at home or in private schools has grown by more than 26%, to nearly 100,000 children, representing more than 15% of the state's student body.
In a report tracking these trends for EdChoice Kentucky (where I serve on the board of directors), I analyzed data available from the Kentucky Department of Education. These data show that homeschooling participation in Kentucky has doubled since 2017, to almost 20,000 students. Private school enrollment has grown by 10 percent during the same time.
Last year alone Kentucky saw an 8% surge in nonpublic education participation. Homeschooling grew by 11% in 2021-2022.
Last year's data also show record numbers of students with disabilities and English language learners being educated at home or in private schools. Contrary to the claims of some in the education establishment who assert that our most vulnerable students can only be successfully served in public schools, 25,000 Kentucky children with disabilities are being educated elsewhere. The number of students from immigrant families being served in nonpublic settings quadrupled last year alone. See Table 1 below from the report Ending the Status Quo: Kentucky's Parents Increasily Choose Nonpublic Education Options.
The data reports from the Kentucky Department of Education upon which this analysis are based can be found below:
Download 2018 Declartaion of Participation PNP Homeschool Totals
Download Declaration of Participation Report Summary for FY 2022
Download Copy of FY23 Declaration of Participation Report Summary with change from FY22
These data trends demonstrate a clear demand on the part of Kentucky familes for new education options, and policymakers should respond by making sure every student has access to those options, no matter where they live or their family's income. As I wrote in Ending the Status Quo,
At least since 2018 and in rapidly increasing numbers, Kentucky parents have challenged the status quo that dictates children have no education options other than what the local public school district provides. Massive surges in homeschooling and private education demonstrate there is a clear demand for school choice, and Kentucky’s leaders should respond accordingly.
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