Minnesota homeschool growth this year tops COVID-19 pandemic numbers

The number of homeschool students enrolled in Minnesota reached a record high of 32,024 students this academic year – breaking the previous year’s record, American Experiment has reported.

“While homeschooled students still account for under 4 percent of Minnesota’s total K-12 population, the climbing numbers suggest sustained interest in alternatives to traditional schooling,” Catrin Wigfall wrote. “New and expanding homeschool classes, tutoring, co-operatives, and other resources may also be making home education more accessible to families who previously felt it was out of reach.”

The report also notes overall homeschool enrollment has jumped by 55% since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the state’s education department.

“The growth stands in contrast to broader enrollment trends. Public schools still educate roughly 90 percent of Minnesota students, but have seen slight declines in recent years. Nonpublic enrollment has also ticked down. (Declining birth rates and net domestic migration losses are cited as contributing factors.)”

Analysts are still researching reasons for the increased numbers of homeschooling students. One local resource site, Homeschool Sherpa, polled 170 state families to determine why they had chosen this educational option.

The poll found “family time” and “dissatisfaction with traditional schools” topped the list at 56% respectively, with “lifestyle flexibility” a close third at 49%.

‘Unlawful and discriminatory’ behavior against homeschool students

Although homeschooling is becoming more commonplace in the North Star State, recent headlines suggest students outside public education still experience challenges being recognized by mainstream organizations.

As previously reported by The Lion, four Minnesotans who were homeschooled were reinstated for high school baseball after being previously deemed ineligible.

“The four students are homeschooled, use a private online curriculum, and are a part of Athletic Performance Homeschool Cooperative (APHC), a network of homeschool families with student athletes,” Alpha News reported.

The students had been asked to give their transcripts, which the article noted was a “highly unusual” procedure for student athletes.

“One can only assume that the League is determining eligibility based on curriculum, which is unlawful and discriminatory,” said Michael Caldeen, director of operations at APHC.

Justin Gominsky, owner of the Minnesota Icemen Baseball club, went further by calling the incident “clear discrimination against homeschool families.”

“Minnesota law and Minnesota House Research confirm that curriculum choice does not change a homeschooler’s legal classification,” said Gominsky, a baseball trainer who also works with the homeschool athletes involved.