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Basic Skills Homeschool Testing Study

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Welcome to the Homeschool Testing Study. The principal investigator is Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). The purpose of this research is to better understand the academic successes of homeschooling and choices about home education. You will be asked to complete a survey about your family’s homeschooling and provide your children’s test scores. There are no known risks in participating in this research beyond those experienced in everyday life.

The benefits to you include giving you more insight about how you homeschool, and a report on the study if you request it. The benefits to society include helping others understand the benefits or challenges of homeschooling. About 15 minutes of your time will be required to participate in this research. No compensation is provided for participation in this survey.

Your participation in this research is voluntary. Your participation is confidential. The data collection methods will not allow the researcher or the public to personally identify you or your children. Your test provider will not be shown your responses to the survey. Your test provider will not be made known to anyone. The records of this study will be kept private and secure. In the event of any publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared. By submitting your student’s testing ID, you authorize your testing service (e.g., Basic Skills Assessment and Educational Services) to release your testing results to NHERI.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. of NHERI at 503-364-1490 or mail@nheri.org.
1.What is/was your student(s)’ U.S. state/territory of residence as of the date of testing?(Required.)
2.Do you live in an urban or rural area? The Census Bureau identifies two types of urban areas and one rural. In which do you live?
3.How many children (under 18 years old) live in your household?
4.How many adults (18 years and older) live in your household?
5.What was the student's father's highest academic attainment as of the date of testing?(Required.)
6.What was the student's mother's highest academic attainment as of the date of testing?(Required.)
7.Has the student's main academic-instructing parent/guardian ever been certified to teach in any state?(Required.)
8.Has the student's non-main instructing parent/guardian ever been certified to teach in any state?
9.Please rate how much you agree that the following are important reasons for why you homeschool.
Not at all important
A little important
Somewhat important
Quite important
Extremely important
A. Concern about the school environment such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure
B. Dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at schools
C. You prefer to teach at home so that you can provide religious instruction
D. You prefer to teach at home so that you can provide moral instruction
E. Because the child has special needs (e.g., physical or mental health) that the schools can’t or won’t address
F. You want to provide customized educational experiences
G. You want to emphasize family life together
H. Concern about your child(ren) being exposed to COVID-19
I. Concern about the school’s COVID-19 policies (e.g., masks, vaccines)
J. Inability to regularly attend school due to COVID exposures/policies.
10.Which statement best describes your general homeschooling style for your:
Select this if you do not have a homeschooled child in this age range
I strictly follow a formal curriculum
I mostly use formal curriculum, but sometimes use informal curriculum
I mostly use informal curriculum, but sometimes use formal curriculum
We always use informal (including unschooling) curriculum, and never follow a formal curriculum
Elementary school aged child(ren) (i.e., ages 5-10)
Middle school aged child(ren) (i.e., ages 10-14)
High school aged child(ren) (i.e., ages 14+)
11.Please indicate how much you emphasize the following subjects in the education of your child(ren):
Minimal
Some
Medium
Much
Maximal
Math
Reading
Science
Social Studies / History
Writing
12.Which category best fits the total income of all persons in your household over the past 12 months? Include your own income. Include money from jobs or other earnings, pensions, interest, rent, Social Security payments, and so on.
13.How many students have you registered to have tested with Basic Skills Assessment and Educational Services this spring or summer?(Required.)
14.In addition to participating to present more truth about homeschooling and gaining insights about yourself and your child, would you like to receive a digital copy of the final study?
15.Please enter an email address if you would like us to send you a digital copy of the completed study.