Is Online School Really Homeschooling? A Conversation We Need to Have

Where does online school fit into the homeschooling conversation? In this week's episode, I sat down with Mindy to explore that question while unpacking the similarities and differences between public online education and traditional homeschooling. We discuss educational gaps, socialization, student safety, and why the rapid growth of homeschooling is forcing us to rethink how we define home-based education.

We also dive into the broader cultural and political influence of the homeschooling movement, the role of regulation, and why nuanced conversations are essential if we want to improve educational outcomes without losing the flexibility that makes alternative education valuable. Whether you were homeschooled, attended online school, or are simply interested in education policy, this episode offers plenty to think about.

*Resources we mentioned* • Lifetime Prevalence of Investigating Child Maltreatment Among US Children: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303545?journalCode=ajph • How a true believer’s flawed research helped legitimize home schooling: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/11/brian-ray-homeschool-student-outcomes/ • The Christian home-schooler who made ‘parental rights’ a GOP rallying cry: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/31/the-christian-home-schooler-who-made-parental-righ/ • Ten Homeschooling Parent Myths Debunked: https://rlstollar.com/2025/06/06/ten-homeschooling-parent-myths-debunked/ • Online schools 'worse than traditional teachers': https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34671952 • Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://crhe.org • Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t

*Connect with Me* • Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub • Email me at [email protected] • Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com

*Chapters* 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:14 Mindy’s Early Schooling 01:47 Middle School Pressures 05:23 Bullying and High School Fears 07:57 Homeschool vs Online School 10:28 Online School Day to Day 11:21 Tutoring Center Realities 13:11 Did Online School Work 15:55 Why Study Homeschooling Now 22:15 Guardrails and Learning Gaps 26:22 Homeschooling Political Pipeline 30:45 Shiny Happy People Connections 32:54 Homeschool Political Grooming 33:24 Lobby Days And Fake Scores 35:14 HSlda And Child Safety Gaps 39:20 Online School Under Homeschooling 40:44 Mandated Reporters And CPS Fear 43:32 Bullying And Queer Panic 46:58 Unlearning Homophobia 51:31 Defining Laws And New Models 55:51 Parental Rights And Anti Vax Roots 01:02:06 Research Myths And Data Needs 01:04:29 Former Homeschoolers Speak Up 01:07:37 Wrap Up And Community Invite