As a parent, considering the option of anything outside of traditional schooling can feel like a massive, daunting responsibility. All of this changed when more and more parents started to homeschool to teach their kids all that they could, but in ways different than a traditional school does. Today, online homeschool programs have become a great aid to parents in helping them homeschool their children.

There are many reasons you might be considering making the shift.

Whatever your reasons, here we have cleared a few doubts you might have about homeschooling.

Does online homeschooling work?
This is an obvious question. Are online homeschool programs even effective? Not surprisingly, online homeschooling is a very new phenomenon so there is little research to speak for it. But whatever research does exist, all points to the fact that homeschool kids outperform their traditional school counterparts, and have a higher rate of graduating college. They also earn higher scores in SAT exams and other standardized tests. These kids also happen to feel more self-confident and motivated in their studies.

Is homeschooling a legal alternative?
It surprises many people to know that homeschooling is actually legal in all 50 states of the nation. Of course, there are different legal requirements and standards imposed by each state – but it’s nothing a Google search can’t help you with. The various online homeschool programs can also help you with this information. You have to legally announce your decision/intention to the state and meet an educational qualification criterion.

Besides this, you will also be required to show proof of your child’s progress in learning. This is done through a standardized test or educators who analyze the portfolio of the child. These educators must be licensed by the government.

How does homeschooling translate into college?
This is a more obvious question that most parents have about their child’s future prospects. You’ll find many colleges have a different criterion altogether for students who come from an online homeschool program. Others require students to enroll in a community college program in high school and move into a graduation course upon receiving their diploma.

Either way, you’ll find that with proper teaching and exposure to the right online homeschool programs, there’s nothing your child will fall short of in college.