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Excerpt from readlion.com
Homeschooling is gaining more popularity in Montana, even as public school enrollment falls.
According to data released by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, K-12 public school enrollment fell by 1.3% – almost 2,000 students – during the 2023-24 school year. Most of the losses were in elementary grades.
However, homeschooling had a 9.3% boost from the prior year.
“This data reflects families that are moving out of state and parents that desire more engagement in their children’s education through homeschooling,” said Superintendent Elise Arntzen. “Montana schools must prioritize student learning in their budgets as this decrease leads to fewer state dollars.”
Arntzen also speculated the pandemic may have changed many parents’ perspectives on education.
“[The pandemic] opened up innovation and an opportunity for parents to really see their child and recognize which system might be best for them,” she told local media.
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