Homeschooling on the rise across the country and in Heartland | News

JACKSON, MO (KFVS)- The National Center for Education Statistics says that 1.7 percent of kids were homeschooled in 1999, 2.2 percent in 2003, and 2.9 percent in 2007. In 2012, that figure is at 4 percent, meaning roughly 2.2 million kids are homeschooled.

"We expected there to be 8 to 10 families," Sara Moll said. "Now, it's probably upwards of 60 families."

Moll and her friends came up with SEMO Homeschoolers to encourage this growing community.

"This math curriculum is just not working for my child," Moll said. "How do you get them to memorize their multiplication facts? Six different moms have done it six different ways so you can bounce ideas off of each other."

Alison Staggs is part of the SEMO homeschoolers.

"Because the exciting thing about homeschooling is there's so much more to offer now than what there was 20 to 30 years ago," Staggs said. "The one-on-one time makes a huge difference because if there's something Matthew doesn't understand he can't fall through the cracks and me not able to address it."

Her son, Matthew, says he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm at my home. I have my mom teaching me and I get off school way before other people," Matthew Staggs said.

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