American Families' Attitudes to Unschooling: A National Survey

Abstract

A national survey of American families was conducted to ascertain the extent of interest in self-directed education (SDE) in the United States. Our research took place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic - a moment when we need a much better understanding of what parents need from the US education system. Data were gathered using an online survey aimed at parents or caregivers of young people aged 4-18. A total of 1009 adults completed the caregiver survey. Resulting data were analyzed using SPSS. Results suggest a high degree of openness to SDE. The data also elucidate several questions and concerns that parents and caregivers have about the approach. Data also highlighted differing perceptions of and attitudes towards SDE as a function of race. As the first nationwide survey about SDE, this study has made an important contribution to the existing literature on the subject. Directions for further research are discussed