Why Parents Are Leaving Traditional Schools (and What It Means for the Future of Education)

In recent years, there has been a significant and undeniable shift in the landscape of education. Parents across the political spectrum are increasingly exploring alternatives to traditional schooling, and the evidence is clear: school choice is experiencing a major boom. From expanded charter school programs and education savings accounts (ESAs) to a surge in homeschooling and co-op models, families are seeking greater control over their children's education.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, homeschooling rates in the United States jumped from 3.3% in 2019 to 11.1% in 2021—a staggering 236% increase. Meanwhile, charter school enrollment has risen by 7% in the past two years, now serving over 3.7 million students nationwide. Legislative efforts supporting school choice have gained momentum in both red and blue states, with 32 states now offering some form of school choice program, including vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, and ESAs. Whether due to concerns over academic rigor, ideological content, or a desire for greater flexibility, parents are making choices that reflect their individual values and aspirations for their children.

As an educational consultant and tutor, I have witnessed firsthand the growing gap between where students are and what traditional schools are able to provide. This gap is particularly pronounced for students with learning disabilities, but it exists for all students to some degree. Schools, despite their best efforts, are limited by curriculum constraints, standardized testing requirements, and resource limitations. Tutors like myself serve to bridge the gap, offering targeted support that enhances and customizes a child's learning experience. Many students feel that their 'learning style' is a mismatch for a particular teacher's 'teaching style,' or, more broadly, that the whole model of traditional schooling is not a perfect fit for the way that they think and learn.

I can personally attest to the fact that many families are now adopting a hybrid approach—keeping their children in traditional schools while supplementing with tutoring services. This model allows students to benefit from the structured environment and social aspects of a school setting while also receiving personalized instruction tailored to their unique strengths and challenges. In essence, it offers the best of both worlds: the breadth of a traditional curriculum with the depth of individualized attention.

Looking ahead, the trend toward personalized education is poised to accelerate, especially with the rise of AI and other advancements in tech. AI-driven platforms can analyze a student's learning style, pace, and preferences, offering tailored lessons and adaptive feedback that were once only possible through one-on-one human instruction. These innovations have the potential to transform education from a one-size-fits-all model towards a highly (maybe insanely?) customized experience, addressing individual learning gaps with unprecedented precision.

Schools have already begun incorporating AI tools into their classrooms and administrative processes, often without families fully realizing the extent of their integration. From AI-powered grading systems to adaptive learning platforms and predictive analytics for student performance, educational institutions are exploring how these tools can enhance both teaching and learning. Yet, even as these technologies become more prevalent, parents are increasingly scrutinizing how well they align with their values and expectations for their children's education.

While the movement toward alternative education models offers exciting possibilities, it is not without its challenges. Homeschooling and co-ops often require significant parental involvement and may lack the resources of a traditional school. On the other hand, public schools provide a sense of community and access to extracurricular activities that can be difficult to replicate in alternative settings. Surely, don’t many of us simply want our children to have an experience similar to whatever we had, in order to have some semblance of a shared history, a mutually held vocabulary, something to make our stories and experiences intelligible to our progeny?

Ultimately, parents must ask themselves: What is the true purpose of education? Is it to get into college, secure a good job and financial stability, or rather, is it, as Frederick Douglass claimed, to "uplift the soul of man into the glorious light of truth"? The votes of families will continue to reveal itself through the stats, as individual families grapple with the balance between structure and flexibility, tradition and innovation, and the role of technology versus human connection, and make the best choice for their children that is available to them. The trendline, as I see it, shows that as educational options continuing to diversify, there is a predominant preference not just for customization, but for transparency, parental communication and meaningful involvement - and these things, surely all parents deserve.