The Arizona homeschool community may need to gear up for an increase in its ranks.  When U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, announced yesterday the winners in the Race to the Top competition for billions of dollars in federal assistance for state education funding, Arizona had missed a $250 million windfall by 5.3 points.

The out-of-control downward spiraling state revenues have already forced Arizona legislators to slash the education budget by nearly one-third--over one billion dollars[1] [2], with more shortfalls on the horizon for 2011.  The federal aid would have been a small bandaid on a large wound which has already caused the loss of hundreds of education jobs.  Teachers complain that classroom sizes have increased, and some children don't have desks or supplies. Preschool program funding has been drastically reduced  while licensing fees have gone up exponentially--thus mandating higher prices for parents.

In addition, many school districts are losing millions of dollars annually through decreased enrollment, some due no doubt to families leaving the state since SB 1070 passed. For a state already ranked at the bottom in several educational metrics, the Arizona budget crisis doesn't add much hope to the education scenario.  The Governor plans to go ahead with much-needed school reforms, despite not getting the hoped-for funding from the federal government, but what will be happening in the classrooms in the meantime?

This examiner predicts that there will be an upsurge in families deciding to homeschool because of the issues that are being exacerbated in the public schools.  However, there will continue to be a tension for parents as they weigh the desire to move their children out of the public schools and the need for one or both parents to find better employment in a down economy.  After all, there is no state or federal financial aid for homeschooling in Arizona, and parents do bear the financial costs of educating their children.

If you are having second thoughts about your local public school, and the programs and staff that it no longer has, you may want to consider the pro's and con's of homeschooling.  Holly Craw Home Education Services is available to help you think through the advantages that can be found in homeschooling and give you information and resources to make a decision that fits your family.

You may also be interested in an upcoming workshop:  Getting Started with Homeschooling and Homeschooling on a Shoe String which will be held at Covenant Home School Resource Center on
September 16.

Related Articles:

     * Homeschool 101: Reasons for considering homeschooling in this political and economic climate--#1
     * Homeschool 101 Events: What is the educational climate going to look like in the next decade?        
     * Homeschool 101: Assessing educational options to maximize your family's well-being and values 
     * Getting started with homeschooling in Arizona