The 2020 pandemic disrupted the education of millions of kids. In response, many parents opted for alternative forms of education. “In that single summer,” wrote Dixie Lane with the Institute for Family Studies, “the number of registered homeschoolers in America more than doubled, rising from about 5.4% to about 11.1%. Homeschooling among African Americans alone jumped to 16.1%, a nearly five-fold increase.”

Still, Lane argues, the pandemic was not the only reason for the boom. In general, Americans are committed to two principles in education: localism and parental authority. The state overreach in K-12 education has brought parents back to those fundamental values.  

Some are fighting to make public schools better; others are investing in homeschooling or private Christian education. Either way, kids are rightly being seen as the primary responsibility of parents, not the state.

More options mean a beautiful opportunity for Christians to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds … and to teach their kids to do likewise.