The decision-making process to homeschool a child is daunting. If the child presently attends public school, it’s more intimidating. Many people eagerly voice their opinions on home-based education and at times, the debate is heated. However, according to the National Home Education Research Institute, significant growth has transpired in the past three to five years with the homeschool population in 2010 reaching 2.4 million students. But is it right for you? If you are considering a home-based education for your child, here are a few things to consider as you begin your decision-making process.

Virtual charter schools are popping up all over the country, providing free computers, textbooks and educational materials to any family who would like to enroll in their program. Jennifer James takes a hard look at how these schools are detrimental to black homeschoolers.

This home school checklist from the NCAA Eligibility Center offers an easy to use list of elements needed to evaluate a student's eligibility to play college sports (Division I or II schools).

The Shluchim Online School offers distance learning for Jewish families.

Teaching math beyond basic counting at home can seem daunting. But these simple activities show that it can be easy and fun. These hands-on ways to introduce counting and other basic math skills are great.

I've blogged about many things before, but I may never have really blogged about homeschooling. This is the first year of homeschooling that I have really sat down with a plan in mind, a goal, and set out to accomplish it, and let me just say that I am having the best time!

Ecce Homo Press is a Catholic homeschooing family owned and operated business and apostolate. Offers the Glory of America series, Little Flowers and Blue Knights materials, and more.

As home schooling grows as a movement, there is increasing politics from anti-home school forces to try to interfere with or legislatively control home schoolers. This has come to include legislative attempts to force home school students to take standardized tests along with public school students. But mandatory testing doesn't work in public schools, and it won't work for home schoolers.

Destinations Homeschool Guidebook is a system with total flexibility and real accountability. Step-by-step instructions help you develop a plan for learning tailored to each child's unique needs. Are you unschooling? Destinations allows you to track learning from everyday life while measuring progress toward your goals. Using a formal curriculum? Destinations helps you adapt it to your child's needs. Includes instructions on use as a portfolio.

For some years, the Social Security Administration has permitted home schoolers to receive benefits in some cases. The agency used a fuzzy test involving several different factors. New documents from the Social Security Administration indicate that the agency has a much better defined policy in place now.