Home Schooling in Virginia: An Analysis of the Fiscal Relationship between Home Schooling and Virginia Public School Finances.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Home School Enrollment and Virginia Public School Finances. Enrollment trends were examined from Fall 2001 through Fall 2010 to determine if there was an increase in Home School Enrollment over the ten year examination period. Also, two sets of Virginia Standards of Quality Variables (SOQs), Expenditures (Instructional Salaries, Administrative Salaries, Per Pupil Expenditures) and Revenues (State Portion of Basic Aid, State Portion of ADM funds and Enumerated Funds) were examined in relation with Home School Enrollment to determine if Home School Enrollment influenced Virginia Public School Finances at all. Superintendents' Region I, one of Virginia's eight superintendents' regions, served as the sample population. The study revealed that Instructional and Administrative Salaries were correlated to an increase in Home School Enrollment while Per Pupil Expenditures correlations revealed no relationship. Strong correlations were revealed between an increase in Home School Enrollment and State Portion of Basic Aid while correlations between State Portion of ADM funds and Enumerated revealed no relationship. The study results revealed that Home School Enrollment does not cost or save Virginia Public Schools. Significant relationships were found but whether Home School Enrollment presents a savings or an expense to Virginia Public School Finances was not concluded. The relationships, results, implications and recommendations are presented and discussed.