The day following a tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018, helicopters were dispatched to another local high school near the site of the shooting that claimed 17 lives.

On that day, Eden Frallicciardi and his father were at Atlantic Technical High School, which was locked down due to a similar threat. When they arrived to pick up Eden’s older brother, the police brought them into a janitor’s closet for safety.

This harrowing experience prompted the Frallicciardi family to reevaluate their choices.

Since then, Eden, now 17, has not gone back to his elementary school. Instead, he has spent his teenage years learning science and phonics at places like the skate park and the beach in South Florida as part of the homeschooling program set up by his parents. They believe this is a safer way to educate him.

Amidst the chaos of helicopters overhead and the lockdown, a police officer guided them to a closet for protection.

This traumatic incident made the Frallicciardi family reconsider their educational choices.

Now 17, Eden has continued his education outside of traditional schooling, relying on the homeschooling program his parents have created, finding it safer than returning to school.

With fresh shootings leaving families in fear, more parents are contemplating homeschooling following a recent incident in Georgia that resulted in four deaths and numerous threats reported in other schools nationwide. Many families have turned to homeschool programs after similar confrontations in previous years.

Presently, over 2.8 million students are enrolled in homeschooling or virtual learning, as reported by the U.S. Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics. The number of families opting for these educational paths has grown significantly from the 2018-2019 school year to 2022-2023.

Data shows that many homeschooling parents prioritize safety over factors like teacher quality or a school’s academic standing when selecting educational options for their children, according to findings from the National Center for Education Statistics and EdChoice, an organization supportive of school choice.

There is also a notable increase in families of color choosing homeschooling, contrasting the previous trend where most homeschooling families were primarily white Protestant.

This trend signals a challenge for both public and private schools, particularly those suffering from the rise in threats of violence, according to Roberta Lenger Kang, an educator from Teacher’s College at Columbia University.

Homeschooling influences other family decisions

Some families opting for homeschooling, often from a place of fear regarding their children’s safety, are relocating to areas that better support this choice or have more favorable homeschooling laws.

Christopher Moye and his wife felt their children’s private schools in New York and Delaware lacked sufficient safety measures and the quality of education they desired. After researching other options, they decided to move their family to Northern Virginia, where homeschooling regulations are more relaxed, Moyes noted.

They have chosen not to send their youngest two to traditional schooling at all.

“It’s not just about school shootings; we overall felt that safety was not prioritized,” he explained. “If you consider schools like other businesses, we would never accept such poor quality elsewhere.”

Through homeschooling, Moyes’ 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter have the chance to explore subjects beyond the traditional curriculum, such as math and physics through interests like Pokémon cards and fencing. He considers this a positive shift for their education.

He expresses concern about teachers who may be anxious due to fears of shootings and who are often underpaid for facing these challenges daily.

“Imagine going to work every day as a teacher, worried for your safety and your students’,” he said.

Myers sought to integrate religious teachings in her children’s education, making the flexibility of homeschooling advantageous. As a Black family, she also feels the public education system often fails to serve their needs effectively.

While safety was not her primary motivation for choosing homeschooling, the recent tragedy nearby has heightened her concerns. She has been reflecting on what measures could be implemented at schools to prevent such incidents.

“Naturally, it does raise a level of concern,” she admitted. “I’m troubled by the way these situations have been managed.”

The impact of gun violence is also affecting the willingness of school staff to return to their positions.

Myers’ nanny, who previously substituted for Cristina Irimie, a math teacher killed in the shooting at Apalachee, now assists in homeschooling Myers’ children two days a week. The nanny has expressed her decision not to return to the classroom following the tragic event.

Homeschooling in the U.S.

Homeschooling provides parents the opportunity to decide what and when their children learn, but it also means they bear the financial responsibility. The expenses associated with homeschooling can vary widely, potentially reaching thousands of dollars depending on the curriculum and resources chosen. Additionally, parents who take on the role of educators may also face a loss of income due to reduced work hours or leaving the workforce altogether.

According to the Coalition for Responsible Homeschooling, homeschooling was the standard teaching method in the U.S. until roughly the 1800s.

Re-emerging in the 1970s, homeschooling became recognized as a novel approach to education, largely inspired by educational theorist John Holt, who promoted the idea of “unschooling,” a method that steers students away from conventional schooling environments.

Over the years, homeschooling has shifted into the mainstream discussions surrounding education. Ray highlighted that parents often consider homeschooling due to concerns about school violence or harassment. He noted that the introduction of school voucher programs in some states, which enable public funding for alternate schooling options, might also play a role in the growing interest in homeschooling, although it is still too early to determine this conclusively.

How many parents are choosing homeschooling?

The majority of families in the U.S. still opt for traditional schooling for their children.

A national survey conducted by the NCES found that among homeschooling families, 83% cited the environment of other schools as an “important” factor in their decision to homeschool. Conversely, parents who chose traditional schools prioritized safety and the quality of academic offerings.

Additionally, a national survey from EdChoice, which supports school vouchers, found that safety is the primary concern for parents who decide to homeschool. This survey included approximately 2,300 current school parents and 1,500 Americans in April 2024.

According to Colyn Ritter, a senior research associate for EdChoice, “In the last four years, we’ve observed that homeschooling parents are valuing safety significantly more than other parents.” This trend has become more pronounced following tragic events like the Uvalde shooting.

Toni Frallicciardi, the mother of Eden, shared that several families in her Florida community transitioned to homeschooling and microschools after the Parkland shooting incident. Now, she and her husband lead an educational program that serves 400 children across three counties.

What should parents know about homeschooling?

Homeschooling practices vary significantly among U.S. families, largely influenced by their location. There is no federal oversight that mandates how homeschooling should be conducted.

At least 13 states impose strict regulations concerning testing and curriculum for homeschooling, while other states are more flexible, allowing parents to determine their children’s schedule and educational content, as per a tracker provided by the Home School Legal Defense Association.

The discussion around homeschooling remains contentious, with experts in education holding diverse opinions on its effectiveness.

In states with minimal regulations, families must navigate their own educational paths. While it’s crucial that homeschooling offers education “comparable to what is received in schools,” according to Lenger Kang, unregulated programs may lead to inconsistent curricula, which could exacerbate academic disparities.

Migrating to alternative forms of education, driven by fear, can jeopardize both the academic achievements of children and the parent-child relationship, she noted.

“It makes sense for parents to consider this option,” Lenger Kang remarked. “However, it’s more complex than simply purchasing textbooks and having kids do worksheets at the kitchen table. It requires a significant investment of time and money.”

On a more optimistic note, Ray from the National Home Education Research Institute stated that homeschooling can be accessible through online resources and doesn’t have to be financially burdensome. It can serve as a viable option for families seeking an alternative to regulated schooling or safety from violence on school grounds.

Ray advises parents to connect with support groups of other families, utilize free online educational resources, and participate in library or museum programs specifically designed for homeschooled children if they are seriously considering this approach.

Jonah Stewart, director of research for the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, emphasized that families choosing homeschooling should do so thoughtfully.

Children flourish when they are part of homeschooling groups or are actively engaged in their communities. Stewart noted that a family’s financial resources do not always correlate to the educational success of their children.

Ray believes the advantages of tailored education are significant and, for some families, homeschooling is the only feasible option they will consider.

‘Only in America’

Some families expressed to YSL News that they perceive homeschooling and other alternative education settings as the only means available due to the pervasive issue of gun violence in schools across America. Parents who wish for their children to attend school without the fear of potential shooting incidents believe there must be a better solution.

Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and senior advisor with Everytown for Gun Safety, asserted that it is essential for everyone, from lawmakers to parents, to work towards addressing this critical issue.

People are coming together to address the issue of violence and to ensure that schools are safe environments for children and educators.

“Every parent has the right to make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of their child’s health and safety; however, these issues should never have to be considered at all,” Andrews expressed in an email to YSL News. “The mere fact that parents feel the need to discuss these topics is a clear sign that we need immediate and significant action at all levels.”

Both Andrews from Everytown and Stewart from the Coalition for Responsible Home Education noted that homeschooling may not be suitable for everyone.

“Only in America do parents feel compelled to abandon conventional educational methods out of fear of school shootings, as only in America do lawmakers fail to address the fundamental issues that lead to gun violence in schools and don’t take steps to keep firearms out of our children’s educational spaces,” Andrews stated.

Following the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in 2022, Stewart, who has experience with homeschooling, stated that the Coalition for Responsible Home Education advised families not to hurry into homeschooling due to fear; nonetheless, it was understandable that “people are scared,  individuals are striving to regain control when they observe a lack of change.”

‘I feel safer at home’

Frallicciardi did not initially choose homeschooling and doesn’t suggest it for everyone. She would consider sending her child to a traditional school if she believed that educators could provide individual attention to each student. However, she feels this is not the current situation, while children are dealing with a significant mental health crisis.

“The advantage of microschools or homeschooling is that we have a community that understands what children are experiencing,” she mentioned. “I believe we have reached a critical point where we truly need that support.”

Her son, Eden, still recalls the profound fear experienced when his brother’s school was placed on lockdown after the Parkland shooting.

“The staff were in tears,” he recalled.

Now a senior in high school aiming to become a welder, he appreciated that his parents made the decision to withdraw him from school after that incident. He felt unsafe even before the Parkland shooting when he attended elementary school, where fights were a common occurrence.

“I feel safer at home,” he stated.