Why Support Homeschool Research?
Short answer: Supporting homeschool research helps ensure decisions are based on evidence rather than assumptions.
For more than 35 years, NHERI has provided peer-reviewed homeschool research, analysis, and resources that help families, policymakers, courts, journalists, and leaders make informed decisions based on accurate information.
Your support helps ensure:
- Independent research on homeschool outcomes and trends
- Accurate information for policymakers, courts, and media
- Accessible research for families and leaders to use and share
- Published findings preserved and made widely available
- Long-term access to a leading homeschool research library
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Since 1990, the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) has delivered independent, verifiable research that informs families, educators, and policymakers. When it comes to homeschooling, accurate data matters. That’s what NHERI provides.
Download a PDF of our 35th Anniversary Booklet
The Problem: Homeschooling Is Often Misunderstood
Homeschooling continues to grow and receive increased attention from policymakers, media, researchers, and the public. Yet discussions about homeschooling often rely on incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate information.
When reliable research is not easily accessible or clearly communicated, issues can be misrepresented and decisions may be made without a full understanding of homeschool outcomes and trends.
Accurate, accessible research helps ensure conversations and decisions are informed by evidence rather than assumptions.
NHERI’s Role: Research, Analysis, and Public Understanding
For 35 years, NHERI has provided research, analysis, and resources that help ensure homeschooling is understood through credible, evidence-based information.
- Conducts research on homeschool outcomes and trends
- Maintains a research library and extensive bibliography
- Provides summaries and data for families, policymakers, and leaders
- Explains research findings for public and policy use
NHERI remains one of the few independent organizations dedicated solely to producing and preserving credible homeschool data.
The Impact: 35 Years of Findings That Matter
Over more than three decades, NHERI’s research has been used worldwide in scholarly journals, court cases, media coverage, and education policy discussions.
Where NHERI’s research is used:
- Families seeking accurate, research-based information
- Policymakers evaluating education-related questions
- Courts and legal advocates referencing research in legal contexts
- Journalists reporting on homeschooling
- Organizations and leaders sharing research with others
What the research shows:
- Academic outcomes: Homeschooled students often perform well academically
- Family and civic life: Home education is associated with strong family and civic engagement
- Long-term outcomes: Homeschool graduates succeed in college, career, and community settings
(Read the homeschool fast facts.)
NHERI’s work helps inform how homeschooling is understood in public, policy, and research contexts.
Support NHERI’s Work
Your support helps keep homeschool research independent, accessible, and available when it matters most.
For more than 35 years, NHERI has provided peer-reviewed research, analysis, and resources used by families, policymakers, courts, journalists, and leaders.
Your gift helps make this possible:
- Ongoing research on homeschool outcomes and trends
- Publication of the Home School Researcher journal
- Public access to research findings and summaries
- Maintenance of NHERI’s research library and archives
- Support for families, researchers, and organizations
Your gift helps ensure this work continues so that decisions about homeschooling are informed by evidence, not assumptions.
Ways to Support NHERI
One Time Gift
Use this option to make a one-time donation to the NHERI
We appreciate your support!
Monthly Gift
Use this option to set up a recurring monthly donation to NHERI.
We appreciate your continued support!
By Mail
NHERI
PO Box 13939
Salem OR 97309
NHERI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization. All donations are tax-deductible and directly support ongoing homeschool research.
I have testified in the legislatures of West Virginia, Virginia, Maine, Illinois, South Dakota, Missouri, Arkansas, Idaho, Nevada, and Maryland. Virtually without exception, Brian Ray’s and NHERI’s outstanding research has provided the scientific “clout” I needed. His work deserves a share of the credit for every good homeschool bill that has been enacted and every bad one that has been defeated.
NHERI is the organization that is definitely needed. One, for the research. Two, for the resources. For African American families, the research has helped solidify the decision to homeschool.”.
I am glad to know that are people like you at NHERI willing to conduct, analyze, and evaluate true scientific studies on homeschool success outcomes, not social studies done to drive data-driven critiques of education freedom and choice.