This February 2006 report finds that in 2003—the most recent year for which data are available—more than 1 million U.S. school-age children were homeschooled, a 29 percent increase from 1999. Similarly to previous years, 31 percent of homeschooling parents say concerns about school environment, safety, or peer pressure led them to homeschool, and 30 percent cited religious or moral reasons. This report, from the National Center for Education Statistics, offers the latest on homeschooling demographics and curriculum trends.

This nonprofit advocacy organization is made up of families who home school their children. Although founded as a Christian organization, HSLDA membership is open to all home schoolers and says it has "no agenda to make all public and home-based classrooms religious or conservative." In addition to advocating and tracking relevant federal legislation, the group offers toolkits, state-by-state legal guides and legal consultation.

Looking for data and info on home schooling, home-based education, or "unschooling"? NHERI tracks and analyzes the latest research, demographic data and other information on home schooling and alternative learning environments.

The Family Unschoolers Network provides support for unschooling, home schooling, and self-directed learning.

Here, you'll find information on transcript requirements, financial aid, advanced placement, and college-entrance testing—everything you'll need for college planning. There's even information specifically designed for home-schooled students.

The latest data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics says that 1.1 million K-12 students were homeschooled in 2003. Some home school advocacy groups, like the National Home Education Research Institute, put the number closer to 2 million.