NHERI, or the National Home Education Research Institute, is the main source for research on homeschooling in the U.S. Founded in 1990, it provides data and studies that support the effectiveness of home education.
What is nheri?
NHERI stands for the National Home Education Research Institute. It’s the main hub for research on homeschooling in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Dr. Brian D. Ray, NHERI conducts original studies and keeps a database with over 1,800 homeschool research pieces. They also publish the Home School Researcher, a peer-reviewed journal started in 1985. When you see stats about homeschooling in the news or policy talks, they often come from NHERI.
Research on common concerns
NHERI tackles common worries people have about homeschooling. Their studies show that having a teaching certificate isn’t linked to how well students do. In other words, parents without education degrees can teach just as well. Plus, the level of state regulation doesn’t impact student success. NHERI also found that homeschooled kids do well socially and emotionally, often scoring at or above average.
Dr. brian ray's contributions
Dr. Ray has published a lot in respected journals like the Academic Leadership Journal and the Peabody Journal of Education. His research covers various topics, from African American homeschooling families to how state rules affect SAT scores. This work is the academic backbone that journalists and policymakers rely on when discussing homeschooling outcomes.
The bottom line
NHERI gives the research backing that supports homeschooling and helps the public understand it better. If you need stats to share with skeptical family or school officials, check out NHERI’s fact page. Their findings show homeschooling leads to positive academic and social results for all kinds of families. For those thinking about homeschooling, NHERI’s research can give you the confidence you need.
