(Continued from Part 1)

Why they homeschool

Of course, some homeschoolers insist that to truly be a homeschooler, parents should keep their children away from any contact with the public schools.

But the reasons people homeschool are as diverse as the methods they use. It's a fact often emphasized by homeschoolers who have chosen the route for nonreligious reasons, but who worry that fundamentalist Christian groups like the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) are the only organizations with a major voice.

"Many homeschoolers feel [HSLDA's mission] has little to do with homeschooling and everything to do with religion and politics," Ms. Derrick says. "Once public perception of homeschooling has grown to include everybody else, we'll all be a lot better off."

Patricia Lines, a former researcher for the US Department of Education, points to an annual survey conducted in Florida. Several years ago, the leading reason to homeschool was religion. Now, it's dissatisfaction with the public school system.

Some parents cite other reasons. Vinke comments that for her, homeschooling was "more a lifestyle choice than an educational choice" - she wanted to "pull back into more of a simple, family-based life."

When a child is labeled

Some families start homeschooling upon seeing a child struggle in school. The Bradys were told their oldest daughter was "ineducable," and some officials suggested she be put in an institution. The Bradys decided to school her themselves. Emily has since finished the equivalent of high school, plays flute and piano, and screens calls to the family's radio station. "Many parents come on when a child is labeled," says Mrs. Brady.

Homeschoolers' achievements have helped build acceptance of the movement. It's difficult to quantify test scores, since homeschoolers often resist evaluation. But Brian Ray, president of NHERI, says that 15 years of research indicate that homeschoolers typically score 15 to 30 percentiles above the national average on standardized tests.

And many move easily on to college. Last year, Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., accepted 27 percent of homeschooled applicants - nearly double its overall acceptance rate. One Web site, learninfreedom.org, lists more than 1,000 colleges, many highly selective, that welcome homeschoolers.

"We were the new kid on the block when I started out," says Treon Goossen, director of the legal group Concerned Parents of Colorado. "There were no programs. People in the state legislature called us child abusers."

Michael Smith, president and co-founder of the HSLDA (www.hslda.org), echoes that sentiment. "It was an idea that was considered very threatening to children," he says. "That's all gone by the wayside with the research on how well children do."

Indeed, most homeschoolers comment on the drastic improvement in acceptance, not just from colleges, but also from friends, neighbors, and family. And inclusive groups are trying to make the movement more accepting from within, as well.

"We are very strong in feeling that this movement is for everybody," Ms. Goossen says.