ST. LOUIS (KMOX)- A few months ago KMOX reported that the coronavirus pandemic was creating more interest in home schooling. Now, as schools struggle with reopening plans just a month before many are scheduled to resume classes, Families for Home Education Regional Director Kim Quon says that interest is now "exploding".
Quon says before COVID-19 they'd have 50-60 people at their in-person informational meetings around Missouri. Over the past two months they've had 650 on their Zoom calls. She says as the school year approaches, parents are increasingly nervous. "Many of them are waiting until the schools decide what they actually have to do and then they'll make a decision. But, they are reaching out to find out if they do decide to homeschool what is it that they have to do legally."
Some parents expressing interest, she says, are doing so because they're concerned about health issues. But others are worried about what their children will face in the classroom. "Many of them just feel like the restrictions that the schools are going to be forced to do, which is no fault on their end, I don't even know how they're going to do all this, but families are just concerned their kids are not going to be able to learn that way."
She says some may also try homeschooling for a year, until schools return to normal.
Quon says a Zoom call she hosted Wednesday was full. She'll be hosting others on July 21 and July 30. She says with the increased interest, she may keep hosting them into October.