Skipping School: A History of American Homeschooling and How It Went Mainstream

by Dixie Dillon Lane

Genres: Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2026

Reviews

[Haley Baumeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all the patchwork commentary floating around, I'm grateful Dixie has threaded together the bigger picture in a readable way. Part history, part personal interviews, part direct commentary from both professional and homeschooling experience, we get a multidimensional view of how we came to our current state of homeschooling. I appreciated the even tone and fair perspective given to each angle. There is much to chew on as we make our own educational decisions for our children, and see others making theirs. There is also so much to grieve with our crumbling public institutions and the cost of private school for many. These are the kinds of matters (among many others) this book does not seek to solve, but rather understand. From here, we have a place from which to advocate for creative change where it may be needed, for the sake of our children and the flourishing of families and society at large. Highly recommend!

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been homeschooled from K-12 in the early 2000s and now preparing to homeschool my own kiddos, this was a neat read which helped me learn about the history of homeschooling in America.

[Helena R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not so much a defense of homeschooling as it is a study of the evolution of home education in America. Why do people choose to homeschool? What obstacles have they overcome to do so? Lane answers those sorts of questions in this book. There are as many different reasons to homeschool as there are homeschooling families, and this book discusses many of them.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who is considering homeschooling or who is interested to find out more about how we got to where we are now with homeschooling being so much more prevalent. Lane offers a balanced exploration into the progression of homeschooling from "fringe thing in the 1950s that had parents defending themselves before judges" to "cheaper-than-private-school alternative schooling method" that it is now. Lane, a homeschooling parent herself, does not shy from the common criticisms of homeschooling, including rates of abuse and neglect in homeschooling families.

The book is academic without being esoteric--even a tired parent many years removed from higher education can follow Lane's arguments here!

If you think homeschooling to be crazy, the parents unqualified, the children unsocialized, and the curricula brainwashing, this book is for you too. Your concerns will be addressed.

This book has also piqued my interest in further reading about the downward trajectory of public education over the last 75 years. The changes in public education over the past few decades are tied into the rise of homeschooling education, and while Lane makes that clear and touches upon those changes, a deep dive into public education's decades-long collapse is outside of the purview of this book.

[EFBora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dixie Dillon Lane’s book is a very well-written and well-researched history of homeschooling in America that also sheds light on the recent history of education in America in general. I appreciated the combination of sources Lane used; interviews with past and current homeschoolers, statistical data collected from various sources, legal cases, and news articles. Lane defends the practice of homeschooling from common misconceptions about it, while also honestly addressing the sorts of sensational (and horrific) cases that can color people’s perception of homeschooling. I also appreciated the insight into different kinds of homeschooling methods, motivations, and philosophies. It really helped me to think more deeply about what kind of education I want to give my children. Finally, as a teacher by training and trade, I appreciated Lane’s even-handed treatment of the public school system in general. She explores what might motivate families to try its alternatives without also denigrating it wholesale. She has a clear eye for the strengths and weaknesses of all kinds of education, and I think this book will help parents of all stripes to think more broadly about what they can do to give their children the education that is best for them and their families. Highly recommend!

[Sarra Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great sociological, cultural, and historical look at homeschooling. I found it very informative and the author does a great job of underscoring all of the unknowns and hidden aspects of homeschooling. I found it to be slightly offensive to those of us who are homeschooling for religious reasons. That seemed to be continuously downplayed throughout the book as an outdated and archaic reason to do so. I understand the face of homeschooling is changing, but it almost seemed as though the author really wanted to remove that aspect from homeschooling altogether so that all homeschooler can been seen as more normal. For instance, in discussing homeschool conventions, she says early classes included teaching our children to lead “godly” lives. Why is godly in quotes?! Very unnecessary and implies negative aspects toward us the over religious homeschooling parents.

[Alex Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting recap of history of homeschooling in the US. It's clear the author is pro homeschooling, but tries to include different points of view. The pandemic lockdowns of 2019-2021 raised the questions again is homeschooling a safe or maybe even better alternative to traditional schools? The author tried to dispel the myth that homeschooling is only for the highly religious communities, and exists across the political spectrum. It's also a criticism of the weaknesses of the public education system. But mostly it's a collection of stories about people who fought for their rights to homeschool or people who opposed it. These stories feel very personal and gripping, posing a question how far parental rights to decide their children's future stretch, and where the state and law should intervene, and how often was it intervening for all the wrong reasons.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skipping School is a scholarly and well researched account of how the homeschooling movement came about in the United States, especially addressing the boom in popularity of homeschooling in recent years. As a homeschooling educator myself, I know my own personal reasons for our education choices, but it is fascinating to see how the networks began, and what motivated the pioneers who created all these resources that the rest of us take for granted.

Dr. Lane's writing is impeccably researched and yet includes personal anecdotes from her own experience. I highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to learn more about the modern phenomenon turned common practice that is American homeschooling.

[Emily Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! It a pleasure to read a book written by an author who knows her topic both through study and through experience. Lane explores the phenomenon of home schooling in America from its beginnings to the current post-Covid era. It is a great book that has much insight to share both with those seeking to learn about a way of life and education that is unfamiliar to them; as well as with those (like myself) who grew up within the world of homeschooling, and are proud home schoolers today.

[Erin Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and detailed read about the origins of homeschooling in America. I honestly did not realize how secretive beginning homeschoolers had to be until it was protected by the law in most states. The book mainly focuses on California. It still saddens me that we cannot have communal, public school that all people want their children to attend. I love community and want it to thrive, in addition to wanting a well educated public! Having been homeschooled but then choosing public school for my children, this was an interesting read if a bit dry.

[Chandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a homeschooler myself, I really enjoyed Skipping School. This book gives an interesting look at the history of homeschooling in America and how it has grown into the mainstream movement it is today. I appreciated learning about the different people, ideas, and events that shaped homeschooling over the years.
Some sections were more detailed than others, but overall it was an informative and thoughtful read. It gave me a greater appreciation for the history behind the choice many families make to educate their children at home.

[T.]

Review forthcoming!

UPDATE: Review is now published in print in Mere Orthodoxy's Summer 2026 issue.