The Homeschool Research Lab at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy focuses on research related to homeschooling and emerging homeschool-adjacent education models.
About the Lab
The Homeschool Research Lab is a thought leader in homeschool research and policy. Current work includes gathering and compiling multi-sector education participation data, curating research, and convening leading researchers. Current research topics include examining homeschool growth by state and region, post-pandemic persistence in homeschool participation, changes in homeschool regulation over time, increases in Black and Brown homeschooling and how grassroots expansion networks develop, and dismantling negative tropes about homeschooling and who homeschoolers are with longitudinal data.
About the Researchers
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Angela R. Watson, Homeschool Research Lab Director and Homeschool Hub Creator
Angela R. Watson is an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Education and a senior research fellow at the Institute for Education Policy. She has researched homeschooling for nearly a decade. She has a BA in K-12 education, an MAT, and a PhD in education policy. While she was never a homeschool participant, she has always had an academic interest in homeschooling and other nontraditional modes of education. Watson’s other broad research work includes charter schools, high-quality curriculum as a lever to improve education, and the value of cultural/arts field trips.
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Genevieve Smith, Research Assistant
Genevieve Smith is a research assistant at the Institute for Education Policy at Johns Hopkins University. She has a BA in psychology from UC Berkeley and an MS in education policy from Johns Hopkins University. She is excited to contribute to the Homeschool Hub and improve the transparency of homeschooling data and legislation across the country. Smith’s other education interests include early childhood education, bilingual education, English language learners, and educational equity.
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Amy Fuller, Researcher
Amy Fuller is the Knowledge Map™ program director at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy. She has a BA in history and secondary education and an MS in instructional technology. She supported homeschool students at Calvert Education as an advisory teacher and later in curriculum development from 2007-2016.
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Karuna Sinha, Graduate Assistant
Karuna Sinha is a Master’s in Education Policy student at Johns Hopkins University. Although she has not participated in homeschooling, Sinha’s interest in the topic stems from a desire to explore alternative educational models that cater to diverse learning needs. Her other research interests include accessibility policies for disabled students and the implications of COVID-19 on the K–12 education system. Post-graduation, Sinha aims to contribute to these areas, preferably with a research institution or nonprofit.
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Coming Soon
We are currently seeking support for a lab expansion that will include a curated consortium of affiliated researchers from leading institutions across the country and an annual convening of researchers and policymakers. Contact the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy for more information.