Sue Trembly homeschooled her children in the kitchen of her Spring Hill home earlier this month. The kids are fourth-grader Ian, 9, left, pre-schooler Alyssa, 4, right, and first-grader Hannah, 6.
Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press
Homeschooling came to Kansas with the first covered wagons, but no longer do parents teach their children by candlelight.
Neither, homeschoolers say, do they keep their children out of public schools because they believe in black helicopters or want to isolate them from the outside world.
"Maybe the perception is out there that we are anti-government people, but we aren't. We just feel we can do a better job of educating," said Kevin Trembly, of Spring Hill, president of the Johnson County Parent Educators, a group of homeschoolers. He operates a carpet cleaning business in Lenexa.
State education officials estimate some 20,000 homeschooled students, compared to 470,000 in public schools and 30,000 in private schools. But they don't keep an actual headcount of homeschool students.
Topeka attorney Kent Vincent, active in homeschool issues for more than two decades, estimated the number between 25,000-30,000, and growing 10 percent to 15 percent per year.
"It's hard to say." Vincent said. "Those are the figures you hear nationwide and I expect they are about the same for Kansas."
Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press
Trembly and his wife Sue have four children, ages 12-4, and have homeschooled for eight years.
"There's an array of reasons, but primarily it's because we want more hours to train our children in the way we want them trained," he said. "It has a religious bent, but not all things we teach are religious."
Trembly said like most homeschooled children, his study subjects like English, math, social studies, literature and sciences, plus whatever else that interests them.
"If we can teach our children to love learning, they can go out and find the resources," Trembly said.
A major change has been the amount of help available to homeschoolers. Bill and Teri Bucher, of Olathe, have four children ages 18-7 and have homeschooled for 13 years.
"When we started there were a few basic curriculums and now there are so many, it's hard to choose which is best," she said. "That is where a lot of the organizations help out."
Basic facts about Kansas homeschooling
The state Department of Education estimates there are at least 20,000 homeschooled children in Kansas, compared to 470,000 students in public schools and 30,000 in private schools.
All children between ages 7 and 18 are required to attend school, whether it's public, private or homeschool. Compulsory attendance for all schools end at age 16 with parental consent or a judge's approval.
Parents must register the name and address of the homeschool as a non-accreditated private school with the State Board of Education, designating the person who will be the custodian of records. There is no charge for registering.
Parents must conduct homeschool classes the same amount of time as public schools -- 186 six-hour days or 1,116 hours per year.
There are companies that cater to homeschoolers plus support groups, like the Johnson County Parent Educators. As more parents homeschool, they talk among themselves and exchange information.
Also, Internet and computer technology advanced. Homeschoolers can register online with the Department of Education; there are Web sites specifically for homeschoolers. Even some Kansas school districts cater to homeschoolers through the Internet.
Homeschooling is legal but there's no mention of it in state law. Rather, Kansas homeschoolers register as "non-accredited private schools," said Vincent, who works with the Home School Legal Defense Association.
"We have a rather vague law that is fairly subjective. It gives flexibility to do what's right for children, but not the right to be negligent," he said.
Even so, homeschoolers must hold classes for a time "substantially equivalent" to those in public schools, although what is taught is left to the parents, he said.
"To have a credible homeschool, parents will teach the basics but then they are free to teach what they believe is important for their children to learn," Vincent said.
Some children are homeschooled for a few years; others from kindergarten through high school. Many homeschoolers go to college.
For homeschoolers, state universities require a composite ACT score of 21 or better, plus some record of high school-level courses completed, said Kathy Rupp, the Board of Regents associate director for academic affairs.
There's no typical homeschool day because it's not structured like a classroom. Still, the hours often are similar to public schools for convenience. But there can be differences.
"We don't totally stop during the summer. We do a lot of review," Trembly said. "The neighborhood kids might think it strange that we have a math lesson in June."
Like most homeschoolers, the Tremblys converted part of their home -- in their case the basement -- into a classroom with desks, computers, books and other learning materials.
Teri Bucher said one advantage of homeschooling is teaching can be structured to each child.
"They all don't learn the same way. It makes learning easier when you can individualize," she said.
Bill Bucher said one myth is that homeschooled children have no social life.
"That's a distinct error," he said. "In terms of interacting with other children, there's no problem."