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Author Information

Natasha Kane

Abstract/Description

Introduction:
The number of homeschooled students in the United States continues to rise year after year. In 2011, 3.4% of the school-age population was being homeschooled, which was a jump from 2.9% in 2007 (HSLDA, 2013). A study done by the U.S. Department of Education conducted in 2013 reported that approximately 1.77 million students are homeschooled in the United States (Unit­ed States Department of Education, 2013). Due to these substantial numbers, many students and families are having to find ways to fulfill certain requirements, one of which being physical education. Physical education is a mandated subject in public schools and many private schools; however, many homeschooled students often miss out on these structured and purposeful classes (The General Court, 2015). Fortunately, the recent passing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) supports the role of physical education in the public school curriculum and acknowledges physical education as a part of a student’s well-rounded education. Physical education is therefore significant to a child’s overall educational experience. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to investigate how homeschooled students and their families are effected through participation in physical education experiences, including any behavior changes, health changes, increased learning, or derived enjoyment.

Note on the Author

Natasha Kane is graduating in May 2016 with a major in Physical Education Teacher Licensure K-12. Her research was completed during the Spring 2015 semester under the mentorship of Dr. Misti Neutzling (Movement Arts, Health Promotion, and Leisure Studies) and made possible with funding provided by BSU’s Undergraduate Research Semester Grant. Natasha presented this research at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota in April 2016. After graduation, she plans to work as a homeschool physical-education teacher in Parkland, Florida while pursuing her master’s degree, and then becoming an elementary-school physical-education teacher.

Rights Statement

Articles published in The Undergraduate Review are the property of the individual contributors and may not be reprinted, reformatted, repurposed or duplicated, without the contributor’s consent.

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