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Is HARO anti-homeschooling?
No. The HARO board does not stand against homeschooling as an educational method. We believe that homeschooling is a powerful, useful tool. It represents a democratic approach to educational progress, innovation, and creativity. It allows a child’s learning environment to be tailored to individual and personal needs. When homeschooling is done responsibly, it can be amazing. What we oppose is irresponsible homeschooling, where the educational method is used to create or hide abuse, isolation, and neglect.
Does HARO have any particular religious or political agenda?
No. While the majority of HARO’s board members are outspoken Christians, the board is committed to intersectionality and ecumenicity in its advocacy. We are not interested in championing any particular doctrine other than the well-being of homeschool students and graduates.
What is HARO’s position on homeschool oversight (i.e., government regulation of homeschooling)?
HARO does not advocate for or against public policy. HARO advocates for awareness and education, peer support, and resource development from within homeschooling.
What is the relationship between HARO and Homeschoolers Anonymous (HA)?
As a part of HARO, HA’s mission is to improve homeschooling for future generations through awareness and education, peer-support networks, and resource development. HA specifically implements the awareness and education aspect of HARO’s mission. The HARO board believes that knowledge is power. To that end we publish personal stories and testimonies about homeschooling experiences, historical and sociological studies of the modern homeschooling movement, and analyses of the ideologies and leaders that have shaped homeschooling in the U.S.
What is the relationship between HARO and the individual stories on HA?
The views and opinions expressed by HA’s individual contributors do not necessarily reflect those of HA as a platform or HARO as an organization.
What is the relationship between HARO and CRHE?
The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is an entirely distinct organization from HARO. While CRHE and HARO have one board member in common, CRHE takes positions on policy measures whereas HARO and HA do not. CRHE and HARO also have very different missions.
Where is HARO at in the incorporation process?
HARO is a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization. Donors can deduct contributions made to us under IRC Section 170. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522.
Who staffs HARO?
HA and HARO are both run entirely by volunteers, who have collectively volunteered thousands of hours since last March.
Is there any evidence for how common child abuse, mental illness, or self-injury is among homeschool families?
Due to the absence of required registration or notification of homeschoolers, there are frankly no reliable statistics on homeschooling families in general. However, the stories that have been told on Homeschoolers Anonymous indicate that many people have experienced abuse within homeschooling. HARO wants every homeschooled student to have an excellent and, most importantly, safe homeschooling experience. So the fact that these things occur in our community at all is something we think everyone invested in the future of homeschooling should be concerned about.
Isn’t HARO’s position on LGBT* students and alumni anti-Christian?
Our LGBT* friends and peers have been hurt by a system that consistently marginalizes, ignores, or abuses them. HARO unequivocally supports these individuals. Given that Jesus consistently identified with and demonstrated compassion towards the marginalized, ignored, and abused, we believe our principles are consistent with Christian values.
Would HARO’s board members ever think about homeschooling their (future) children?
If and when we have children, we would all put our children’s wellbeing first and foremost and equally consider homeschooling, private schooling, or public schooling (or even a combination thereof) to see what best suits each individual child.
HARO 