In homeschooled families, siblings often learn side-by-side rather than being separated by age-based classrooms, strengthening family bonds and shared experiences. Homeschooling refers to parent-directed education that takes place outside traditional public or private school settings, with families legally responsible for instruction and annual assessment. For many families, homeschooling also altered family dynamics in meaningful ways. “While the average national increase in homeschooling was just over 5.4% last year, Maine increased by over 8%,” they said. As homeschooling continues to grow in Maine, families said they hope conversations around education expand beyond test scores and compliance to include trust in parents and recognition of diverse learning paths.