Sparked by pandemic fallout, home-schooling popularity grows David Crary The Associated Press Although the pandemic disrupted family life across the U.S. since taking hold in spring 2020, some parents are grateful for one consequence: They’re now opting to home-school their children, even as schools plan to resume in-person classes. The specific reasons vary widely. Some families who spoke with The Associated Press have children with special educational needs; others seek a faith-based curriculum or say their local schools are flawed. The common denominator: They tried home-schooling on what they thought was a temporary basis and found it beneficial to their children.