According to John Holt, unschooling allows children the freedom to learn in the world on their own terms. He saw no distinction between learning and living a meaningful life. Learning is a natural process and works best when integrated into the spaces and activities of everyday life. This article takes a look at some of John Holt's philosophy of education and explains why unschooling is often the very best choice of educational model. 

Some families use an umbrella school as one of their state’s legal homeschooling options. Others use a cover school to make some aspects of homeschooling, such as transcripts and graduation, easier. Reasons for using an umbrella school include compliance with homeschooling laws and guidance on curriculum or course choices.