Prior to the introduction of compulsory school attendance laws, most childhood education was imparted by the family or community.[4] However, in developed countries, homeschooling in the modern sense is an alternative to attending public or private schools, and is a legal option for parents in many countries. According to the US National Household Education Surveys, about three percent of all children were homeschooled in the 2011 and 2012 school year. The studies found that of these children, 83 percent were White, 5 percent were Black, 7 percent were Hispanic, and 2 percent were Asian or Pacific Islander