Community

An academic co-op is a group of homeschool families who meet regularly to share teaching responsibilities, with parents or hired instructors leading classes in various subjects.

Co-op membership fees are charges homeschool families pay to participate in a cooperative, typically ranging from $25 to over $1,000 annually depending on the co-op's structure, services offered, and whether classes are parent-taught or led by paid instructors.

A cottage school is a hybrid education model where homeschool students attend formal classes with professional teachers 1-3 days per week, completing remaining work at home under parental supervision.

A curriculum fair is an event where homeschooling families can browse, compare, and purchase educational materials from multiple vendors while attending workshops and connecting with other homeschoolers.

A curriculum swap is an event or online exchange where homeschool families buy, sell, or trade used educational materials, helping families save money while keeping quality curriculum in circulation.

A drop-off co-op is a homeschool enrichment program where parents leave their children with paid teachers for classes one to two days per week, without the requirement to stay on-site or teach other students.

Enrichment classes are supplemental programs that complement core homeschool curriculum, offering instruction in areas like art, music, foreign languages, STEM, and physical education—often taught by subject specialists and providing valuable peer interaction.

An enrichment co-op is a parent-run homeschool group that meets regularly—typically weekly—to provide supplemental classes in subjects like art, drama, science, and physical education, with parents volunteering to teach topics they know well.

A homeschool field trip group is an organized community of homeschooling families who coordinate group outings to educational venues, sharing planning responsibilities while accessing group discounts and building social connections.

A homeschool co-op (cooperative) is a group of homeschooling families who share teaching responsibilities and resources. Parents take turns instructing classes in their areas of expertise, giving students access to group learning and subjects that would be difficult to teach at home.

A homeschool convention is a multi-day event featuring workshops, keynote speakers, and vendor exhibit halls where homeschooling families can explore curriculum, learn teaching strategies, and connect with the broader homeschool community.

A homeschool support group provides social connection and resources for homeschooling parents through flexible activities and gatherings. A homeschool co-op involves shared teaching responsibilities where parents take turns instructing classes, requiring higher commitment but offering structured academic or enrichment programming.

A homeschool support group is an association of homeschooling families that provides mutual encouragement, practical resources, social opportunities for children, and shared activities like field trips, co-op classes, and parent meetups.

A hybrid school combines part-time classroom instruction (typically 2-3 days weekly) with home-based learning for remaining days, offering professional teaching and peer interaction while maintaining family involvement and schedule flexibility.

A learning pod is a small group of 3-12 students who learn together outside traditional school, typically with a hired instructor or tutor, offering homeschool families shared instruction and socialization.

A microschool is a deliberately small learning environment serving 5-20 students, combining elements of homeschooling and traditional schooling with personalized instruction, often led by professional educators in homes, churches, or community spaces.

An online homeschool community is a virtual network connecting homeschooling families for support, shared resources, curriculum recommendations, and social interaction across geographical boundaries.

A parent-participation co-op is a group of homeschooling families who meet regularly and share teaching responsibilities, with parents required to stay on-site and actively contribute to instruction or support roles.

A park day is a regular, informal gathering of homeschooling families at a local park for socialization, free play, and community connection—typically requiring no membership, fees, or formal commitment.

A state homeschool organization is a nonprofit membership group that provides legal information, advocacy, conventions, and community support for homeschooling families within a specific state.

A teaching rotation is a system used in homeschool co-ops where parents take turns teaching classes or subjects to groups of students on a scheduled basis, distributing the teaching responsibility among multiple families.

A homeschool tutorial is a fee-for-service program where students receive instruction from hired tutors or professional educators in specific subjects, allowing parents to step back from direct teaching while maintaining their homeschool status.

A university-model school (UMS) is a hybrid educational approach where students attend classes on campus 2-3 days per week with professional teachers, then complete the remaining schoolwork at home under parental supervision in what's called the satellite classroom.

A vendor hall (or exhibit hall) is the marketplace area at homeschool conventions where curriculum publishers, educational services, and homeschool-related companies display and sell their products to families, typically offering convention-exclusive discounts.