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.
What's the Difference Between Groups and Co-ops?
The distinction comes down to purpose and commitment. Homeschool support groups exist primarily for social connection—they bring parents together for encouragement, resource sharing, and occasional activities like field trips or park days. Participation is flexible; show up when it works for your family. Homeschool co-ops involve actual teaching. Parents share instructional responsibilities, taking turns leading classes in their areas of expertise. If you join a co-op, you're committing to show up consistently, contribute through teaching or volunteering, and participate in structured programming. Think of a support group as your homeschool social network and a co-op as your homeschool teaching team.
Key Takeaways
- Support groups focus on parent networking and flexible social activities
- Co-ops require shared teaching responsibilities and consistent participation
- Support groups typically have minimal fees; co-ops may cost $100-1,000+ annually
- Many families participate in both—using groups for community and co-ops for instruction
How They Compare
Support Group Activities
Support groups offer varied activities without heavy commitment. Common offerings include parent meetings and discussion forums where experienced homeschoolers share advice, curriculum swaps where families exchange materials, field trips to museums, farms, historical sites, and businesses, and park days for unstructured social time. Many organize seasonal events like talent shows, science fairs, spelling bees, and holiday parties. Some host workshops on homeschooling topics—understanding state laws, teaching specific subjects, or managing household logistics. Graduation ceremonies for homeschool seniors are another popular offering. The key characteristic is flexibility: miss a few events and you haven't disrupted anyone else's learning.
Co-op Programming
Co-ops deliver structured educational content. Academic co-ops cover core subjects—parents divide math, science, history, and language arts based on expertise. Students often have homework between weekly meetings. Enrichment co-ops focus on group-appropriate subjects like art, drama, choir, debate, foreign languages, or PE—things that work better with peers than one-on-one. Lab sciences requiring specialized equipment fit naturally in co-ops. Some co-ops produce theatrical performances, host academic competitions, or field sports teams. Because you're depending on other families for instruction, consistent attendance matters. Missing co-op means your child misses content and your assigned responsibilities go unfilled.
Choosing What's Right for Your Family
Consider what you actually need. If you're new to homeschooling and want guidance plus community without heavy obligations, a support group provides connection without commitment. If you're struggling with specific subjects or your children need regular peer interaction in a classroom setting, a co-op addresses those gaps. Many families do both: joining a large support group for the social network while participating in a smaller co-op for targeted instruction. Before committing to any co-op, attend trial sessions and talk with current members. The time investment is significant, and the co-op's educational philosophy should align with yours. Susan Wise Bauer and other veteran homeschoolers caution that co-ops sometimes become more work than anticipated—make sure the benefits justify the commitment.
The Bottom Line
Support groups and co-ops serve different purposes, and understanding that distinction helps you choose wisely. If you want casual community and resources, a support group delivers without overwhelming your schedule. If you want shared teaching and structured academics, a co-op provides that—but at the cost of flexibility and commitment. Neither is inherently better; they're just different tools for different needs. Most thriving homeschool families eventually participate in some form of both.
