Homeschoolers have created networks of support to provide a way to make friends, get ideas and information, and to offer positive socialization opportunties to their children. You can join in! There are many groups to choose from, many with specific affiliations, like Christian groups or unschoolers' groups. Some are eclectic, inclusive, and open to anyone. Whatever your interest, you are sure to find other like-minded parents. And if you don't find what you are looking for, we've put together tips for starting your own group.
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| Local & State Groups |
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Support groups offer a way for those interested in homeschooling or new to home education to get information and support. They also offer opportunities for social activities, group learning, and networking. Find a support group near you in Maryland.
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| National Groups |
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Tap into the national homeschool movement by connecting with these national homeschool groups and support organizations.
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| Email Groups & Lists |
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Connecting via email can be a life-line for anyone who is looking for support, guidance, information, and friendship. Many support groups rely on email lists to facilitate communication and to pass along information and ideas. Browse through these group to find some that might meet your needs.
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| Forums & Message Boards |
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Message boards and forums are like the public squares of homeschooling. Come and find ongoing discussion covering every aspect of homeschooling imaginable.
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| Social Networking |
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Connect with other homeschooling using social networking tools. You can share tips and ideas, get support, collaborate on lesson plans, upload photos, and much more.
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| Co-Ops |
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A co-op offers a way to share teaching duties with others who are excited and knowledgeable about a subject. It also offers an opportunity for your children to learn in a group and to make friends. Browse through this list of co-ops in Maryland.
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| Cover/Umbrella Schools |
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An umbrella or cover school provides an alternative way for parents to fulfill governmental educational guidelines and requirements. Most offer a variety of services, which can include curricula, social activities, field trips, standardized testing, portfolio reviews, evaluations, and graduation materials, including diplomas. While umbrella schools do tend to the needs of homeschoolers, they are considered a type of private school in most states.
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| Resource Centers |
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Homeschool resource centers offer classes, materials, field trips, and other activities for parents and children alike. They are great ways to get new information, engage in group activities, and network with other homeschoolers.
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| Public School Programs |
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Public schools are increasing offering programs to appeal to homeschooling families, from classes to educational materials to computer and distance learning. In most cases, students enrolled in these programs are considered public school students rather than homeschoolers. Learn more about these programs and decide if these are right for your family.
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| Support Group Management: Starting & Running a Support Group |
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Learn how to start and manage a homeschool support group, including how to stay organized, how to handle conflict, and ideas for your support group.
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Teach Art at Home |
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A monthly newsletter that delivers free art projects and lessons that are contained on www.teachartathome.com - the home of Masterpiece Art Instruction. Join the group and be the first to receive the new projects every month along with drawing lessons and fun ideas for using art to teach other subjects such as history and science.
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ABC Books by Ann |
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This group consists of two things: 1) a bi-weekly newsletter with articles about living books, book collecting, taking care of and organizing your home school library, using living books in your homeschool, notebooking, book and author reviews, and more; and 2.) a bi-weekly catalog of living books for sale on eBay, plus and some unit studies.
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Web Presence for African-American Homeschoolers |
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Jennifer James |
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Creating a web presence of African-American home school support groups will do much to organize and network families across the country and internationally. This article the basics for creating a personal home schooling website or site for a home school support group or organization. |
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Home School Foundation |
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The Foundation's mission is to preserve parental freedoms, promote home schooling, provide assistance to needy home schooling families, and support like-minded organizations. The Home School Foundation is a supporting organization of the Home School Legal Defense Association. In June 2001, the Foundation replaced the Home School Legal Defense Foundation, initially established in 1992, to promote home schooling and to bless the home schooling movement. They help families through seven funds: the Widows Fund, the Special Needs Children’s Fund, the Friends of Home Schooling Fund, the Generation Joshua Fund, the Compassion Fund, the PHC Scholarship Fund, and the Members Helping Members Fund.
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