Support Groups

Though it is not required by law, we recommend you join  a support group.

If you've lent out some books, or offered some advice to another home schooling parent then you have offered your support. If you and another home school parent have started working together trying to improve upon the quality of your home education, then you have started a support group.

This resource presents information about support groups that home schoolers will find at the local, state, and national levels. International support does exist. You may learn more about supporting home schooling at the International level by visiting HSLDA’s web site.

http://www.hslda.org/

Local Support Group

Visit several groups in your area to determine which group's goals and activities match your families’ interests.

Local support groups are where you will find most of your day to day direction and support. Support at the local level is where families come together, according to interest, to share genuine ideas and the latest news in the area. This is where families meet for encouragement and to plan activities. Depending on the size of the support group, they may also offer parent's support meetings and classes, or they may hold or promote annual curriculum fairs.

Start a Support Group:

If there is not a support group already in your area, you may choose to start one. Taking the sole responsibility for starting a well-planned support group can be time-consuming. It may be helpful to invite other parent/teacher’s to meet for a general discussion about what kind of support group everyone would like. As the group evolves, the details concerning agenda and procedures will become clear as you customize the group to fit your needs.

While some groups focus primarily on field trips, mission trips, or other activities of interest, other groups may focus on learning different teaching strategies or professional development.

Choose a purpose:

The following is a brief list of reasons for starting a support group:

• Share information, knowledge, different views, moral support, etc.

• Involve students with others through group activities, co-op, the community, etc.,

• Creating opportunities such as home school bands, sports, civic involvement, etc.

• Testing opportunities, graduation ceremonies, curriculum fairs, etc. 

• Organize field trips, cook outs, a day at the lake, a day at the park, etc.

Create a list of functions:

Create a list of functions to put into action once you have decided which type of support group shall form. The following is a list of functions for a group that shares information, knowledge, different views, moral support, etc.

• Share what you know about videos, software, or paperback of current curriculums with others.

• Analyze and compare information about different publishers.

• Discuss handouts and articles relevant to home schooling.

• Ask a volunteer to read about a topic, and share what they learn at the next meeting.

• Start a newsletter that provides members of your group a steady flow of information concerning upcoming events.

Create Roles:

Once you have created a list of functions that are specific for your group, you can create roles to support those functions. For example, a well-organized newsletter that provides quality information could involve three, or more, people working together to make it happen. The more people supporting your newsletter, the easier it will be to meet the deadlines. The following roles could be created to support a newsletter:

• (1) Coordinator: This in the contact person for your newsletter. They promote your newsletter, answer questions, monitor growth, and do whatever it takes to support the other roles.

• (2) Editor: Two people share editing responsibilities which could include, deciding what gets published, choosing a design, looking for mistakes, typos, etc.

• (1) Publisher: Print and mailing responsibilities could go to someone with a computer and printer.

• (2-3) Support Team: A few extra hands and eyes can be useful for researching information for the editors, assisting the publisher, 

Free Internet Services

Many support groups are taking advantage of free Internet services and email tools that are available to setup a means of communication for their group. The following is a list of free tools and resources available on the World Wide Web.

It is important to note that free services on the Internet are not going to be equivalent to purchased versions. For example, you can’t connect a real Web name to free Web space. Free sites are free because they are setup to target your guests with endless advertisements.

If you are a member of PIE, and you decide to start a support group, you may consider using a free SharePoint team Web site which is an administrative tool useful for organizing information, sharing knowledge, managing documentation, and establishing communication within the group while remaining free of advertisements.

Managing a SharePoint team Web sites requires the administrator of the Web site to hold a membership with Palmetto Independent Educators. Other members of the group are not required to join PIE. Further information concerning SharePoint team Web sites has been provided from the following Web page.

http://www.homeschoolingwithpie.org/spts.htm

State Support Group

South Carolina Home Educators Association is a statewide support organization of parents who have chosen to home educate their children in South Carolina. SCHEA seeks to provide information, support and training to the home education community throughout the state.

SCHEA"s goals include fostering an accurate and favorable image of home education, cooperating with other home school organizations in pursuing common goals and keeping its membership apprised of legislative or regulatory action affecting home education in SC.

SCHEA has been serving home schools since 1987. Visit their “History of SC Home Schooling and SCHEA” from the following Web page.

http://www.homeschoolingwithpie.org/sc_law_3.htm

SCHEA promotes a Christian worldview. However, SCHEA does not require that its individual members adhere to a specific religious belief or doctrine. A board of directors representing each member local support group in the state governs SCHEA.

SCHEA is a "working" board that requires skill, interest and individual effort of its board members to support and promote home schooling in SC. These individuals are elected (or appointed) by their local support group to a one year term on the SCHEA board of directors. The board meets bi-monthly in Columbia, SC. The day to day activities of the board are conducted by the executive officers, which are the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The board of directors elects the officers to two-year terms.

Important Note:

Members of Palmetto Independent Educators are eligible for the group discount with South Carolina Home Educators Association. Beginning January 1, 2005, SCHEA membership fees will increase. ·        Individual $25.00 ·        Group member $15.00/family/year (via SCHEA member group) Members of PIE interested in joining SCHEA, may contact the office of PIE for further details.

SCHEA Convention

Each year, SCHEA hosts a huge event in the Columbia area with dozens of vendors, more workshops than you can shake a stick at, guest speakers, and a children’s program. This is a fantastic opportunity for new homeschoolers to get out there and learn about their choices. There are hundreds, if not, thousands of people that will attend. The vendors have their presentations setup and the home schoolers are buzzing around. Please contact SCHEA with any questions concerns or items of interest at:

SCHEA PO BOX 3231
COLUMBIA, SC 29230-3231
(803) 772-2330

A list of Local Support Groups in your area is maintained courtesy of SCHEA's web site.

http://www.schomeeducatorsassociation.org/support.htm

Carolina Home Schooler

National Support Group

Home School Legal Defense Association is a non-profit membership organization of families who home school their children nationwide.

Their mission is to preserve and advance the fundamental, God-given, constitutional right of parents and others legally responsible for their children to direct their education.

Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000 · Purcellville, VA 20134-9000
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733
E-mail: infor@hslda.org
Web Site: http://www.hslda.org

Home School Heartbeat is a two-minute daily radio program that addresses educational, legal and spiritual topics, which can be interesting to any parent that is considering home schooling their children or for those that are currently home schooling.

Important Note:

Members of Palmetto Independent Educators are eligible for the 15% membership discount at the reduced price of $95.00 per year when you use our Group Discount Number shown above. Note that our Group Discount Number is confidential and should only be given to members of PIE. Members may contact the office of PIE, or visit the member center to obtain PIE’s HSLDA Group Discount number. All transactions will be made through the office of HSLDA. Download HSLDA’s application from the following Web page. http://www.hslda.org/join/tour5.asp

The Home School Foundation Operated by HSLDA’s Board of Directors, the Foundation’s mission is to preserve parental freedoms, promote home schooling, provide assistance to needy homeschooling families, and support like-minded organizations.

Home School Foundation
P.O. Box 1152 · Purcellville, VA 20134
Phone: (540) 338-8899
Fax: (540) 338-2733
E-mail: info@homeschoolfoundation.org

National Center for Home Education A division of HSLDA, the mission of the National Center for Home Education is to serve the home schooling community, state home school leaders, and HSLDA members.

One Patrick Henry Circle
Purcellville, VA 20132
Phone: (540) 338-7600
Fax: (540) 338-8606
E-mail: nche@hslda.org

Home School Parent & Support Group Seminars Join home school leaders from across the state for the Home School Legal Defense Association's Home School Parent & Support Group Seminars.

Congressional Action Program was formed by the National Center for Home Education in 1993. Created with the objective of fending off federal threats to home education, the CAP program has seen tremendous success and growth during the years.

Generation Joshua is recruiting Christian young people from across the nation to engage in their civic and political duties. With an emphasis on patriotism, excellence, and civic involvement, Generation Joshua will help equip a new generation of young people in impacting American culture.