phy (Charlotte Mason, Classical Christian, etc.), age-range
(elementary, middle school, etc.), or geographic area. You
may have only one selection of classes per age group, or you
may have several options per hour. You might meet in the
morning and finish before lunch, or you may have classes all
day with a lunch break. You may even meet in the evening.
You might do multiple short sessions per year or a thirty-six
week schedule. The options are endless, but it’s important to
begin with something you feel comfortable with, that meets
your family’s needs, and is sustainable.
PARTNER WITH A CHURCH IF POSSIBLE
Ideally, a church will partner with you in this vision. If you
can identify a congregation to take on your co-op as a minis-
try, they will invest valued oversight, prayer, and resources.
Your co-op may fall under their insurance umbrella and their
nonprofit status. Most importantly, the pastor can shepherd
and promote your ministry and provide wise counsel and
conflict resolution. If this isn’t possible, you may want to
partner with a local homeschool support organization (visit
hslda.org/content/LandingPages/local-groups.asp), and
you may need to rent space at a church, library, or commu-
nity center. Be creative and check multiple options. You also
may need to consult an accountant or lawyer regarding the
benefits of forming a nonprofit ministry.
tion, three to eight leaders are ideal. You may need addi-
tional teachers, teaching assistants, hall monitors, and other
volunteers. The key is to have participation from all present
adults, so consider background checks, statements of faith,
and other precautionary steps.
ADDRESS CONFLICT
Matthew 18:15-17 addresses conflict in the church, yet
many Christians fail to heed this biblical directive. Go
over this text with your leaders and families in the begin-
ning before co-op classes start, and let them know this is
expected protocol. If you learn of a difficult situation, don’t
shy away from it—prayerfully and honestly address those
involved. Be loving and gracious but truthful.
DON’T EVER FORGET
According to Deuteronomy 6, parents are primarily respon-
sible for their children’s education. As a leader, don’t allow
families to overly depend on your co-op. As a parent, don’t
abdicate your role as your child’s primary teacher. Co-ops
can be an excellent supplement to your homeschool when
they are run and used properly. ■
ANTICIPATE OBSTACLES
While co-ops can be a delightful part of a home-
school program, there are obstacles at times. Why?
Because co-ops are made of people—imperfect people.
Most people who start co-ops do it for their kids, and they
have the best of intentions. However, they may not have
a good foundation in leadership, or they may believe
that because this is a ministry, it will be problem-free.
Organizing and operating on biblical principles is
the best predictor of success. It’s important to be
prayerful and proactive and to understand that
there may be obstacles.
Consistent, clear communication from the start
will keep many conflicts from arising. Leaders should
err on the side of overcommunication when it comes to
schedules, expectations, and expenses but not about confi-
dential matters, such as details of difficult leadership deci-
sions. Parents don’t appreciate surprises to their calendars
or their bank accounts. Good planning and clear communi-
cation are essential.
You also need an active leadership team. We recommend
having one director who handles things like quick deci-
sions, serious discipline issues, and other difficult situations.
This person keeps the team focused on the vision. But that
leader also needs an invested leadership team to help plan
and oversee the co-op. For a small co-op, each participating
parent may be on the team, whereas in a larger organiza-
Heather Borntraeger and her husband, Rick, live in Louisville, KY, where they serve the ho-
meschooling community on the board of Home For His Glory. Having homeschooled their
two adult children, Tyler and Haley, she now enjoys creative pursuits like consulting, sing-
ing, calligraphy, baking, and educating middle school math students in a private Christian
school. The Bible is her favorite book, and she teaches other women to follow Christ in local
ministry. Even though she is certified in Grades 1-8, she considers her time spent encourag-
ing homeschooling families as one of her favorite pursuits.
Heather Walton and her husband, Terry, have eight children, ranging from age two to twen-
ty-five, and one grandchild. They live in Louisville, KY, where Terry is a pastor. Heather ho-
meschools her school-age children, and she leads Home For His Glory, Louisville’s Christian
homeschool support group. She is also certified to teach elementary and special education
and has taught and led in public and Christian schools. Heather has a passion for equipping
families to disciple their children from a biblical worldview, especially within the home-
school context. Most importantly, she is a committed Christ-follower.
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