Could someone tell me how these things work? I'd like to get my children involved in one, but the closest I can seem to locate is around 45mins away. They are asking for a 'joiner' fee, then you pay for any class you take (plus buy your own materials), and you pay for any field trip you go on. It all seems rather organized. The fees are relatively low, and I'm not trying to nitpick, but if we 'join' but choose not to sign up for the classes, what is the joiner fee FOR? $120 for my kids seems steep for paperwork. There also seems to be (although I could be reading it wrong) the expectation that parents will volunteer. You don't just drop off your kids, you must stay (which I actually appreciate) but.. something just seems odd. And what if my kids are in two different classes at the same time? Is that pretty typical of what I can expect to find? I had hoped to find a group of people who were pretty informal, but maybe that isn't really what a co-op/homeschooling group is like? Ugh.. I'm having a hard time than I would have thought finding local homeschoolers!
There are different arrangments, but the co-op we joined has a registration fee. That fee is to cover building rental, insurance, paper, teacher supplies etc. Our registration fee is only about $60 for the family, but we meet at a church that charges a reduced rate for building-use. After that, we do not have an extra charge for the classes at the elementary level. It is just expected that each parent will teach two classes per year (that is two semester long classes, not two year long classes) and will have one extra duty; my extra duty is to be the Scholastic Book Club organizer. At the middle school and high school level, however, students may take two parent-taught classes for free. Just this year, our co-op began offering classes taught by paid tutors. We must pay extra for those classes. For example, a chemistry class is $280 for the year plus the cost of the textbook. I also belong to a group that is more loosely organized. There is a small fee to join and each family is expected to do "one thing" for the benefit of the group. It could be to organize a field trip, teach a class in your home, host a tea party for grade K-3, teach crochet, host a chess club, organize a play group at a local park, etc. The possibilities are endless. Announcements are sent through a Yahoo group and you can join in as many of the activities as are applicable to your students' ages and fit your schedule.
Wowie I would say that is pretty steep. Ours is only $25 yearly and that money is used for year end/beginning parties and website maintenance. I would look into creating your own group if you know of anyone in your area who also may be homeschooling.
With our co-op you need to join our homeschool group which is $50 for the year. Part of that is for the state group and part stays local. We also ask that families volunteer to help out with at least one thing for the year. We do lots of things besides the co-op (field trips, Mom's nights, curriculum sale, Dad's breakfast, standardized testing, group meetings/workshops....) Some families attend everything, some attend nothing but maybe testing. For the co-op (only open to families of the group) parents must be there and depending on how many classes you are taking determines what level of helping we ask to do. People sign up for one class for each child or up to five classes for each child, depends on the family. The cost for those vary depending on the class. I think you need to research the group a little more and see if the value is there for you. We are very active in our group but they are very close to our house so that makes it much easier.
Each co-op is different. I use to belong to one that cost $25 per family for supplies, and each parent taught for four weeks, and was an aide for four weeks. It was fairly small. The last two years I've been part of a bigger one. It costs I think $25 per semester, plus each teacher sets a fee for each class which you pay directly to the teacher, plus any supply fee the teacher charges. I'm not sure what exactly the first fee goes to (possibly the church...?), but I know no one is making money off of it. It also requires you to volunteer for two classes (unless your child is only taking one class!). And (starting last year, which I don't like) you must be in the building the whole time. So if your kids are there for four straight classes, you are, too. No spending part of that time at Krogers (up the road) doing your grocery shopping. And no sending older kids with a friend so you can stay home and work with the little ones. We're not doing that one this year. The times and class offerings didn't work for us this year. Instead, we'll be going somewhere else to get lab science. It's really not a co-op; a retired English high schoolteacher started tutoring hs'ed kids, and as more were interested, he started classes out of a church. He teaches, grammar/composition, research, etymology, British Lit one year and American the next, speech. Then last year, a lady joined him who teaches Apologia science. You pay per class, and the church has finally decided to add a fee for heating the building. I think it's $30. But it's a drop-off, and you don't have to stay.
Our co-op has a family joining fee of $25 and a per child fee depending on how many classes they take. But I think our total is only like $65 per semester. Our co-op is not quite as scholastically oriented but more enrichment. The girls have taken sewing, Spanish, sign language, drama, creative writing, God's Girls, P.E.. They have had fun and made some great friendships. The interaction with other homeschooled middle school girls was the biggest plus for my oldest. Since we started attending co-op she has talked less about returning to public school. My youngest loves homeschooling, but co-op has given her new friendships as well. Heck, I have made new friends and love it! LOL!
Thank you guys! That's incredibly helpful!! They are. I think it's the fee-to-join then fee-to-participate and THEN you are still required to volunteer. I have no issue paying for classes (or for space) but if it starts seeming a bit like the company is in business (which this one is) I'm leery. They have every right to have this business, but when the classes are run by volunteer teachers, then who is the money going to? I don't trust my instincts only because I haven't BEEN there, so all of the charges could be perfectly legit kwim? FTR- I also don't have trouble volunteering . But I'm not going to volunteer to teach something for free so they can CHARGE families to attend. Again, thanks guys!
Our teachers are paid, but there needs to be two adults in each class at all times. The second adult is an unpaid volunteer. In all honesty, there couldn't be a co-op without the parent volunteers. They help out in the classes, set up and take down each week, plan graduation ceremony, plan Showcase twice a year, run a Yahoo list, do scheduling, plan fund raisers (mostly selling pizza/snacks/pop each week), etc.
Our is on the low-key end. You join (for free), and the first Friday of the month is a science lesson/activity planned by a parent. The third Friday is an art lesson/project. This past year, one mom did the science lessons (a former science teacher) and 2 moms split the art lessons. This upcoming year, we have more people stepping up to take charge of classes. We also throw in a few field trips throughout the year. The building is provided free of charge at our community's clubhouse.
I belonged to a group that had incredible classes and only 20.00 per year. The second year I joined, all the activities were moved almost an hour away. AFTER I renewed, kwim? Of course, 'all fees are non-refundable.' I tried starting a group in my area, but couldn't get any interest.
