Support Groups
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.
Local & State Groups
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 California.
National Groups
Tap into the national homeschool movement by connecting with these national homeschool groups and support organizations.
Social Media
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.
Co-Ops
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 California.
Umbrella/Cover Schools
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.
Resource Centers
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.
Public School Programs
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.
Group Management
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.
What's Popular
San Francisco Gifted Kids
San Francisco Gifted Kids is an email resource group for parents of gifted children in San Francisco to share tips, events, inspiration, and support, to ask and answer questions, and link to other relevant resources.
OC Homeschool Events
This is an announcements only (low volume) for events and activities that may be of interest to homeschooling families in and around the Orange County, California area.
Family Homeschool Adventures
Family Homeschool Adventures is an inclusive activity group for Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and surrounding communities. They are an active group with weekly park days and monthly field trips. We meet every week, weather permitting, at a park in Lompoc.
Homeschooling in Santa Clarita Valley
Email group based in the Santa Clarita Valley, California. Offers support, local information, field trips, park days, and more.
Modesto Area Homeschooling
This email loop is for Modesto area homeschoolers. Includes information about homeschool events, field trips, co-ops, park days or anything else going on in the area that would be of interest to the homeschooling community.
Sycamore Tree Center for Home Education
The Sycamore Tree, Inc. was incorporated in California in 1982, and provides homeschool educational services to students in grades K-12. This is a text-based homeschool computer program. They also provide testing services.
Antelope Valley RoseRock Homeschool Group
Antelope Valley RoseRock Homeschool Group serves all residents of the Antelope Valley and surrounding communities who are interested in an inclusive homeschool support group. Offers park days, field trips, craft days, various classes, book swaps, pot lucks, and many other activities.
HomeSchool Association of California
The HomeSchool Association of California supports and promotes the entire spectrum of homeschooling. They provide information, monitor and influence legislation, offer networking opportunities for homeschooling families, and more.
Ventura County Homeschoolers
Ventura County Home Learners is a support group for homeschoolers in Ventura County. Offers activities and ideas, resources, and information for current, former, and prospective Ventura County (Southern California) homeschoolers, unschoolers, and independent study learners and their families.
Home Smart Families
The HomeSmartFamilies e-group offers information and discussions of homeschooling related issues. Serves the Northern California area.
Colorado River Homeschoolers
Colorado River Homeschoolers an inclusive homeschool group, open to all homeschoolers, regardless of style of homeschooling or religion. Located in the Bullhead City/Fort Mohave, AZ, Laughlin, NV, and Needles, CA area.
Home Learner-Whittier Home Schooling
Home Learner is a homeschool group offering information most pertinent to Whittier homeschooling with some Los Angeles and Orange County information, occasional articles, unit studies and topical links. Homeschoolers in the group come from Whittier, La Habra, Brea, La Mirada, Hacienda Heights, Fullerton, and occasionally farther.
Liberty Christian Academy-Ventura County
Liberty Christian Academy is a non-profit, non-accredited, conservative, Bible-based, private school utilizing the Independent Study Program option, as per the California Eductional Code.
California Homeschool Leaders
California Homeschool Network invites local support group leaders throughout California to join together in a statewide e-mail list to network together on legal and legislative issues that might impact all California homeschoolers. This list is limited to local leaders, and also legal/legislative representatives from the 3 state organizations.
CaliforniaHS-Announcements
CHN's announcement list is for California homeschoolers who want to receive homeschooling announcements, alerts, and other important homeschooling information, without discussion, debate, or chatting.
Looking for Another State?
Featured Resources
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A Different Kind of Teacher: Solving the Crisis of American Schooling
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Reading Made Easy
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