Who We Are
Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) is a secular, inclusive homeschool cooperative serving families across Hampton Roads, Virginia. We were founded in 2024 by a small group of caregivers who were ready to stop waiting and start building the space our learners needed — a space built on safety, authenticity, and shared belonging.

Who We Serve
CLC was created for families whose children have often been excluded or underserved in traditional learning spaces. That includes — but isn’t limited to — those raising LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and low-income learners. We also welcome families who may not share these identities but who deeply align with our values.

We believe everyone benefits when everyone is invited. That invitation comes with clear boundaries: our space is explicitly affirming, and participation requires alignment with that commitment.

How We Operate
Every part of our program is powered by caregivers. We are curriculum-free by design, rooted in interest-led learning, and united by a shared commitment to collaboration, flexibility, and care.

Our Tuition Model
We developed our own Community Commitment Model that treats time as a form of currency. Each family contributes weekly labor — teaching, organizing, cleaning, supporting others — in exchange for significantly reduced tuition. As a nonprofit serving many low-income households, we take our responsibility seriously: to keep costs low and access high. Our flat-rate tuition covers all programming, classes, supplies, and materials for every school-age child in the family — making us the most affordable inclusive option in our region.

Beyond Affordability
We’re also intentional about more than just affordability. We recognize that many caregivers come to us carrying exhaustion, trauma, and burnout. Our model honors those realities by making room for rest, flexibility, and mutual aid. We believe community care means meeting families where they are — and walking beside them, not ahead of them.

How We Support Families
Our programming centers both students and caregivers. From monthly themed celebrations to inclusive arts, co-ed sports, and identity-affirming projects, our learning environments prioritize joy, autonomy, and connection. We also provide a deeply accessible approach to fulfilling legal homeschool requirements. Rather than charge additional fees or rely on standardized testing, we offer personalized proof-of-progress letters at no extra cost — written by our Board Chair, who is trained in both education and law, and who builds authentic relationships with each learner. This approach is especially critical for children who may not be fully or accurately represented by traditional assessments.

We’re here to co-create a homeschool experience where care is the foundation — and community is the curriculum.