FAQs
About CLC
Q: |
What is a homeschool co-op? |
A: |
Think of a co-op as a community where caregivers pool their skills, interests, and expertise to offer enriching classes and experiences that would be hard to create alone. At CLC, every family takes on both a big volunteer role (like teaching or administrative work) and shares in day-to-day operations (setup, cleanup, etc.) so no one person carries the whole load. |
Q: |
What do you mean by secular? |
A: |
We teach from a non-religious perspective and prioritize evidence-based learning. When it fits naturally into a lesson, we might explore different religions and cultures from an educational perspective, but the lens is academic rather than devotional. |
Q: |
But... you meet in a church? |
A: |
We know it might seem contradictory, but in our region, affordable venues that work for co-ops are really limited! We're incredibly diligent when we do use churches to host our group and only partner with places where we feel the congregation truly shares our values of inclusion and affirmation. |
Q: |
What do you mean by inclusive? |
A: |
We believe that to be truly inclusive, we have to have boundaries. We welcome differences, not harm. We are anti-racist and center the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth, neurodivergent learners, disabled and chronically ill community members, and others who have been traditionally left behind in other educational spaces. At CLC, you don't have to mask who you are to belong here, but you do need to show up with respect for the people around you. |
Q: |
What do you mean by affirming? |
A: |
Affirming goes beyond just accepting who you are. We actively support and validate your family's identity and experiences. We believe each person knows themself best, and we trust kids to express who they are authentically. This shows up in how we use the names, pronouns, and identity language people share, how we handle accessibility needs, and how we respond when conflicts arise. |
Q: |
What ages can attend CLC? |
A: |
We welcome kids from 5-18! Our mixed-age approach means children learn alongside others at different stages, which mirrors real life and often leads to beautiful mentoring relationships. Younger siblings are absolutely welcome too—we know homeschool families come as a package deal, and we've got systems in place to make sure everyone feels included. |
Q: |
Can I drop my student off? |
A: |
CLC isn't a drop-off program. We're a true cooperative where families participate together. We know this requires more commitment than drop-off programs, but it's also what makes our community so strong and helps us build "the village" that's missing in our culture. |
Membership Requirements
Q: |
What are the requirements to join the co-op? |
A: |
To join CLC, families need to complete our online registration, attend a Meet & Greet with leadership (kids 5+ included), pay semester fees, pass background checks, and be legally homeschooling or planning to homeschool when your child reaches compulsory age. Most importantly, you need to be ready to participate actively as part of our cooperative community. We'll walk you through all the details once you express interest! |
Q: |
How much does it cost to join? |
A: |
Thanks to a generous grant from the VELA Foundation, our membership fee for the 2025-2026 school year is $150 per family per semester, regardless of how many kids you have. This covers everything: classes, field trips, events, background checks, and proof of progress for each child. No hidden fees, no per-child charges. |
Q: |
What exactly am I paying for? |
A: |
Your membership fee covers all our shared expenses: facility rent, liability insurance, background checks, website hosting, field trips, parties and events, plus all the community supplies we use together. We're a true cooperative, so your fee goes directly toward making our shared programming possible. |
Q: |
I cannot attend class days. Is there a discounted membership just for field trips? |
A: |
We're still working on a tiered membership for families who want to join us just for field trips and park days. Follow our Facebook page or email list for updates as we develop this option! |
Q: |
What if I can't afford the entire membership fee? |
A: |
We don't offer payment plans directly, but services like Klarna or Afterpay can help you split the payment if that makes it more manageable. We're always exploring ways to make CLC accessible to more families, and we hope you can join us in the future! |
Q: |
I work during the day and can't teach or volunteer at all. Can my family join? |
A: |
Possibly! We get that life is complicated and everyone's situation is different. The key thing is that this is a cooperative where every family contributes something, and caregivers need to stay on-site with their kids. If you're interested, let's talk about what contribution might work for your family's schedule and capacity. |
Class Day
Q: |
How long is CLC? |
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A: |
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Q: |
What if my student doesn't want to take any of the classes offered a certain hour? |
A: |
No problem! If a student isn't interested in the classes offered or just needs a break, they're welcome to hang out in our Family Activity Center (FAC). We have games, activities, and quiet spaces for kids to decompress or play. Just remember that caregivers must stay with their children—especially our younger ones—to keep everyone safe and supported. |
Q: |
I have a baby or a toddler. Is there a place for them at CLC? |
A: |
We absolutely love our littlest community members! Bring them along and know that our whole community will help support your family! The only requirement is that you have at least one school-aged child (K-12) to be part of CLC. |
Q: |
Is there anything for the adults to do? |
A: |
Absolutely! Our "Anchoring Hour" at 11 a.m. is where the real village-building happens. This is your time to connect with other CLC grown ups over coffee (always coffee!), learn from guest facilitators who'll teach us things we actually want to know, and brainstorm what the current and future of CLC could look like together. Think of it as office hours with the board meets adult learning meets genuine community connection. Little ones are absolutely welcome to tag along if needed! |
Teaching
Q: |
Do I have to teach to participate in co-op? |
A: |
Not necessarily! Most of our teachers are returning members who've found their groove with us. Our newest members ease into our culture by attending Anchoring Hour and assisting experienced teachers before taking on their own classes. That said, families who teach or serve in leadership roles do get priority for class registration. |
Q: |
I don't think I can teach. Will you let me join anyway? |
A: |
Yes, you can absolutely join! New families aren't expected to teach in their first semester. After that, we do reserve a limited number of spots for returning families who contribute through "behind the scenes" roles like communications, event planning, or administrative support. We totally get that not everyone is a natural teacher! However, as we approach enrollment capacity, we may need to prioritize families who teach since we need enough instructors to actually run our classes. |
Q: |
I don't know what to teach.... Any ideas? |
A: |
You can teach anything you're passionate about! Go with your strengths, personal interests, or something you've always wanted to learn alongside the kids. Classes don't have to be traditional academic subjects at all. Some favorites from past semesters: Mixed Media Art, Crochet, Intro to Law, PE, Dance, Book Club, Chess, and so much more. If you're excited about it, chances are good the kids will be too! |
Absences
Q: |
What if I or one of my children gets sick? |
A: |
Please, please, please stay home when you're sick! When in doubt, just let us miss you instead. Our chronically ill members especially appreciate your efforts in keeping everyone well! We'll have updated instructions on how to let us know about last-minute illnesses/absences soon (it's not Facebook anymore—stay tuned!). And remember: we never penalize absences. |
Q: |
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A: |
Have fun! Just give us a heads up in advance so we can arrange a substitute if you're teaching a class. Life happens, and we'd rather you enjoy your time away knowing the community has things covered. |