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 Minnesota.
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 Minnesota.
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
Home Educators and Youth (HEY)
HEY is a support group for home-educating parents and their children in northeastern Minnesota (the Arrowhead Region). They provide support and information for parents who are educating their children at home, provide children with an opportunity to meet and learn with other homeschooled children, and provide a place for people considering homeschooling to obtain information.
Early Childhood Homeschooling Opportunities in Minnesota (ECHO-MN)
Email group for Early Childhood Homeschooling Opportunities in Minnesota (ECHO-MN), an inclusive homeschool organization designed for families with young children who wish to learn more about homeschooling as an alternative form of education.
Catholic Homeschoolers of Wisconsin
This is a private list for leaders of Catholic homeschool support groups within the state of Wisconsin (or in border towns in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, and UP Michigan). It is a place to exchange information that may be of interest to Catholic homeschoolers throughout the state. It is also a forum for the dissemination of statewide invitations to various Catholic homeschooling events, such as conferences, graduations, dances, etc.
FM Secular Homeschoolers
This is a secular homeschool support group for the families of the Fargo/Moorhead areas. The group is intended to offer a forum for sharing ideas and meeting new people.
Charlotte Mason Twin Cities
Charlotte Mason Twin Cities is a support group for parents that would like to learn more about Charlotte Mason's philosophy. This support group will focus on how to apply the philosophy's of Miss Mason's time to our homeschools today. In addition to discussion on the e-loop, this group will meet monthly at a rotating location of a hosting bookstore throughout the Twin Cities.
Resources and Encouragement for Area Christian Homeschoolers (REACH)
REACH is a Christian homeschool support group serving families in the Fargo/Moorhead area (North Dakota and Minnesota).
Kinnickinnic Valley Home Educators
Kinnickinnic Valley Home Educators is a general homeschool support group composed of home educators from Pierce County and St. Croix County of Western Wisconsin, and neighboring Dakota County and Washington County of Minnesota. They meet on a regular basis, throughout the year, in centrally located River Falls, Wisconsin.
Unschooling MN
This list is a place for Minnesota unschoolers to get together and discuss unschooling ideas.
Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE)
The Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators was formed in 1983 to encourage Christian families in the home education of their children.
MACHE (pronounced "Mah-shay'") is a statewide, facilitating organization for all parents who have chosen to homeschool.
Rochester Homeschoolers
Rochester Homeschoolers is a homeschool support group formed to bring families of Rochester Minnesota and the surrounding communities together regularly to make friends, to learn, and to play. This inclusive group offers group activities, field trips, and more.
Greater Grand Forks Home School Association (GGFHSA)
Greater Grand Forks Home School Association is a Christian support group comprised of over 60 families all acting together to provide growth opportunities for our children as well as encourage each other. The families live in the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area and from the many rural areas surrounding these cities. This is an active group offering many opportunties for parents and children. They publish a monthly newsletter, offer field trips and yearly spelling and geography bees.
Minnesota Christian Support Group Leaders
The purpose of this group is to be a forum for Christian homeschool support group and co-op leaders.
Willmar Area Scholars at Home (WASH)
Willmar Area Scholars at Home, Inc. is an organization whose purpose is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by providing support for homeschooling families in the greater Willmar, MN area. They facilitate and encourage excellence in Christian education and promote homeschooling by sharing resources, experience, and planning group events.
Minnesotahomeschool
This is a mailing list for people who home school or are thinking of homeschooling in Minnesota, kids and parents alike. Here you can exchange ideas, support each other, and share resources and information.
Minnesota Home Schoolers (mnhomeschool)
MNHS is an open forum for the discussion of issues related to home schooling/unschooling in Minnesota. Offers topics such as support group activities, legal and legislative issues, homeschooling ideas and support, and more.
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Featured Resources
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