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A homeschool co-op can work well for families, but can be hard to find. If you haven’t found what you are looking for, it’s not that difficult to create your own homeschool co-op. If you are new to homeschooling, then you may have been hearing a lot of new words, such as co-op. In Nevada, you can create a co-op on your own without having to file any paperwork.
Co-ops can be based on age, special needs, academic goals, social aspects or creative endeavors. There are many homeschool co-ops in the Las Vegas valley, most of which are full or private. Some established co-ops are more than happy to share how they got started and the local resources they use. If you are looking to start a co-op, here are some questions to ask and points to consider. If you aren’t sure, reach out! Ask questions! There is a strong, active and supportive community locally and online. And if you are new to homeschooling, check out our checklist for beginners and our Homeschool 101 guides.
Local Co-Ops in Las Vegas
We are gathering a list of active local co-ops in the Las Vegas Valley, Henderson and Boulder City. If you would like to include your co-op, please email Kim@vegaskidszone.com.
Colorful Geniuses
Colorful Geniuses Homeschool Cooperative is a homeschool co-operative located in Las Vegas, Nevada. We believe in catering a learning experience that is both fun, informative, explorative, and that will provide a sense of community and belonging. We are a community of homeschool families who meet collectively to share resources, information, education and value amongst one another in order to enhance the learning experiences of our homeschooled children. Families from all walks of their homeschool journey are welcome. Our classes are extracurricular in nature, culturally based, with many fun electives as well! On Aug. 5, come meet the families who will be joining the co-op as well as potential families who may be interested at this free event with light refreshments, plus crafts for the kids! Please RSVP by clicking the photo above.
Henderson Explorers
Henderson Homeschool Explorers is an active group with many clubs and parents looking to form co-ops based on age and interests. Join the group here (link) and jump in the discussion to find and build a co-op that works for you!
Goals and a Good Foundation
A co-op sounds like a good idea, but you need to nail down some basics before getting a group together and jumping in.
- What do you hope to gain from a co-op?
- What is the purpose of the co-op?
- What costs do you expect to incur and how will those be recouped?
- How will it be organized, by age, interest or area?
- Will your homeschool co-op be invitation-only or open to enrollment?
A homeschool co-op can be a simple get-together based on kids’ ages and social needs where parents rotate hosting the group, which can give you a few hours of alone time (not to ever be undervalued!). Or you can create a group specifically to drill down on academia or study STEAM or explore art, techniques, history and get creative at each gathering.
There are no boundaries to the co-op you can create. Be sure of what you want to get the most out of the experience for you, your children and whoever joins the co-op. You can get overwhelmed if you are constantly trying to change the co-op to meet the needs of new members. Be confident in your goal and you’ll be successful in your co-op. Remember to file the Notice of Intent (NOI) if your child is age 7 or older.
You can create a homeschool co-op around a curriculum, such as Waldorf, or around a lifestyle, such as unschooling.
How Much Will Parents Need to Be Involved?
Some co-ops require parents to be involved at every meetup, provide instruction or activity, snacks, space or other essential requirements. Or you can create a co-op around a teacher that you all agree on and take turns monitoring the group and hosting the co-op. Make sure expectations of the homeschool co-op are clear before parents join. Otherwise, you may be forming an informal group rather than an actual co-op that meets your needs.
Also, make clear how decisions will be made. Is there a definite leadership role and how is that person chosen? Or do you work by majority? Larger co-ops can benefit from a board of directors that share the same vision of what the co-op should look like. Keep in mind that co-ops will evolve as kids grow.
Put together a mission statement that contains how the co-op will work, even if it’s just a handful of moms and dads meeting at a park for educational playdates. Include how often you expect to meet and where and any fees expected for teachers or a rented space. Even if you don’t have a teacher yet, know how much the average tutor costs and ask for that with provisions that this can change with enough time for the parent to opt-out of the co-op if the group fees go beyond their budget.
Grow Your Group
Consider how you want to find people to join your homeschool co-op. Invitation only means that you can choose who will be in the co-op, how large it will grow and how fast. If you get a waiting list, you can help them form their own co-op and possibly share resources. Opening a co-op up to new members offers an opportunity to gain fresh ideas and definitely increases the skills and volunteer abilities of your group.
Communicate with Members
Set up a place online either via email or a social media group for parents to share info, get updates and know what’s happening on a consistent basis. You can have online or in-person meetings, but definitely have a meeting outside of the regular times you meet for the actual co-op. Communication helps the group to feel cohesive. Kids can create a logo for the group that can be shared on T-shirts, tote bags and on the online group page.