PencilGo

How to start a homeschool co-op

Ten steps, the three jobs to fill, and four sheets to print and fill in. Free, and you do not need an account or an email address.

Ten steps

  1. 1Say what the group is for

    Write one sentence: classes, play days, field trips, or support for each other. Every later choice gets easier.

  2. 2Pick a size

    Count the families and children you can fit and teach. A small group is easy to start, and you can add families later.

  3. 3Find a place

    A home, a library room, a church or a community hall. Ask what it costs, which hours you can have, and what the owner needs from you.

  4. 4Choose the day and the dates

    The same day and time each week, with a start date and an end date for the term.

  5. 5Decide the age groups

    Which ages share a class, and which ages need a parent in the room.

  6. 6Decide who teaches

    Parents take turns teaching and helping, you hire a teacher, or a mix. The class and helper planner below spreads parent turns evenly.

  7. 7Set the fee

    Add up rent, supplies and any teacher pay, then split it. The dues calculator below does the sums from your numbers.

  8. 8Write the rules

    Attendance, parent duty, leaving the group, behavior and pick-up. Print the sample rules below and change them to fit.

  9. 9Choose one place to talk

    One place for news, events, sign-ups and questions, so nobody has to look in three places.

  10. 10Look back after one term

    Ask each family what worked and what did not. Change one or two things, not everything.

Three jobs to fill

In a small group one person can do two of these. Try not to let one person do all three for long.

  • Leader

    Keeps the group going: talks to the venue, welcomes new families, runs the first day and settles questions. Does not have to teach.

  • Treasurer

    Collects the fees, pays the bills and keeps a list of who has paid. A different person from the leader is easier on everyone.

  • Class coordinator

    Plans the schedule, matches classes to rooms and teachers, and finds a swap when someone cannot make their turn.

Insurance, waivers and the place you meet

Your venue. Churches, libraries and community halls often ask a group for proof of liability insurance before they say yes. Ask your venue what they want, in writing, before you pay a deposit.

A waiver. We are not lawyers and do not know what your state or town requires of a co-op. Ask a local lawyer what your group needs, including a waiver. We do not publish a waiver, because its wording depends on where you live.

Dues and taxes. Ask a tax professional.

Print the forms

Each sheet prints on one page in black ink. They are samples: change them to fit your group.

  • Start-up checklist

    Tick off each step and write down who has each job.
    Start-up checklist

    Co-op start-up checklist

    Group name:   Start date:

    • Write one sentence on what the group is for.
    • Decide how many families and children you can fit.
    • Find a place and ask what it costs and what the owner needs.
    • Choose the day, the time and the dates of the term.
    • Decide the age groups and which ages need a parent in the room.
    • Decide who teaches: parents in turns, a hired teacher, or both.
    • Add up the costs and set the fee.
    • Write the rules and the membership agreement.
    • Choose one place to post news, events and sign-ups.
    • Ask families what worked after one term.

    Who does what

    LeaderPhone or email
    TreasurerPhone or email
    Class coordinatorPhone or email

    Before the first day

    • Asked the venue if they want proof of liability insurance
    • Asked a local lawyer what a waiver should say
    • Every family has a signed membership agreement
    • Every family has the rules
    • Treasurer has a place to keep the money and a list of who has paid

    A sample from PencilGo (pencilgo.com/homeschool/start-a-co-op). Change it to fit your group. It is not legal advice.

  • Membership agreement

    One page for each family to fill in and sign.
    Membership agreement

    Membership agreement

    One copy for each family. The group keeps one and the family keeps one.

    Group name
    Term datesMeets (day, time)
    Place

    Our family

    Parent or guardianPhone
    Other parent or guardianPhone
    Email
    Children (name and age)
    Emergency contact (not a parent above)Phone
    Allergies or health needs we should know about

    We agree to

    • Pay the fee of $ by .
    • Come on the days the group meets, and tell the leader before the day if we cannot.
    • Take teaching or helping turns this term, and find a swap if we cannot make one.
    • Follow the group rules we were given.
    • Tell the leader days ahead if we are leaving the group.

    Fees if we leave:

    Parent or guardian signature
    Date
    Group leader signature
    Date

    A sample from PencilGo (pencilgo.com/homeschool/start-a-co-op). Change it to fit your group. It is not legal advice.

  • Sample group rules

    Attendance, parent duty, withdrawal, behavior and pick-up, with blanks for your own numbers.
    Sample group rules

    Group rules

    Group:   Term:

    Attendance

    • Children come on time. Class starts at .
    • If your child will miss a day, tell the leader by that day.
    • A child who is sick stays home until .
    • After missed days in a row, the leader will call to check in.

    Parent duty

    • Each family takes teaching or helping turns this term.
    • If you cannot make your turn, find a swap and tell the class coordinator by .
    • Parents stay on site unless the leader has said otherwise.
    • Everyone helps put the room back the way we found it.

    Withdrawal

    • A family that is leaving tells the leader days ahead.
    • Fees if you leave: .
    • The group may ask a family to leave after .

    Behavior

    • We speak kindly and keep our hands to ourselves.
    • Children follow the teacher in class. A parent is called if the problem continues.
    • Phones and devices: .

    Pick-up and drop-off

    • Drop off from to . Pick up by .
    • Children go home only with the adults on the family’s agreement, unless the leader is told in writing.
    • Late pick-up: .
    • Children are not left alone outside the room.

    A sample from PencilGo (pencilgo.com/homeschool/start-a-co-op). Change it to fit your group. It is not legal advice.

  • Field trip permission slip

    One for each child on each trip.
    Field trip permission slip

    Field trip permission slip

    Return to the trip organizer by .

    The trip

    Group
    WhereAddress
    DateLeave atBack by
    Cost per personBring (lunch, water, ...)
    Adults going
    How we get there (car pool, bus, walk)

    Our child

    Child’s nameAge
    Parent or guardianPhone during the trip
    Allergies or health needs
    Emergency contact (not a parent above)Phone
    Adult who will be with our child

    Permission

    I give permission for my child to go on the trip above. I have read where we are going, when we leave and return, who is driving and which adults are going.

    • My child will ride with:
    • I will drive my own child
    • I am coming along
    Parent or guardian signature
    Date

    A sample from PencilGo (pencilgo.com/homeschool/start-a-co-op). Change it to fit your group. It is not legal advice.

Plan the classes and the fees

Keep the group in one place

Posts every family sees, one-tap RSVPs, sign-up sheets for snacks and helpers, and chat. Free for every group, no ads.

Start your group

Sample forms, not legal advice. Ask your venue, a local lawyer and a tax professional what your group needs.