Home education is one option that parents might consider for their child. And for parents opting to homeschool, the month of August is a busy time! This is generally the month to send in a Notification of Intent (a form used to notify the department of education that a child will be homeschooled instead of attending a public or private educational institution), choose curriculum, join a local co-op and fill in enrichment activities. We’ve rounded up our top FAQs for home education by a local homeschool mom.
Notification of Intent in Ohio
Ohio law states that parents must notify the superintendent in their home district with a letter of intent to home educate. A great resource for legal documents and general support is the volunteer-led online group, Ohio Homeschooling Parents, who clearly lists out all of the laws and forms. To send in a Notification of Intent (NOI) to homeschool, children must be age 6 by the first day of school in your district. Your NOI must be postmarked by certified mail to the superintendent before the end of the first week of school in the home district.
Co-Ops
Southwest Ohio has dozens of co-ops; some have drop-off programs with paid teachers while others are led by parents of the co-op. Exploring new co-ops offers a variety of opportunities for homeschooled students. Here are a few to explore in Southwest Ohio.
BraveTree
BraveTree Educators is a nonprofit organization that offers community and support to homeschooling families. With a Biblical worldview as the foundation, they accomplish this mission through core and enrichment class offerings and community building activities. BraveTree is a 100% volunteer led organization and membership is required for participation.
HELP HomeschoolÂ
The drop-off program at HELP ranges from kindergarten through high school on Wednesdays in Milford. Registration for the year begins in spring and classes begin in September. Classes include Tinkertime Engineering, Galloping the Globe, Exploring Economics and Performance Art.Â
JET Education Center
JET empowers students to make choices that will benefit them in the future and lead them on a path to success. At JET Education Center, children are taught and encouraged to work as a team, preschool through highschool.Â
Leaves of Learning
Located in Deer Park, Leaves of Learning is an innovative educational program for students ages 3-18. Classes include Diversity & Unconscious Bias in Literature, Make It Real, Applied Math for Learning, Brain Games, Crypto Club and many more.Â
Nakama Studio
Classes at Nakama in Batavia run throughout the year and are both fun and educational. Learn a fun trade like beekeeping, have some science fun in a baking class, design jewelry, handbuild pottery with clay and more!Â
Silverlake
Twice a week, classes meet for younger and older students. Parents are expected to teach one 45 minute class each week. Classes include cooking, geography, speech, rock climbing and more.Â
Wisdom’s Way
Wisdom Way offers classes based on the interest of participating families and the willingness of teachers to share and impart their knowledge to children. It is their goal to have developmental and engaging classes from newborn through highschool, like My Place in Space and Magic School Bus Science.Â
Refer to the HSLDA website for more co-ops and resources in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana!
Enrichment
The following local businesses host homeschool classes for children in Southwest Ohio:
Baker Hunt Homeschool Art | bakerhunt.org
Big Bone Lick Homeschool Days | [email protected]Â
Boonshoft Museum | boonshoft.org
Carillon Historical Park | daytonhistory.org
Cincinnati Art Museum | cincinnatiartmuseum.org
Cincinnati Museum Center | cincymuseum.org
Cincinnati Nature Center | cincynature.org
Cincinnati Christian School | cincinnatichristian.org
Cincinnati Zoo | cincinnatizoo.org
Clermont Christian School | clermontchristian.org
Clermont County Parks District | clermontparks.org
Contemporary Arts Center | contemporaryartscenter.org
Countryside YMCA | countrysideymca.orgÂ
Dance, Etc. | dance-etc.comÂ
Evergreen Music School | evergreenmusiccincy.com
Figure Skating Club of Cincinnati | skatingschool.skatecincinnati.org
Gracious Farm | thegraciousfarm.com
Green Acres | green-acres.org
Great Parks | greatparks.org
Guitar Lessons with Jonny A | jonnyaguitar.weebly.com
Heritage Village Museum | heritagevillagecincinnati.org
iSpace | ispacestem.org
Mason Cottage Day | masoncottageday.comÂ
Mosaic Climbing | mosaicclimbing.com
Ohio History Connection | ohiohistory.org
OTR CRC Roller Rink Homeschool Days | cincyrec.org
Queen City Clay | queencityclay.com
Rockquest Climbing | rockquest.com
Santorelli Dance | santorellidance.com
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | thechildrenstheatre.com
The Dance Coalition | thedancecoalition.com
The Roaming Naturalist | theroamingnaturalist.org
Toedtman School of Music | toedtmanschoolofmusic.com
Trailblazers Homeschool Athletics | cincinnatitrailblazers.com
Tristate Warbird Museum | tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org
West Chester Academy | westchesteracademy.com
Mark Your Calendar
The Great Homeschool Convention is coming to Cincinnati on April 4-6, 2024. Every year, the Great Homeschool Convention takes over Duke Energy Center with a weekend full of curriculum vendors, workshops, giveaways, resources and valuable speakers.
* A newly passed homeschool law goes into effect in October 2023 with changes to the NOI forms and assessments. Please refer to the new Ohio Revised Code 3321.042 which introduces Ohio as a low regulation state!
Did we miss your co-op or enrichment class? Email [email protected] and we will add it to the list!
