Home-Schooling Cooperatives

For several years now, I have tried to persuade my parents to home-school me. At last they are beginning to agree. How could we find a cooperative home-schooling group near where we live? -- Seventh-Grader
Answer: Home-schooling groups of all shapes and sizes are popping up constantly. If you live in a town with any size to it at all, you will find one. Begin by contacting your state's home-schooling association and ask them for referrals to local groups. Other ways to find local groups include: surfing the Net, asking at schools and churches, checking out library bulletin boards, asking at teacher-supply stores and finally asking parents you see out during the day with their children.
We want to caution you that home schooling will not be a worthwhile educational experience for you unless your parents buy into it 100 percent. When you find a local cooperative group, visit it with your parents to get a firsthand look at what home schooling is really like.