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Homeschool Support Groups
Homeschool support groups or co-ops are never required to homeschool in Florida, but such groups can enhance a homeschool experience. They can offer chances for children to make friends with other homeschoolers, experience group learning, go on field trips with others, be involved in group events, etc. They can offer parents a chance to share teaching responsibilities, encourage each other, share news of local opportunities, get group discounts, see new teaching materials, provide information about local events, learn about local resources, and more.
These groups range from informal groups organized by one or two parents for simple opportunities for their children to meet other homeschooled children to more organized groups that offer events, clubs, classes, as well as businesses that offer classes aimed at homeschool students to very formal groups that seem like part-time schools. Some require parents to volunteer while others pay hired teachers. Some required parents to stay with their children while others (usually the business options) allow parents to drop children off. (Be sure to research thoroughly any place that you would drop your children off at.)
Homeschool support groups typically offer a wide variety of support that might include meetups, park meetings, field trips, classes, clubs, dances, science fairs, informational meetings and more. They are typically run by volunteers.
Homeschool co-ops are organized by homeschool parents who band together to offer classes for children; typically they meet once or twice a week and resemble part-time schools. The classes are typically academic though some may focus on electives instead. Costs are keep low by requiring parents to volunteer in some way, though they may make exceptions for parents of babies or others in exceptional circumstances. Some hire teachers for some of the classes--especially at the high school level.
Some businesses run programs similar to co-ops which allow parents to drop-off children for classes run by the business.
Both types of groups can be helpful.
Group listings provided below are, as far as we know, currently active. (If you find an inactive group listed, let us know.) When possible, we provide some information about the groups as well as a link to their website. Contact a group directly to find out more about the group focus and style. If a group is near you but not a good fit, we suggest going anyway to meet other parents and talk to them; often the members of one group will know of others in the area and may help you find a group that's a better fit.
Groups can provide a great opportunity for children to make friends, learn social skills, enhance learning activities, and more. We've found that joining more than one group can provide more opportunities, but focusing on just one and participating in as many activities and events as possible, on a fairly regular basis, can help children (and parents) make better friends and feel more at home.
Can't find a group that's a good fit? First try talking to people at groups near you to see if some of the parents know of other groups that aren't well advertised. If that doesn't help, try these tips to build your own group:
Homeschool Support Groups
Organized by County
Alachua (including Gainesville)
Community Christian Homeschoolers: a faith-based support group in the Gainesville area.
Gainesville Homeschool Cooperative
Homeschooling by Faith: A Christian homeschool support group for Bradford and Alachua Counties.
Progressive Homeschoolers of Alachua County: a secular homeschool support group for school-aged children and their siblings.
The Homegrown Collective: An inclusive group of progressive parents and caregivers.
Baker
H.E.R.I. (Home Education Resources and Information): Faith-based support for Jacksonville and northeast Florida
Northeast Florida Homeschool Happenings: An online informational group only with homeschool listings for Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Baker, and Nassau Counties.
Bay (including Panama City)
Fellowship of Christian Teaching Homes (FCTH): A faith-based homeschool support group
Homeschool Hiking Club: Panama City group
The Homeschooler's Friend: Based out of Panama City.
Bradford
Homeschooling by Faith: A Christian homeschool support group for Bradford and Alachua Counties.
Brevard
Christian Homeschool Community: A Tutoring Co-op
in the Titusville area.
Homeschooling in Brevard is an inclusive homeschool support group.
Our School House: Christian co-op in Palm Bay.
South Brevard Homeschoolers
Space Coast Christian Co-op: Meets once a week in Cocoa.
Broward
Arch Angels of South Florida: A Catholic homeschool support group.
Areyvut: An organic farm in Davie with Jewish homeschool and preschool programs.
Broward Homeschool Support Group: Faith-based
Casa Ranch Montessori: A homeschool co-op
Dade Broward Homeschoolers
Fort Lauderdale Area Homeschooling Meet-up Group
HEARTS Homeschoolers: faith-based co-op in Southwest Ranches
The H.U.B. (Healthy Utilization of Brains): A business offering tutoring and a wide variety of drop-off classes for homeschoolers of all ages
Homeschooling Pod Network is a group to help south Florida homeschool families and teachers find each other to set up teacher-run classes.
Parkridge Homeschool Community: faith-based
Rose Garden Academy: An outdoor program for young homeschoolers in Tamarac
South Florida Secular Homeschooling for Teens: Secular group for Broward and northern Miami-Dade counties.
Surf Skate Science Homeschool Classes: P.E. and Science classes in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties
Calhoun
Riverbend Home Educators: A support group for Calhoun, Liberty, Gadsden, Jackson, and Washington families.
Charlotte
Babcock Ranch Homeschoolers
Canna Lily Co-op: Secular group for middle schoolers in North Port area.
Homeschool Charlotte County and North Port, FL
Homeschool Rocks!: Secular support for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties
Lemon Bay Homeschool Explorers: Nature-based co-op in Englewood.
Punta Gorda Homeschool Group
Suncoast Homeschoolers: Secular, inclusive group serving Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.
Citrus
Citrus County Christian homeschool: Christian homeschool support group and co-op for Citrus County area.
Gulf Coast Manatees: Secular homeschool support for children ages 5-17.
Hernando Homeschool Families: Secular homeschool support for Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties
Clay
Clay County Homeschooling: Information on homeschool events and such.
Clay County Homeschooling Meet-Up Group
Clay County/West Jax Christian Homeschoolers: A faith-based homeschool support group meeting for park days, field trips, sports, and more.
H.E.R.I. (Home Education Resources and Information): Faith-based support for Jacksonville and northeast Florida
Jacksonville Homeschool Community: For middle and high school students in Duval and Clay Counties.
Northeast Florida Homeschool Happenings: An online informational group only with homeschool listings for Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Baker, and Nassau Counties.
Collier
Homeschool Field Trips with Friends
Homeschool Rocks!: Secular support for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties
Lee and Collier County Homeschoolers of Florida
Naples Adventure Homeschoolers
Columbia
Barefoot University Forest School: Outdoor learning for homeschoolers.
Dade: See Miami-Dade
DeSoto
Dixie
Tallahassee Christian Homeschoolers Forum: Faith-based support in the Big Bend Region
Duval (including Jacksonville)
Clay County/West Jax Christian Homeschoolers: A faith-based homeschool support group meeting for park days, field trips, sports, and more.
Cross Pointe Homeschool Co-op: A Christian co-op with classes for k-12 in Jacksonville.
First Coast Military Homeschoolers Jacksonville/Mayfield: homeschool suppor for military families only
Free Range Learning Co-op: A secular Jacksonville Co-op
FUNschooling Co-op: In Jacksonville.
H.E.R.I. (Home Education Resources and Information): Faith-based support for Jacksonville and northeast Florida
Jacksonville Homeschool Community: For middle and high school students in Duval and Clay Counties.
Jax Homeschoolers - Fun Fridays hosts park days, field trips and educational outings.
Nature Explorers of Jax: An outdoor/nature meetup group for Jacksonville homeschoolers.
Northeast Florida Homeschool Happenings: An online informational group only with homeschool listings for Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Baker, and Nassau Counties.
Northeast FL Interest-Led Homeschoolers: Inclusive in-person homeschool support group.
River City Unschoolers: A secular unschooling group for those using peaceful parenting methods.
Sunshine Homeschoolers: An inclusive homeschool support group.
Unschooling in Florida: Focused on unschooling method of homeschooling with park/state park meetups.
Escambia (including Pensacola)
Anchored Academy: Faith-based co-op in Pensacola
Carpe Schole: A Christian Classical co-op for grades 1-10 in Gull Point on Tuesdays.
Fairfield Homeschool Co-op: Offering classes for children of all grade levels.
Homeschoolers of Pensacola Enriching Faith, Unity, & Lives (HOPEFUL) Co-op:A faith-based group meeting weekly for field trips, play dates, and more.
Northwest Florida Homeschoolers: An inclusive group in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
NWFL Panhandle Homeschoolers: Inclusive homeschool support group serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties
West Florida Home Education Support League an inclusive faith-based organization for home educators in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Wild + Free Northwest Florida
Flagler
Flagler County Homeschoolers Social Club
Flagler Thursday Homeschool Crew
H.E.R.I. (Home Education Resources and Information): Faith-based support for Jacksonville and northeast Florida
Wild + Free Marineland: A homeschool community and adventure group.
Franklin
Home Schooling in Franklin County, FL
Gadsden
Riverbend Home Educators: A support group for Calhoun, Liberty, Gadsden, Jackson, and Washington families.
Gilchrist
Community Christian Homeschoolers: a faith-based support group in the Gainesville area.
Glades
H.E.R.E. Home Educators Reaching for Excellence: Faith-based homeschool support in Hendry, Glades, and eastern Lee Counties.
Gulf
Hamilton
Hardee
Sunshine State Secular Homeschoolers: An inclusive secular homeschool group for central Florida
Hendry
H.E.R.E. Home Educators Reaching for Excellence: Faith-based homeschool support in Hendry, Glades, and eastern Lee Counties.
Hernando
Hernando Homeschool Families: Secular homeschool support for Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties
JMJ Hernando: A Catholic homeschool support group in Brooksville
Let's Teach Together: co-op.
THINK: a secular homeschooling group serving home learners in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties