How to start a homeschool co-op or support group

Last updated: November 2, 2026

To start a homeschool co-op or support group: decide what type of group you want (park-day and support, lesson rotation, or class-based), find three to five committed families, set a simple rhythm and meeting places, write short ground rules, check your state’s homeschool rules and your venue’s insurance needs, and keep the calendar and RSVPs in one private place.

Looking for a group instead?

If you’d rather join a group that already meets, try HSLDA’s homeschool group search and your state’s homeschool organization. Ask at your public library, too: the librarians may know of groups that meet nearby.

Step 1: Choose the type of group

Most groups fall into one of three shapes. Pick the one that matches the time you and your first families can give.

• Support or park-day group: meetups, park days, field trips and encouragement for parents. It’s the easiest kind to start, because nobody has to teach.
• Lesson-rotation co-op: parents take turns leading short lessons, often in a host family’s home. You get variety for the kids, and you’ll need a clear schedule and supply lists.
• Class-based co-op: set classes on a term schedule, usually in a rented or borrowed space. There’s more structure and more admin: sign-ups, fees and a building.

You can start simple and add more later.

Step 2: Find your first families

Three to five committed families are enough to begin. Ask at your public library, on church and community boards, and in local homeschool social media groups, and tell friends who homeschool. Meet a few times before you set rules or fees, so the group can find its own rhythm.

Step 3: Set a rhythm and places

Pick a rhythm families can keep, like weekly or every other week, and a few go-to places: a park with shade and restrooms, the library, or host homes. If lessons happen in someone’s home, decide up front how you’ll share the address only with the families who are coming. For ideas on a simple weekly rhythm, see how to schedule a year of support group events, and for co-op days, how to plan a homeschool co-op schedule.

Step 4: Write short ground rules

One page is plenty. Cover:

• who can add events, and whether a leader approves them first
• how to RSVP, and how early
• what happens when an event is cancelled, and who makes the call
• a sick-kid policy
• a photo policy
• that each family supervises its own children

Step 5: Legal, money and insurance pointers (not advice)

Homeschool law varies by state, so check your state department of education and your state’s homeschool organization. HSLDA’s Starting a Homeschool Group guide is a good general read for new leaders. If you meet in homes or rented spaces, ask your venue what it requires and talk with an insurance professional about coverage. If you plan to collect money or form an organization, talk with a qualified professional. This page isn’t legal advice.

Step 6: Keep one private calendar

Once dates start flying around a group chat, things get missed. School Squad is a private, invite-only calendar for homeschool groups and co-ops:

• Your group’s own time zone, picked from your ZIP code (any US time zone) and changeable. Event times, reminders and the calendar feed use it.
• Library events: built-in picks for the Quad Cities area of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Anywhere else, a host can paste the library’s events page. See library events for homeschoolers.
• RSVPs with kid counts, with optional ages. Families can change or remove their own RSVP.
• Posting controls: by default any family can add a park day or field trip. Hosts can turn on “Approve new events first”, or let only hosts and co-hosts post.
• Host-home lessons with supplies and spots left. The full address only shows to families who join that lesson.
• Pricing: a host pays $100/yr, or two co-hosts split it at $50/yr each. The hosts’ families are included. Member families pay $20/yr. New hosts, co-hosts and families all start with a 30-day free trial.

Families sign in with an emailed 6-digit code, with no passwords. It works in your phone’s browser, and you can add it to your home screen. School Squad can also send optional push alerts and opt-in event emails when your group’s events or lessons are added, changed or cancelled; both stay off until you turn them on.

Starting in Iowa?

Iowa has its own resources for group leaders, including Homeschool Iowa’s support group pages. See how to start a homeschool group or co-op in Iowa.

Built by a mom for moms

School Squad was built by a mom for moms: one private, simple place for a group’s plans. Read our story.

Questions new leaders ask

Planning your first outing? See how to plan a homeschool field trip or how to organize a homeschool park day.