With the ever increasing challenges public schools are facing today: budget cuts, the Columbine factor, easy access to drugs and alcohol and teen pregnancy, many parents are choosing to look into local home schooling programs. Certainly, within this option there is no guarantee children will be spared from the negative influences of our culture but some do believe that local home schooling does offer a bit more protection and environmental supervision. Putting aside the controversy of this choice for the moment, let\'s focus on some specific strategies that can be implemented to make any families local home schooling experience an educationally enriching. One of the largest challenges any parent may face when first considering this option is their own insecurity in respect to their ability as teachers. In the primary grades of K-5 most of the academic requirements are sufficiently met through the aptitude of a parents own knowledge of each subject. Local Home Schooling becomes more of a challenge when the higher math, logic, foreign language etc. which are required to provide the child with a competitive education in preparation for college. With this key issue in mind many home schooling families are creating powerfully effective educational opportunities by specializing in their own area of expertise and allowing other families to join in the lesson. Not only are they contributing to the lives of the next generation it helps to prevent home schooling burn out be sharing the educational load with other likeminded local home schooling adults.

Step 1: RESEARCH - Look around your community to see what local home schooling programs are in place. Why re-invent the wheel if you don\'t have to! If you find a local program up and running inquire as to where you can help to expand in exchange for including your children into the program. If no local home schooling program exists this is where you proactively move into step 2. Step 2: RECRUIT - Most parents and stay - at - home educators will appreciate any efforts made toward starting a program. Find out what specialties are available from these parents to see if there enough internal resources to get your local home school co-op up and running. If the home resources are limited you can approach professionals to see if they are willing to hold group classes at discounted rates. Don\'t be afraid to ask non-profits to volunteer as well. Last resort - you may need to advertise on Craig\'s List or your local newspaper to fill the gaps in your class subjects. Step 3: RESERVE - In conjunction with Step 2, in order to successfully implement your local home schooling co-op, you need to arrange a central meeting place. Some planners have tried to rotate the location and have found it to be difficult to manage. A set time in a set place will assure educational consistency. You may have to rent a local community center but with a bit of research and planning your local fire station, library or church may be available. Limit your local home school classes to a 3 months one day a week schedule.