Overview
Homeschool students study for ISU physics class. Bloomington-Normal affords homeschoolers a plethora of opportunities, including many organizations aimed specifically at homeschool families. Through groups like the Homeschool Teen Group and the Theta Zeta Honor Society, homeschool students have the opportunity to become well-connected individuals, contrary to the fish-in-a-fishbowl homeschool stereotype. The Crossroads Area Home School Association (CAHSA) is an especially important resource for Bloomington-Normal homeschool families, as it sponsors many of the organizations that make homeschooling an exceptional experience in Bloomington-Normal.
Because homeschool students are able to progress at their own rate academically, most find extra time to contribute to the community through service and leadership roles, especially through 4-H.
If you are considering homeschooling your children, Bloomington-Normal is the place to be.
ContentsRequirements for Homeschoolers in Bloomington-Normal Credit Requirements for Graduation Homeschoolers in the community Homeschool Organizations in Bloomington-Normal |
Requirements for Homeschoolers in Bloomington-Normal
Withdrawing from School
If your children are currently enrolled in a public or private school, the first step toward homeschooling is to notify the school that your children will no longer be attending. In Illinois, parents are not required to notify schools at all before making the switch to homeschooling, but the Homeschool Legal Defense Association recommends that you formally let the school know so that your child is not mistakenly marked absent.
Credit Requirements for Graduation
To graduate from high school in Illinois, homeschool students must complete the same high school credits that public school students do. These credits include:
| Language Arts | 4 years | |
| Writing | 2 years | These credits can count towards language arts. |
| Math | 3 years | These credits must include Algebra 1 and Geometry. |
| Science | 2 years | |
| Social Studies |
2 years |
At least one of these credits must be US History. |
(According to the Illinois Board of Education Graduation Requirements)
These are the bare minimum credits a student must complete to graduate from high school in Illinois. Most four-year colleges require more than what is listed here for acceptance. ISU, for example, requires a year of Algebra 2 or higher to be included with the math credits. Homeschool parents often encourage students to learn more advanced subjects through Heartland Community College's College Now program.
Homeschoolers in the Community
Participation
In Heyworth, a group of homeschool families all use the same curricula and get together every other Friday to read writings, perform experiments, and learn about different styles of painting and sketching. Other similar groups, such as E-Group and Classical Conversations, also exist in the Bloomington-Normal area. These groups are similar to schools in that multiple students are taught by one teacher for each subject, but every teacher is a mother of one or more child in the group. In this way, parents have more control over what their children are learning, and the students have more exposure to other students and adults in their community.
Because homeschool students aren't limited by classroom rules and routines, they have very flexible schedules. while a regular student would work from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, a homeschool student can weave and dodge his schedule to accommodate for many extracurriculars. Homeschool students in Bloomington-Normal are often involved in 4-H, in addition to many of the activities listed in the Homeschool Organizations section below. Through these activities, local homeschoolers form diverse relationships with children, teens, and adults.
Leadership
Due to an increased involvement in extracurricular activities, homeschool students are often prime candidates for leadership roles in local clubs. In Bloomington-Normal, 4-H is an especially prevalent force in the homeschool community. 4-H has an abundance of leadership roles for students, including everything from club executive offices to prestigious national conventions and the 4-H Youth Leadership Team. Many of these roles in the local area are filled by homeschool students, and occasionally students go far beyond what is expected of them. Such students as Thaddeus Hughes shed a positive light on homeschooling in Bloomington-Normal.
Community Service
Community service is another important facet of the homeschool experience in Bloomington-Normal. Many homeschool students find opportunities to enrich their community, and many homeschool organizations have a special focus on community service and involvement. Theta Zeta Honor Society, for example, requires that members complete at least ten hours of community service annually. Members of Homespun, an all-homeschool 4-H club, regularly volunteer at Sarah's Garden, part of the historic David Davis Mansion, and at other charitable organizations such as the Midwest Food Bank.
Homeschool Organizations in Bloomington-Normal
The organizations are arranged by time commitment. Groups that meet frequently for long hours are on the top, and more relaxed organizations can be found toward the bottom.
Crossroads Area Student Theatre (CAST)
Dorothy struggles in the CAST production of Dorothy in WonderlandStudents with a passion for theater can participate in plays through CAST, a Christian theater group in Bloomington-Normal. CAST members produce about four plays annually, with rehearsals four days per week. CAST is also open to public and private school students, and currently has about 80 members from 40 families.
| When | Four times weekly evening and Saturday (dates and times vary) |
| Where | Local Churches (varies) |
| For Whom | Students from age 7 to 19 |
| Cost | $50 per family per year |
Homeschool Choir (BACHS)
The homeschool choir posing before their concertThe purpose of the BACHS choir is to improve all aspects of students' musical abilities. The choir performs at nursing homes, the CAHSA Commencement Ceremony, and other events, and students learn many different styles of music. There are three different choral groups in the BACHS choir: the Treble Choir (ages 8-12), the Cantate Choir (ages 13-18), and the Concert Choir (any age, selected by audition).
| When | 12:30-3:0 pm on second and fourth Wednesdays from September until May |
| Where | Evangelical Free Church |
| For Whom | Homeschool students from age 8 to18 |
| Cost | $30-50 per student per semester |
Classical Conversations
Classical Conversations is an international Christian education organization with three active communities in the Bloomington-Normal area. They aim to help homeschool parents successfully prepare their students for the future by providing quality instruction and curricula. They base their educational program on a three-part model where children are taught first to memorize, then to contemplate, and finally to articulate, all while keeping God at the center. Classical Conversations communities in Bloomington-Normal meet once weekly for classes.
| When | 8:00 am-3:30 pm on Thursdays for 12-15 weeks in the spring and 12-15 week the fall |
| Where | Different communities meet at Grace Church, Christ Church, and New Horizon Christian Church |
| For Whom | Homeschool students from age 4 to 18 |
| Cost | $325-$1,175 per student per year |
E-Group
HOME Group, or E-Group, is a Christian organization of homeschool families who take classes together. Classes are taught by volunteers, usually parents of children in the program. Classes are held twice monthly on Mondays from 9:00 until 11:45 with an opening assembly at 8:45. Students can take up to three classes per semester.
| When | 8:45 am-11:45 am every other Monday from September until May |
| Where | East White Oak Bible Church |
| For Whom | Homeschool preschool students through high school seniors |
| Cost | $125-150 per family per year |
Homespun 4-H
Homespun members pose for a crazy picture before volunteering at the Midwest Food Bank
Homespun is a 4-H club exclusively for homeschoolers. The club has regular meetings, but it also has sporadic sub-committee meetings and activities. Members have the opportunity to be involved in community service projects, carry club and county leadership roles, and lead or participate in various workshops. Homespun has generated many notable 4-H members, including at least one member of each McLean County Fair Royal Couple for the past five years.
| When | 1:00-3:00 on the second Monday of every month except July and August |
| Where | Grace Church |
| For Whom | Homeschool students of age 8-18 |
| Cost |
Homeschool Teen Group
Homeschool teens after an evening of fun and gamesHomeschool Teen Group is a recreational group that usually meets monthly on Friday evenings. Homeschooled teenagers are invited to play octoball, dodgeball, or card games, or to just hang out with friends. The group usually also plans an activity for the first hour, such as an ice cream social, talent show, or Minute to Win It challenge. Students are usually asked to bring a drink or snack to share.
| When | (USUALLY) 6:00 pm-8:30 pm on the second Friday of each month |
| Where | Grace Church |
| For Whom | Homeschool students between the ages of 13 and 19 |
| Cost | Free |
Theta Zeta Honor Society
https://thetazetahhs.wixsite.com/thetazeta-1
Theta Zeta members with new inductees (holding certificates)The Theta Zeta Honor Society is the Bloomington-Normal chapter of the Eta Sigma Alpha Honor Society, an honor society exclusively for homeschooled seventh grade through seniors. Acceptance into TZHS is based on standardized national test scores. See website for details. Club members must attend at least two-thirds of the meetings and participate in ten hours of community service per year.
| When | Monthly from September until May |
| Where | Wilber and Associates, online, or local parks |
| For Whom | Homeschool 7th grade through 12th grade |
| Cost | $20 per student per year |
CAHSA Homeschool Prom
Homeschool prom-goers pose for photographs at the Ewing ManorIn May of each year, elegantly clad homeschool students dance the night away at the Bloomington Country Club. A meal is provided at the beginning of the prom, and refreshments are served throughout the night until the prom ends at 11:00. Students can also participate in an after-prom party which begins at midnight and ends at 6:00 the following morning. Refreshments (including caffeine) are provided at the after-prom.
| When | 6:00 pm-11:00 pm in May (specific date varies) |
| Where | Bloomington Country Club |
| For Whom | homeschool freshmen through seniors |
| Cost | $50 for the meal and prom, $5 for the after prom party |
CAHSA High School Graduation
Every year in May, homeschool seniors gather to receive their diplomas as part of the CAHSA Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony features an opening speech delivered by homeschool students, a brief biography of each student as he/she is handed a diploma, and a closing slideshow featuring photographs of fond memories from all the students. Before and after the ceremony, people can browse tables decorated by the students and families showcasing the graduating seniors' accomplishments in high school.
| When | In the spring, usually in May (date and time vary) |
| Where | Evangelical Free Church |
| For Whom | Graduating homeschool seniors |
| Cost | $20 for participation, plus additional charges for gowns, caps, tassels, diplomas, etc. |
