How to Host a Homeschool Co-op Open House

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Every semester, but especially towards the end of spring, homeschool families begin to consider what their options will be for the fall. Many families are looking for community, an opportunity to make friends and supplement their homeschool academics. Homeschool Co-ops offer all this and more. Hosting a Homeschool Co-op Open House is the perfect opportunity to showcase your group and give potential members an insight into the culture of your community.

Planning the Open House

The first thing you are going to want to do it plan the right time of the semester for your open house. In the fall, you might want to consider having it in October or early November. In the spring you may think about March or April. Most homeschool parents begin to think about the upcoming school year in May and that is when many homeschool groups start registering for the fall.

Some things that you need to consider as you are planning your open house:

• What time of the day is best? Do you want families there for just a few hours, or will they come for the whole day? Will it be a set time frame or can they just drop in?
• Where will you plan to meet? Do you have a large group meeting spot like an auditorium, gym or sanctuary?
• How many families can you accommodate on this day?

During the Open House

• Give a Warm welcome: Designate friendly greeters, offer refreshments, create a relaxed atmosphere. If possible, have a handout ready with pertinent information about the group, deadlines for joining, class schedule, etc.
• Give an Informative presentation:
  • Briefly explain your co-op’s philosophy, any statement of faiths, the culture of your group, how things are structured, classes/activities offered. Be transparent about fees and expectations of parent participation. Be sure to explain that a co-op is by definition a place where everyone works COOPERATIVELY.
  • Highlight the benefits of joining your group.
• Showcase student work: Display projects, art, etc., to demonstrate the co-op’s learning outcomes and the talent in your group.

• Member testimonials: Have current members share positive experiences.
• Let families join in: If time and space permits, allow parents and children to join in on a class or two so that they can experience firsthand the culture of the group.
• Ample Q&A time: Give families a chance to have their questions answered.

Co-op Open House Agenda:

Depending on how your co-op operates, you may have new families come for just a meeting where you explain what your group is all about and give a short tour, or you may consider allowing families to join in on classes so they can experience the culture of your group firsthand.

Here is a sample agenda of how your day can go:

• Families arrive by signing in. – Collect name, email address and phone numbers so that you can follow up after the open house. You might also want to find out the names and ages of their children. In our homeschool group we have strict safety protocols so we also take a copy of their license.
• Begin with a meet and greet where everyone meets the co-op leadership.
• Group Presentation. -This is a great place to go over any statement of faiths, guidelines for membership, the general culture of the group and answer any questions they may have.
• Take a tour of your facility. If you had plans to allow parents and students to visit classrooms, this is a good time to do that. You will want to make sure that you have communicated with teachers in advance that they might have some extra guests in their classroom on this day.

Visiting Classes

If you going to allow students to visit classes, there are a few ways you can choose to do this, here are some ideas for things we have done in the past:

• Let parents/students walk around and just pop in a class that looks interesting to them.
• Have parents register for open house prior to arrival (a simple google form can make this easy) give parents a few options for classrooms to visit and let them sign up for those classes. This gives teachers a heads up so that they can prepare with extra supplies.
• When parents arrive, have a limited number of spots available for each class and parents can sign their children up for those available spots when they arrive.

After the Open House

• Follow up: Send thank-you notes or emails and include application forms/links to interested families.
• Evaluation: Seek feedback from attendees and your co-op members to improve future events.

Advertise your Homeschool Co-op Open House

• Publicize your event: Reach out to other Local homeschool groups that offer something different (so as not to compete but compliment) post about it on online forums, use social media, flyers in libraries/community centers.
• Create inviting materials: Have a talented member create a clear webpage/flyer with your co-op’s mission, class offerings, membership info. If you already have a website, make sure to include the open house dates and information on it.

Hosting a homeschool co-op open house is a fantastic way to grow your community and share the wonderful opportunities your co-op offers. By planning intentionally and creating a warm, informative environment, you can attract families that align with your co-op’s vision and expand your network of homeschool support.

Other Homeschool Co-op Resources

The Ultimate List of Homeschool Co-op Classes

Top 10 Reasons Not to Join a Homeschool Co-op

How to start a Homeschool Co-op

Angela

Angela is the Homeschool Encourager for the Overwhelmed & Under-Caffeinated and the Chaos-to-Confidence Specialist behind Schooling with Grace. With a no-fluff approach, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, she helps homeschool moms cut through the chaos, ditch unrealistic expectations, and teach with confidence.