Homeschool New Jersey
Empowering Learning, One Home at a Time
Learn More about Homeschool New Jersey
We aim to champion homeschooling and to bless the movement, as well as related innovative educational alternatives and career-preparation choices.
Our goal is to safeguard the fundamental, God-given constitutional rights of parents and legal guardians, to responsibly control their children’s education. To this end, we will serve as advocates for home education freedom, parental rights, and religious freedom. The parent who envisions homeschooling their children but is not sure how or where to begin.
Getting Started
Hello! If you’re thinking about homeschooling in New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place! We provide a goldmine of resources to support you every step of the way, helping you make the decision that’s right for your family.
We are four dedicated New Jersey moms, and like you, we are committed to educating our children according to our God-given parental responsibilities, family values and their evolving needs.
Together, we have over 20 years of homeschooling experience. Although New Jersey is home to many local homeschool groups, there is currently no one organization or single entity to provide statewide and national representation for families. This is where our story began.
What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling typically means choosing to educate and instruct your child or children at home instead of placing them within the public school system or in a private school. New Jersey currently enjoys wonderful homeschooling freedom. The parents or caregivers have the freedom to choose the method of teaching, school subjects and the type of schedule that best suits your family’s needs. This allows for your child’s learning abilities, special needs and even interests to be taken into consideration for a unique and personalized hands-on approach.
Can I homeschool?
New Jersey law currently protects your right to provide “equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school” (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25) for children between the ages of 6-16. These rights also apply to homeschooling a child with special needs. New Jersey law does not require that you be certified as a teacher or hold a college degree in order to homeschool. There are no set requirements of what topics must be cover
Overwhelmed?
This may seem like the confusing part, but it should be the most exciting! YOU get to choose what YOU like. Homeschooling is about choosing what works best for your child and who knows them better than you? The amount of programs, books, curriculums and learning opportunities is almost endless. The most important part is YOU. You get to provide the one-on-one attention that will help them thrive. Some helpful methods for finding the right books and programs are listed below.
– Join local homeschool groups on Facebook and ask for recommendations from families with children in similar age or grade levels. Their experience can inform you if a program sounds like a good fit for your child.
– Check Youtube for reviews that give you a demonstration of how a program or curriculum works. Does it involve sitting and reading for an extended period each day? Does the science program require extensive prep work and supplies that your family is not able to commit to right now? This helps you avoid spending money on programs that you’ll end up not using or struggling each day to complete because it is not enjoyable for you and your child.
Need Resources?
-Check the program or curriculum’s direct website in case they have placement tests to help you figure out what level is the appropriate one for your child. The sites often have videos and additional views of the program to give more information about how the subjects are taught.
– Timberdoodle.com is a website that offers hundreds of curriculums and teaching resources for all grade levels! Detailed descriptions of each product help inform whether this is an item that would meet your homeschool needs. They offer full grade level curriculum kits which come with different price point options (non-religious kits are also available at each grade level) but the handbook and scheduler may be the most useful part for homeschoolers as it takes some of the guesswork out of when to do what lessons/courses/topics to stay on course through the school year. Another benefit is the convenience of purchasing most of if not all your homeschool helps from one site to save on shipping. If you sign up for their rewards program you will also quickly accumulate points to save on future orders. Who doesn’t love saving money?!
-Purchasing used books from other homeschoolers or sellers on eBay, Facebook marketplace and other sites. This may be easier to manage when you are more settled in your homeschooling journey, but great deals can be found on textbooks, DVDs, un-used workbooks, teacher guides…you name it! Homeschooling can be done without tremendous financial burden.
We Are Here For You!
Are you a prospective or established homeschool family who is overwhelmed by curricula?
Are you a homeschool families in search of statewide resources, year-round events or activities?
Need informational support and would like to stay in the loop about homeschooling legislation changes in New Jersey?
Let’s Connect
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, want to get involved, or need support, we’re here to help. Please choose the right contact option below to ensure your message reaches the right team.
👥 Leadership & Board Communications
To contact the board members, partner, or for organizations looking to collaborate or discuss leadership matters, legislative issues, or fundraising opportunities:
✉️ board@homeschoolnewjersey.org
🤝 Volunteer, Groups & Events
Want to lend a hand, help at an event, suggest a group/coop, or explore opportunities? Contact us at:
✉️ serve@homeschoolnewjersey.org
📩 General Inquiries
Have a question that doesn’t quite fit in the option above or need more information about our mission, programs, or homeschooling resources? Reach out to us at:
✉️ hello@homeschoolnewjersey.org
