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Compass Family Cooperative is an inclusive community for currently homeschooling families, with no official educational method or religious/secular perspective. All currently homeschooling families are welcome to join with us to create a vibrant, diverse community. Our main focus is the weekly co-op, a value-based parent school with a free market approach made up of full member families. Parents, youth, or other members of the community serve as the class mentors. We gather once a week during the fall and spring semesters for classes and community. Our focus in these classes is school aged children though we do offer a few classes for younger siblings or parents from time to time. For this reason, we do not accept members without at least one school age child in their family. The teens of our community meet regularly outside of regular co-op hours to socialize, learn, and serve. 

Our mission statement:

As home educators, we believe every individual possesses the innate potential of discovering their own moral compass to use as a guide throughout life’s journey. We embrace the value of being authentic, compassionate, and trustworthy with open arms, minds, and hearts. We seek to explore, discover, learn, and change the world for good. As an organization, we strive to provide shared learning opportunities through a free market system.

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Compass Family Cooperative is made up of members who come together to form a weekly co-op. Classes are mentored by members, the subjects and all other details are chosen by mentors. Members are not required to mentor classes, but are encouraged to do so as they are able. Administration tasks are done by an elected board of directors who each fill a two-year term. The board creates the class schedule, secures a building and insurance, and ensures that Compass is in compliance with its bylaws and mission statement. Occasional extra activities can be directed by members or by the board.

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All classes are selected, planned, and taught by parents (or teens) in our community, each class is an independent "parent school". In the homeschool world, this model of co-op is a free market parent school. Any parent or teen who desires to teach a class submits a Parent School Proposal and a Mentor Agreement to the Compass Family Cooperative Board. Upon approval, the class will be added to the class schedule and a course description will be added to the website. Families can review the class schedule along with course descriptions and select classes that meet their family’s needs. Starting on Class Application Day, families email the mentors to request that the mentor accept their child into the class. All decisions about the class size and students enrolled are at the discretion of the mentor. Many mentors are willing to barter to help keep classes affordable for all families. All class fees are set and collected by the mentors. Occasionally members may seek out mentors from outside the Compass membership to mentor specific classes. This is by the discretion of the Board. Each mentor must first become a member. 

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Currently homeschooling families with at least one school-age child first register for membership in the cooperative, then apply for classes. Membership registration happens in late July and late December. Families must register for membership each semester they intend to participate, and this should be done before class application day. Class application day takes place a few weeks before the first day of class, generally the first part of August and the first part of January. Upcoming dates are viewable on the calendar. 

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If you are currently homeschooling with at least one school-aged child (age 6-18) and want to become a member, you may register on the registration page of this website. Open registration dates along with descriptions of the different types of membership available are visible on the home screen. Once you have filled out your membership registration form and paid via PayPal, the Board will process your membership. You will receive email confirmation with next steps and important upcoming dates. Once you have become a full member you will have full access to the website, including class descriptions, mentor information, and the member directory. Both full and associate members should join our facebook group for announcements about policy and events.

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Membership in Compass Family Cooperative brings both privileges and responsibilities. Each member, adult or child, commits to act in accordance with the values outlined in the member agreement and contribute to the community of Compass Family Cooperative. Member families taking classes on campus are responsible once per semester to clean designated areas (after which you will be refunded your cleaning deposit of $20), perform hall monitoring duties, and attend the annual member meeting. While members are not required to mentor each semester, they are encouraged to do so as they are able. Without mentors we would not have any classes for our co-op! Members can also contribute by helping plan and run holiday parties, extra events, and serving on the board. All member contributions are important for Compass to be sustainable and serve the community of members. 

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We currently operate two, 12 week semesters each year. We meet on Mondays, generally from 12:30-4:30pm and have four 50 minute class blocks during that time. Fall semester generally starts the week after Labor Day and ends in early December. We do not hold classes the week of Thanksgiving.  Spring semester generally begins at the end of January and is finished in April with no classes on President's Day. These dates are subject to change every semester given Board discretion. Check the calendar for upcoming dates.

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The member registration fee is $50 each semester, plus a $20 refundable cleaning deposit, for a total of $70 per family. Fees may change from year to year, but we always strive to keep it as affordable as possible. The member fees are used to secure a building, pay for insurance, and cover any other miscellaneous costs that come with running a non-profit organization. Board members are volunteer only and receive no compensation for their time. For a detailed accounting of monies collected, contact the treasurer at [email protected]. Class fees are in addition to the membership fee and are set and collected by each mentor.

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No. We are all in different seasons of life and teaching a class may not be right for you at this time. We welcome all levels of participation. Many members find mentoring to be extremely rewarding, as well as help offset the cost of their own children taking classes. Mentoring classes is encouraged as members are able. Being a co-mentor or parent helper for another mentor is a great way to learn about mentoring. Serving on the Board is another way members contribute to the Compass Family Cooperative. 

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Members are not required to enroll in classes each semester, however they are encouraged to participate in classes to further connection and community. Members who choose not to enroll in classes have access to the Facebook group, Compass Teen Community activities, any holiday parties, any family days, and any additional activities. Regardless of how many classes taken, all members must fullfill cleaning and hall monitoring duties. Members must register each semester. 

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Because all of our classes are taught by parent mentors, they vary greatly semester to semester. There is always a great selection that cover many subjects and age ranges, usually toddler to adult. If there is a particular subject or age group you would like to see available, submit a parent school proposal next semester!

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Each child at Compass is required to have a parent responsible for them on the premises.

This Is for two main reasons:

1) Compass is a cooperative community, this is accomplished by parents coming together and forming the community. Dropping off children only accomplishes classes being taken. Each member should be contributing to the Compass community each semester.

2) If your child has any kind of emergency, you are the one responsible to respond to them. If there is a general emergency (e.g. fire in the building), your child will need to be evacuated and accounted for by you, the parent.

If some occasional need arises that a parent needs another adult needs to be responsible for their children while they are absent for a short time, arrangements must be made with another adult member. Children of all ages must be aware of who their adult is and where they can be found. Mentors should also be made aware of who to contact should an issue arise. There is a rec room on the third floor where waiting adults and other children can visit, work on projects, and play, as well as an outdoor area.

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We are an inclusive homeschool community, gathering ideas from Charlotte Mason, Classical Education, and A Thomas Jefferson Education, unschooling, as well as others. We respect the sovereignty of currently homeschooling families in decisions about how they educate their children. We believe that children learn best when they are encouraged to be curious and explore with as much experiential learning as possible. When mentors are passionate about their subject and committed to creating a respectful, structured, and creative learning environment, using excellent books as their sources, children learn and thrive. All mentors should understand the opt-in environment that is part of our mission with Compass Family Cooperative. We encourage "inspirements" rather than requirements in class. We welcome opportunities for students to do more with the understanding that they may choose not to do anything outside of class time. If a mentor needs a student and or parent to commit to something out of class, they need to be clear about that expectation. Punishments or withholding privileges if a student fails to complete an assignment are unacceptable as a mentor.