Q: When do you meet?
A: We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, September through May. You may enroll in as many or as few classes as you wish. For more information, visit the Class Schedule.
Q: Where do you meet?
A: Our classes meet at two different facilities. Monday classes are held at New Life Center, and Wednesday classes at Woodinville Alliance Church. Addresses are located at the bottom of this page.
Q: Who can participate in Connections?
A: Any family who is homeschooling one or more of their own children may enroll in classes at Homeschool Connections. Students who also participate in a public school/parent partnership like Northshore Networks or the HEE are also welcome to attend. Likewise, students who have been previously homeschooled and are concurrently enrolled in Running Start are eligible for Connections’ classes.
Q: Can my family visit to see what Connections is like before registering?
A: Yes. Please contact the instructors of the classes you would like to visit to request instructor approval. When you check in, the team at the Welcome Table will provide you with nametags and directions to classrooms. During your visit, please stay with your children. Here is some additional pre-registration information.
Q: What do the fees cover?
A: All fees and tuition are paid directly to Connections. Registration fees are paid annually to cover administration, insurance and facility expenses. Tuition is set by the instructors and paid six times a year. Copy/supply fees are set by the instructors and paid annually or semiannually and for materials utilized by students during the class. Some classes require the outside purchase of textbooks, book or other supplies listed in the class description. Late fees are paid if tuition payments are not received on time. Drop fees are paid when withdrawing from a class to offset the loss of tuition for the remainder of the school year.
Q: May I drop my child off?
A: Parents must remain on-site with their children. Parents of students 15 years and older may use a Substitute Parent form after attending a Substitute Parent meeting and receiving Board approval. All parents are required to be on-site for the first two weeks of classes.
Q: May I sit in on my child’s classes?
A: Absolutely. We encourage parents to attend classes with their children, but please know that cell phones that have not been silenced, as well as whispering in the back of the room, can be disconcerting to the instructor.
Q: Will I have a job?
A: Yes. To ensure that Connections runs smoothly, every family at Connections is required to perform a job while on-site. A job may require that you arrive 30 minutes before your first class, or remain 30 minutes after your last class. All other jobs are completed during the hours your students have classes. See our jobs page for more information.
Q: I have a dog that can’t be home alone. Can I bring the dog to Connections?
A: The churches have asked that we not have dogs or pets of any kind on campus unless they are service dogs.
Q. Can grandparents visit their grandkids in class?
A: We welcome occasional adult visitors. Please have them check in and out at the Welcome Table, and they will be given a red visitor nametag. During their visit, all visitors must be accompanied by a Connections parent.
General Homeschooling Questions
Q: What are the “required subjects” homeschoolers must teach according to state law?
A: The answer is in RCW 28A.225.010(4): instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music.
Q: Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling?
A: The Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) serves the diverse interests of home-based education. They are a great resource for everything Homeschool 101 in our state. WHO website.
A: Yes, for children age 8 and older. State law requires you to file a “declaration of intent” with your local school district by September 15, or within two weeks of the beginning of the quarter, semester, or trimester RCW 28A.200.010(1). You can obtain a declaration of intent from your school district.
Q: Where else can I learn about homeschooling in Washington State?
A: The Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) serves the diverse interests of home-based education. They are a great resource for everything Homeschool 101 in our state. WHO website.