What exactly is a Co-Op?

Question

I am a homeschooling Mom and I was wondering what exactly a Co-Op is?
Blessings...

Regarding HSing..

Answer 1

Doesn't anyone realize she's talking about a HOMESCHOOL CO-OP?

A co-op, when refering to homeschooling, is a group of homeschoolers of all different ages, grades, styles, creeds, walks of life in one area. Some co-ops are specifically for Christian homeschoolers or other religions, just like some private schools are Christian schools or Catholic or Jewish schools, but that's beyond the point.

Basically, a co-op is a group of HSers and HS parents that get together a few times a week for shared class time. Different parents may volunteer to teach small groups of students in various areas. They are usually elective classes like drama, oceanography, psychology, photography, art, chorus, creative writing, you name it, though sometimes they may have group science classes as well (since it is often more economically wise to share lab equipment baught in larger quantities). Things like Chemistry or Biology. Participation in a co-op is usually free, though some groups may charge fees per class/activity so that supplies can be paid for. The teachers however, as I stated above, are homeschool parents volunteering their time and knowledge. Co-ops also sometimes have social events like dances, holiday parties, prom for older students, graduation ceremonies, and field trips to all sorts of places. They're great for homeschoolers/HSparents who need a bit of help getting into the swing of things and networking with others who share the HS lifestyle. They're also a great way to further enhance a homeschooler's unique education. Look up homeschool co-ops (or simply homeschool groups would be a good start) in your area. There may be a Yahoo! group, or you could just google the words "Homeschool co-op ". Definitely check it out!

Answer 2

A homeschooling co-op can be as informal or formal as the participants want.

It could be as simple as 2 or 3 families with kids the same age working together-- they might go over one parent's house a couple of hours on Monday and that parent will teach art, and then another parent's house a couple of hours on Wedensday and that parent will teach the kids math.

It offers the kids a chance for group learninig, working with other teachers-- plus, if they're lucky, a parents can share their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses (someone good at math but not so good at writing would do well to co-op with a parent good at writing but not so good at math-- they can pick up each other's slack).

The opposite end of the spectrum is a large, fully organize co-op, like the one we are part of. We rent a facility where there are classrooms, a cafeteria and a big yard and playground. We meet once a week, there are 4 periods plus lunch, there are a number of classes offered (around 6 or 8 classes per period to choose from) for various ages and ability levels and in just about every subject-- art, music, math, science, english, history, computers, etc... Because we rent a facility and have to pay insurance fees, there is a small registration fee and costs for classes, but they range, depending on the subject and who is teaching it, and they're all pretty reasonable-- we do a few fundraisers per year in order to keep costs low as possible, we've gotten so big we're going for non-profit organization status.

In my coop, some of the classes are offered by other parents, and some are offered by other people who want to share their skills or who have teaching experience and offer classes to make extra money.

Answer 3

You being the designer it is up to you to create the role for it anyway you want to make it. You can make it like a regular event that yields a profit as well. Even as a shop that is owned by all the associated members. One way to do it is with a membership. Members pay an annual fee to be part of it. They may have to sign for a number of hours a month to man the store and the shop, or do other jobs that they may be qualified for, like accounting or filling taxes, designing and making riding clothes, purchasing, sales, board of directors, CEO, etc. From the membership fees, a part is assigned to pay the lease and other expenses. Non-members customers, pay customary prices for the services and parts. In the benefits for the members side is buying bikes and parts at a discount directly from manufacturers, (ie: if a bike has MSRP of $1000, the co-op will buy bulk for $500), almost free repairs, and use of the premises, tools and advise. Most importantly, if at the end of the years the operation shows a profit, members can decide to redistribute some $$$ to members, or to invest in a bike painting shop if there is a need for it. If a member knows how to build bikes from scratch, the co-op can set the space to do that instead of a one man, solo, operation that has most chances of ending on failure. Members will be able to buy with confidence knowing that they will not be swindled or sold a bike that is not for them. The activities can include rentals and organized daily rides with a leader, that anybody can joint for a fee and members for free. Ridding education, and riding clinics. Bringing bike awareness to the community, schools, asking for bike lines or whatever that will be of interest to the members.

Answer 4

There's two different kinds of co-op.

The first does have to do with school. They can be paid or unpaid (many ARE unpaid, mind you). Essentially it's students earning credits (just like you would sitting in a class) while being out on the job. So you'd have a couple days that you study at your school (job safety, interview skills, etc) and then you go for a co-op interview (just like getting a job). Assuming that you get the job, you report to your co-op placement during the time that you would regularly be in school and (using a chart that's given to you) keep track of the hours you put in. The number of credits you get is dictated by how many hours you put in (here it's 1 credit= 100 hours).

There's also the other more business-oriented definition:

"A form of ownership where a buyer purchases shares in a corporation, partnership or trust and shares proportionately with other owners in the assets and liabilities of the common ownership."

Answer 5

Well, at least one person answered correctly! I was getting worried :-)

A homeschool co op is a group of families meeting together to provide classes for the kids. Kids are generally grouped by age (lower and upper elementary, middle school/jr. high, and high school) and can take any number of courses. A co op will generally meet once or twice a week.

It can be as formal as hiring in paid teachers to teach courses (I am a paid teacher in foreign languages at one such co op) or it can be as informal as a couple of families getting together to teach a unit. My son is involved in one that is somewhere in between - 12-13 families getting together, around 20-something kids in lower elementary and middle school, taking various classes. We teach the classes ourselves - we have (as participating moms) a certified English teacher, a degreed scientist, a college Spanish professor, a linguist, and moms who have a range of talents and passionate interests. This year, my son is taking Biblical history, writing, Spanish, science, and geography at his co op. He has homework each week for his classes and is held accountable by me and his instructors.

Co op can encompass a wide range of things, but basically it is families getting together to share resources and abilities in order to educate our kids.

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

We have several classes from PE to scrap booking offered in ours. Everyone volunteers to either teach or to help in a class. The teachers are parents of the kids who happen to really know the skill they are teaching well. Our Spanish teacher is from Spain our algebra teacher has a math degree. We even have a class dedicated to play ground games. They teach the kids kick ball and soccer and so forth!
Basically its where we can go to supplement the educations of our kids and they can pick what they want to learn.
Edit: James that's called CO-ED!

Answer 7

I used to go to a Co-op. We met on Fridays and did various classes (taught by student's parents). It was really helpful for my education. The one I went to was free except a small amount of money for my music teacher and once I paid lab fees for a science class.

Answer 8

A co-op is a group of like minded people who band together and pitch in resources to solve a common problem.

Most common co-op is one used by property owners in a housing complex such as an apartment building or condiminium complex in which they solve common problems with common resources by banding together.

cooperatives or co-ops are generally non profit or not profit making organizations limit their expenditures to raw costs involved in doing a task.

Answer 9

A co-op can be many things, but I will tell you an example of one. My husband owned an almond orchard. He signed with a company that is owned by only almond farmers. They sold the almonds and by-products and we were considered part of the co-op. usually a co-op is a group of same minded people with a same goal, be it growing and selling a product or something of that nature. Does that help? Oh, when something is sold, it is equally distributed by how much each person has put into making of the product.

Answer 10

I went to public school, and I was in a co-op in high school. At least that is what it was called then. A student involved in a co-op gets hired in the local community from the school. The person over the program at the school works to get each student hired, it's usually business oriented, i.e. computer work or secretarial work.