Are you:
You've come to the right place! This page will help you navigate the current resources, groups, and classes available to homeschool families in Southern Arizona.
Arizona is a great state for homeschooling!
According to ARS 15-802, "Homeschool means a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child or nonpublic instruction provided in the child’s home."
That statute states that, "Every child between the ages of six and sixteen years shall attend a school and shall be provided instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. The person who has custody of the child shall choose a public, private or charter school or a homeschool as defined in this section to provide instruction or shall sign a contract to participate in an Arizona empowerment scholarship account pursuant to section 15-2402."
In other words, you will need to be sure to instruct your child in reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.
When your child turns six, you will also need to file an affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent stating that your child is being provided with instruction in a homeschool setting OR you will need to register your child for an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA).
No additional paperwork, testing, or documentation is required.
For a complete overview of the homeschool laws in Arizona, please see this helpful homeschool information page created by the Pima County School Superintendent.
Many Tucson homeschool families utilize ESA funds from Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to pay for curriculum and classes. Although ESAs had been available to select groups (military, foster care, learning disabilities, etc) for a number of years, the ESAs were expanded to ALL Arizona families in 2022 with the passing of House Bill 2853!
This scholarship, which is open to any Arizona family, gives 90% of the state budget’s funds per student directly to families. The average amount is between $7000-$7800/year. Any student in grades K-12 can receive an ESA and parents can apply for an ESA year round. ESAs can be used to pay for private school tuition, home education, tutors, curriculum, therapies, and more. Learn more about applying for ESA.
There are a number of support groups, co-ops, and classes around Tucson. We've tried to include them all here for your easy reference.
As of 2023, the highest concentration of homeschool groups and resources appear to be in the northwest Tucson area (including Oro Valley and Marana), but you will find homeschoolers in every part of the city (including SE Tucson/Vail).
Some schools in Tucson allow homeschool students to take classes on an "a la carte" or individual basis.
Desert Christian High School, Pusch Ridge Academy, and Veritas Academy all offer this option on a limited basis for 7th-12th grade students.
Connecting with other homeschool families on facebook is an excellent way to stay connected to local resources and opportunities.
Feel free to peruse each group's mission to find one or two that best resonates with your homeschooling style or interests.
The best way to find field trips for homeschool students in Tucson is to join one of the above-mentioned groups.
Homeschool field trip options to consider in the Tucson area include:
Homeschool field trip options to consider in Phoenix/Scottsdale and elsewhere in the state include:
The largest (and only) homeschool convention in Arizona is the Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) Convention - held annually in Phoenix every July.
Approximately 5,000 people attend this conference, which offers plentiful workshops and classes, a children's program, a teen program, and a huge expo.
There are not any dedicated homeschool curriculum and supply stores in Tucson, but you may be able to find what you are looking for at:
Another educational shopping option in Tucson is Treasures 4 Teachers at 6800 N. Camino Martin. You join for $35/year and then have access to a wide variety of repurposed school & art supplies. Treasures 4 Teachers IS open to homeschoolers, but you must be able to show proof (likely your affidavit or an AFHE membership card).
If you're road-tripping to the Phoenix area, you can shop at Covenant Homeschool Resource Center in central Phoenix or one of the two Lakeshore Learning stores (one in Ahwatukee; one in north Phoenix).
CHET-SE, CHET-NW, and Quest (listed above) also maintain their own libraries, stores, or curriculum swap systems.
Additionally, CHET-SE hosts the Tucson Used Curriculum Fair every June at Christ Community Church. Homeschool families can reserve a booth for under $10 where they can sell their gently used textbooks, picture books, art supplies, games, and educational toys.
You may also be interested in the following resource pages:
***Don't forget to subscribe to TucsonTopia's weekly newsletter to find out about local events, attractions, parks, museums, restaurants, and educational opportunities!***
