Texarkana Homeschool Guide.

Homeschooling is a growing trend in the United States and the homeschool community in Texarkana is strong. Sometimes it can be hard to find all of the information and get an understanding of what’s out there. This blog post is a comprehensive guide to homeschooling in Texarkana. Keep reading to see the groups, co-ops, and extracurriculars available to Texarkana homeschoolers.

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is defined as the educational journey outside of traditional public school. While it doesn’t include private schools, homeschooling can sometimes include a blend of co-ops, virtual school, or schooling done entirely by a parent or guardian. The number of homeschool families has increased greatly in the last few years and that’s also true in Texarkana.

Why homeschooling?

There are many reasons why a parent or guardian may choose to homeschool their child. Flexibility in the schedule is the number one reason for our family, giving us the ability to travel outside of traditional school schedules. For some families it may be because of an unpleasant experience in school, or the desire to meet their child’s unique educational needs. It could also be because of work schedules, moving frequently, or many other reasons. Perhaps even to just gain more time together as a family.

Homeschooling gives the freedom to unlock learning in unique ways, however one methodology is not necessarily better than another. Choosing homeschool over public school does not mean that traditional school is a less than ideal option. It’s up to each family to determine what is best for them.

Understanding your homeschool style.

When beginning a homeschooling journey it is important to understand your homeschool style. This can include what you want your schedule to look like, what type of curriculum you will use, if you’ll participate in a co-op or virtual classes, and how hands on. you want to be. It’s also helpful to figure out your teaching style and your children’s learning style. There is a quiz in the front of Cathy Duffy’s Book Top 100+ Homeschool Curriculum’s that can help you get a better understanding of those styles. Read all about our homeschool journey over at Luckey Wanderers.

Arkansas state requirements.

In Arkansas, homeschoolers are required to submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the superintendent of their school district. This needs to be completed by August 15th of the upcoming school year. It can be filed online. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association is a valuable resource with all of the additional information you may need. However, the only legal requirement to homeschool in Arkansas is to file your notice of intent, each year, for each child from age 6 (kindergarten) through 12th grade. The Education Alliance is also a great resource.

Texas state requirements.

Texas is considered a no regulation state when it comes to homeschooling, because of the zero requirements. There are some compulsory subjects, however these are not reported and there is no requirement to declare homeschooling. Again, HSLDA has a great breakdown of what this means.

Four States Homeschool Expo and Conference.

There is a wonderful Texarkana homeschool event coming in summer 2024. The Four States Homeschool Expo and Conference is a one day conference focused on homeschooling. It takes place in Texarkana, Texas at Church on the Rock. Homeschoolers from all over southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, east Texas and southeast Oklahoma are invited to attend. For 2024, the headline speaker is Abbie Halberstadt, also known as M is for Mama.

The expo will have Texarkana homeschool groups of all types in addition to local businesses, support groups, co-ops and area colleges. Conference attendees will have seven different breakout sessions to choose from, in three time blocks. I ( Nichole Holze / Coleyraeh ) am thrilled to share that I’ll be speaking at one of those sessions.

Homeschooling in Texarkana.

There are lots of options for homeschooling in Texarkana on both sides of the state line and beyond. If you’re looking for homeschool support groups, keep reading to see the full list. If you’re looking for co-ops, those are here too. The Texarkana area is receptive to homeschoolers and you will find a large community with a range of homeschool styles.

Texarkana Homeschool Support Groups.

A homeschool support group is a community that provides socialization through field trips, monthly meetings and meet ups, and age group hang outs. Additionally, some of these also offer book clubs and a co-op seasonally. A few of these groups have a membership fee along with membership requirements. Our family has enjoyed being a member of several of these groups.

• Texarkana Homeschooling Families Facebook Group
• Wild + Free Texarkana – A local chapter of Wild + Free homeschool community
• TEACH – The Educators Association of Christian Homeschoolers Texarkana.
• TORCH – Texarkana Organization for Resolute Christian Homeschoolers.
• SITH – Secular and Inclusive Homeschoolers of Texarkana.

Homeschool Co-Ops in Texarkana.

A homeschool co-op is a group that meets regularly throughout the school year. Some of these are a drop off co-op and some require parents to stay and participate. The co-op format is very helpful for transitioning from public school or to prepare to transition back to public school, and helpful for working parents. They’re also useful for anyone who wants to meet with a group regularly and move through topics and classes together. Our family has also enjoyed a few of these co-op groups.

• TRACE – Texarkana Regional Alliance of Christian Educators. Offers classes two days per week, with a strong emphasis on academic excellence for middle school and high school students.
• Liberty – Liberty Education Center
• Legacy – Legacy Co-Op– Two days per week, drop off co-op. Classes offered for kindergarten through eighth grade. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 AM to 3 PM.
• Classical Conversations – Classical Conversations Texarkana, Texas.
• Champions Academy – Atlanta, Texas

More resources for homeschooling in Texarkana.

There are so many great resources for homeschooling in Texarkana, sometimes it just requires a bit of research or out of the box thinking. One of our favorite resources is the Texarkana Library. Did you know they have a 3D printer? Currently, they also have a solar telescope on loan and you can set up a time to use it. A library card also unlocks Libby and Hoopla, which has a variety of educational audiobooks, ebooks, movies and documentaries.

Enrichment Opportunities for homeschoolers.

Texarkana has a variety of cultural riches and many of them are accessible to homeschoolers. The best way to stay up to date on what events and programs are happening is to follow the Facebook pages of the organizations listed below.

• TRAHC – Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council. Arts non-profit located in the Regional Arts Building in downtown Texarkana. There are free art exhibits year round, artist receptions, and special events. They also offer art classes for homeschoolers and the Theater for Young Audiences at the Perot Theater, and homeschoolers can purchase tickets to the shows. They have a Youth Juried Art Exhibition in the spring that is also open to homeschoolers.
• TYTL – Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Leaders. The youth leadership segment of Leadership Texarkana. Open to homeschool students in grade ten or eleven.
• Silvermoon Children’s Theater. Auditions are open to all students, including homeschoolers. They also have theater classes during the school year and summer camps.
• Texarkana Museum System. The Museum of Regional History is a two story museum in downtown Texarkana that is a wonderful resource for homeschoolers. They can set up tours and programs too.
• 1894 Art Gallery. This art gallery in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas is a whimsical and fun place to explore. They also have classes and exhibitions throughout the year.

Sports and more for Texarkana Homeschoolers.

One of the number one questions about homeschooling is “but what about sports?” Luckily, there are a lot of good answers to this question when it comes to Texarkana homeschool. As homeschoolers, you can still participate in any of the recreational sports leagues in town, along with the club or travel teams. Here are a few options:

• TSC – Texarkana Soccer Club. – Recreational and travel team soccer.
• GT United Soccer Club – Travel team soccer.
• Upwards Basketball – Various locations and sports.
• We Are Washington – Community Center with free basketball league.
• Texarkana Dixie Baseball.
• TABA – Texarkana Arkansas Youth Baseball Association.
• TYSA – Texarkana Youth Softball Association.
• Texarkana Tigers Youth Football.
• ATAC – Area Texarkana Aquatic Club – Year round swim lessons and swim team.
• Twin City CrossFit – Homeschool fitness class and regular kids classes.
• Wacha Resolutions – Homeschool fitness class and regular kids classes.
• SMAA – Synergy Martial Arts Academy offers a homeschool Jiu Jitsu class.
• Trinity Christian School – A private school in Texarkana, Arkansas that allows homeschoolers to participate in sports.
• Champions Academy – Atlanta, Texas
• Homeschool Tennis lessons at Texarkana College.
• Tennis lessons at Northridge Country Club.
• Various gymnastics, dance, and cheer studios around town.
• Judith McCarty School of Dance – daytime, homeschool ballet class.

Arkansas homeschool sports.

Texarkana, Arkansas has a unique situation for homeschoolers and sports. Thanks to the Tim Tebow law, Arkansas homeschoolers can compete in public school sports starting in seventh grade. They have to enroll in school and be up to date on all medical requirements in order to play. Enrollment is on paperwork only and the “class” they attend is the sports practice. We have enjoyed this perk while our son plays tennis with the TASD tennis programs.

Additional homeschool resources.

Just beyond Texarkana, there are plenty of other homeschool resources in the ArkLaTex area. All of the state park systems have a wide range of educational programming available, many of which can be tailored for a homeschool group. Historic Washington State Park in Arkansas hosts a homeschool day every year in the fall. Nearby Rick Evans Grandview Prairie also has a wide range of educational programs available.

• Arkansas State Parks – Our favorite parks close to Texarkana are: White Oak Lake, Lake Catherine, Lake Ouachita, Logoly, Arkansas Natural Resources Museum, Cossatot River, and Lake DeGray. PS – all Arkansas state parks are free!
• Louisiana State Parks – Our favorite nearby Louisiana parks are: Lake Bistineau, Lake Claiborne, Lake D’Arbonne, and Jimmie Davis.
• Texas State Parks – Our favorite nearby Texas parks are: Atlanta, Caddo Lake, and Daingerfield.
• Oklahoma State Parks – Our favorite nearby Oklahoma parks are: Beavers Bend, Clayton Lake, and Talimena.
• National Parks – The National Parks are a wealth of educational resources and opportunities. The Junior Ranger programs are a great way to enrich your homeschool and your vacation. Hot Springs National Park has several of the programs.

Did you know!? All fourth graders in the United States are eligible for a National Parks Annual Pass, thanks to the Every Kid in a Park program. This includes homeschoolers! Don’t forget to apply when your child is in their fourth grade year. You can pick up a pass in person at Hot Springs National Park.

Memberships and other things.

One of the best ways to enrich your homeschool while you explore and travel are memberships. A huge perk of being in Texarkana is the plethora of museums that are within a two hour drive. Membersips are available at many science museums, art museums, zoos, aquariums and more. A tip: if you get a family membership to Sci-Port in Shreveport you’ll get free admission to the Perot Museum in Dallas, the Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs, the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, and the Discovery Museum in Tyler. That’s all thanks to the ASTC passport program. This post is all about the five best memberships for families and why you should get them.

Finally, don’t forget about the zoos! Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas has a Zoo School program that is once per month, just for homeschoolers!

Our favorite curriculum.

Over the last ten years, we’ve ebbed and flowed through several types of curriculum. These are a few of our favorites, some links are affiliate links which give me a small kick back at no additional cost to you.

• Beautiful Feet Books – Charlotte Mason inspired, literature based curriculum.
• Ambleside Online – our core curriculum and “spine” of our homeschool.
• Simply Charlotte Mason
• Story of the World
• Master Books – we’ve used Language Lessons and the science curriculum for middle school.
• The Good and the Beautiful – we have only used this for the handwriting curriculum.
• Gather Round Homeschool – easy to use for traveling, open and go unit studies.
• Teaching Textbooks – computer based math curriculum.

Thank you.

I hope that this Texarkana homeschool guide is helpful! If there is something that I missed or if you have any questions, please email me at nichole@arklatexadventures.com, I’m happy to make updates and corrections. We have homeschooled our children from the beginning of their education and some of my writing has been published in books by Wild + Free, available at major booksellers nationwide. If you’re looking for some guidance, check out the 2024 Virtual Homeschool Conference from For the Love of Homeschooling. The conference includes over 30 speakers with sessions on a wide range of topics! Use code “coleyraeh” for 10% off and let me know what you think about my Adventure School presentation. If you’d like to learn about interest led homeschooling, check out this post. For more about adventure schooling, check out this post.