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The dues for a family wishing to be a part of TEACH Texarkana are $50 per year. These dues allow TEACH Texarkana to maintain the website and keep the database of members up-to-date, provide liability insurance for the protection of our membership, and budget for incidentals such as paper goods, guest speaker fees, monthly meeting supplies, etc. The dues can be paid online or in person to any Board Officer at any TEACH Texarkana event.

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If renewing membership or joining at the beginning of the TEACH year, membership fees will be due on or before the September Monthly Meeting. If joining after the September Monthly Meeting, fees will be due within two weeks of being accepted as a member. Annual dues may be paid through the TEACH Texarkana website via PayPal (a $2 convenience fee will be incurred), or by cash or check in person at any TEACH Texarkana event. Checks should be made payable to TEACH Texarkana.

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TEACH Texarkana offers a wide variety of activities for all ages. Monthly events include Parent Meetings, Park Days, Field Trips, Moms Nights Out and age-specific events for kids and teens. Each fall and spring, Cooperative (Co-op) Enrichment Classes are offered for one day each week, over a period of five weeks. For those wishing to participate, the Christmas and Valentine holidays are observed with activity parties for member children. Throughout the year, family gatherings are held as well as a TEACH graduation at the end of the year.

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TEACH Texarkana Teens enjoy monthly Teen-only Hangouts, a Fall inFormal, a Winter Progressive Dinner, and a Spring Teen Ball, in addition to other events. Teens may apply to serve on the Teen Leadership Council, an advisory and service group that works to plan both social events and community service projects.

In order to bridge the gap between kids and teens, The Bridge group was created for ages 11-13 (during the schoolyear). The Bridge will meet over the school year with fun, laid-back, hang out activities.

The Senior Class organizes each year to celebrate their final days of homeschooling. They plan any special Senior-only activities, have fundraisers for their spring Senior Trip, choose the Teen Ball theme, participate in charitable events, and finish their journey with a graduation ceremony at the end of the year. 

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TEACH Kids offers monthly activities for children ages 0-12. Monthly activities may include holiday parties, classes, or special events.

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If your child is 11 (or turning 11 this year) they may join The Bridge, which provides a gentle transition into TEACH Teens. The Bridge offers gatherings every other month and is for ages 11-13 (during the school year).

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TEACH Texarkana carries liability insurance to protect members while attending sponsored events such as, but not limited to, Monthly Meetings, Co-op, Moms Nights Out, and/or Teen Things, from being sued (that is, being held liable) individually, from any accidents that might occur during the natural course of the activity. This protection comes at a cost of approximately $15 per family.

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≈ If your child is not currently enrolled in a Texas public school (due to age or because your family has recently moved to Texas) or if the child has been attending a private school, you are not required to take any actions before you begin homeschooling. If your child has never attended a public school, you are not required to register them, nor are you required to notify your school district that you intend to homeschool.

≈ If your child is currently enrolled in a Texas public school and you intend to homeschool the child, it will be necessary for you to withdraw your child from the school he or she attends. You can withdraw your child at any time during the calendar year. There is no official form required by the State of Texas to withdraw your children from public school.

TEACH Texarkana has a "Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” that you can use to withdraw your children from public school. This letter serves as your official notice to the school administration that you are withdrawing your child from their school, and provides assurance to your public school that you will be homeschooling according to the requirements of Texas state law. Please click HERE for the letter template. Please click HERE for the current Texas Education Agency Commissioner's letter to attach to your "Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool."

≈ When withdrawing, some school officials may ask you to submit a curriculum, lesson plans, tests, etc. before you withdraw your child from public school. Legally, you are not required to do so. As long as you return all materials that belong to the school and give them the “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool,” the school must officially withdraw your child from their school.

≈ If there is any school property in your child’s possession (textbooks, sport equipment, musical instruments, library books, etc.), take these items and deliver the “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” to the school office to officially withdraw. The school administration may ask you to sign forms they have created specifically for their school, but you are not required to do so. Again, there is no authorized form for the State of Texas for withdrawing your student and registering as a Homeschool parent.

If your child has no school property in his or her possession, you can mail your “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” to the school office. If you choose to mail the letter, we suggest you send it via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to the principal or administrative official you have chosen.

≈ Your “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” requests the school your child has been attending to provide all of your child’s school records, including all medical as well as academic records. The Texas Open Records Act (TORA) requires that records of your student be considered private information (Chapter 552.026). However, TORA also specifically entitles you (i.e. parent, grandparent, or legal guardian of the student) to have access to ALL of the records pertaining to that student (Chapter 552.023).

≈ Should you encounter difficulty during the process of withdrawing your student from a public school, please consider contacting a homeschool advocacy agency such as Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) or Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Both groups offer free, general legal advice to homeschoolers, and legal protection services to their members. TEACH Texarkana strongly recommends membership in both these organizations.

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• Fill out the NOI (Notice of Intent) to Homeschool.  Download here Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Offices - Learning Services - Home School - Notice of Intent (arkansas.gov).
• Have the form notarized and turn it in to your local school district by August 15th of the year you are intending to begin homeschooling.
• Keep a photocopy of the completed notice of intent form for your records.
• There is a beginner's packet available for $5 here ----> Pack  This isn't required but may have some helpful information

Students Who Have Moved Into The School District

• All of the above must be done within 30 days.

Transferring From a Public School to a Home School During the Fall or Spring Semesters

Students may transfer from a public school to a home school at any time during the fall or spring semesters. Certain restrictions may apply. The public school superintendent may require that the student wait 14 calendar days before being allowed to transfer to a home school. Public school students who are under disciplinary or who have excessive unexcused absences may not transfer to a home school during the semester until the disciplinary action has been resolved or excessive unexcused absences have been addressed.

The superintendent may waive the 14 calendar day waiting period or any disciplinary action and allow the student to transfer immediately to the home school. Superintendents may not prevent the transfer of public school students to a home school after the 14 calendar day waiting period unless the student is under some type of disciplinary action. The 14 calendar day waiting period begins at the time the notice of intent form is turned in to the superintendent.

More answers to questions about homeschooling in Arkansas can be found here FAQ – Education Alliance (arkansashomeschool.org)