FAQs

1. When and where does the co-op meet? 
   Discovery Days co-op meets two Fridays a month at Mountain Grove Baptist Church in Hickory, NC.
2. What is a co-op? Isn’t this like a private school? Is this a church school? 
   Co-op classes are a cooperative effort among several families to supplement their children’s home education by working together on subjects that are difficult to teach at home or best taught in group settings.
3. If I sign my children up for these classes, does that mean that I don’t have to teach them at home? 
   No! The parent is still the primary teacher for classes taught at co-op. While our classes are designed to provide students with specialized instruction, co-op classes do not absolve the parent from their responsibility for their children’s education. Parents still must ensure that their students keep up with assigned work each week, and they may need to assign supplemental coursework at home. Parents administer tests and determine final grades. Additionally, co-op does not offer every subject; for example, according to NC law all core classes such as math, reading, spelling, and grammar must be taught at home.
4.  How did the co-op start? 
   A few families from the Ace Homeschool Association started the co-op in Fall 2009 initially for high school and junior high school students but realized their was just as many younger children desiring a co-op setting as well.  In the summer of 2011, a team of six moms took over the administration of the co-op.  The program is now run by this Leadership Team who administer the current co-op organization.
5. How much does the co-op cost? How are the fees used? 
   We aim to minimize expenses. The co-op does not employ parents as teachers.   Please refer to our fees page for more specific fee information.
   On occasion, we arrange to have outside teachers to come in.  These are experts in an area that we are not equipped to handle in house.  These classes pay fees directly to the teacher on behalf of the parent.  These allow for group classes at a discounted price. Fees are non-refundable and not prorated.
6. How do I enroll my children? How can I get on the waiting list?
   Pre-registration is mandatory because it holds a slot for your child. We intentionally keep the classes small, and they fill up fast! If you’re interested in joining our co-op, please find more information under "Prospective Members" and someone will be in touch with you about registering your family for the fall. We do keep a wait list for families that express interest during the school year, so don’t delay filling out the form, even if it’s December! Your family will then be at the top of the list for the coming year.
7. What if we have to quit co-op unexpectedly?
   Please understand that our co-op will not “fit” every family, so we ask you to prayerfully consider your decision to join before actually signing up.  By enrolling your children, you are committing to participating for the full school year. Your commitment and punctuality are crucial because we depend on one another for a successful year. When even just one parent is late or absent or quits, it puts a heavier burden on the rest of us, and consequently, the children suffer.  Nevertheless, we understand that family comes first in a crisis. If an unexpected emergency, such as moving, serious illness, or death in the family, has made it impossible for you to continue at co-op, please come to us for prayer and help. If necessary, ask your team teachers or helpers to take over your classes temporarily and make arrangements to give them class fees, supplies, and materials, if any. Then notify the Leadership Team.
8. How are classes planned each year? Can I suggest a class?  If you have a need or suggestion for a class, please notify the Leadership Team. If you are willing to teach a class or two, please submit your class ideas during class submission period (see Dates tab for current school year to find out when this is).  We love to get new ideas or repeats of popular classes!
9. Do you have a lunch break?
   We have a 50 minute lunch break between the second and third class sessions.  Co-op does not provide lunch. Some families bring their lunch and some order from local restaurants.   There are tables and chairs to eat at for whatever you choose to bring for lunch.
10. How are classes filled? How can I guarantee my child will get in?
    Classes are filled as families register in real time. The classes you choose will be the classes your child(ren) are enrolled in.
11. How can my high schooler earn high school credit hours?
    When your child signs up for Discovery Days, he or she is participating in a co-op, not taking a class. As such, parents are still the primary teachers of their children. We do not take that responsibility from the parents. To earn the high school credits suggested for each class, parents not only must ensure that their students complete all homework, but parents should also discuss topics during the week with their children in preparation for further class discussion, and they may also need to assign supplemental coursework at home. Additionally, parents administer tests and determine final grades. To use a science class as an example, such as chemistry or physical science, students read the text book and answer questions during the week at home; then at co-op once a week, they participate in the lab and do the experiments.
12. What exactly is done in the classes? Is it lecture format or projects, etc.?
    Classes are planned by the individual teachers. This is specified on the classes page. Just click the link of the class you’re interested in.
13. What size are the classes?
    We intentionally keep our classes small. The teachers of each class set the limit on the number of students they can handle, generally 10 – 12.
14. Can I bring a visitor to co-op? Can my older, graduated homeschooler visit?
    Yes, we welcome close friends and family with you.  However, please contact a leadership team member first and find out the particulars for having visitors at the co-op.
15. I have a child still in public school. Can I bring him to co-op on his school vacations?
    Yes, but we ask you to not place him/her in a class without the teacher’s permission.  Extra students can be a distraction to the learning process.  As much as possible, please keep the student with you.
16. Are classes ever canceled?
    If Catawba County Public Schools is closed due to bad weather, co-op will be canceled. If co-op must be canceled we will send notification through email, our Facebook group, and through our Remind text loop.
17. Do you go on field trips?
    As a co-op, we do not sponsor field trips.  We welcome parents to organize field trips on their own and announce their availability to the group.  We do have a Facebook Group, Discovery Days Co-Op Field Trips for current and former participants to get together to plan field trips.
18. What do you mean when you say we have to volunteer or “work” at the co-op? Can I specify where I want to volunteer?
    Our co-op is truly a cooperative effort. We need every participating parent to keep the co-op functioning smoothly. By registering your children, you agree to work during their class periods as a teacher, team teacher, teacher’s helper or in a support role. Parents who volunteer to teach teach two classes are not required to assist during any other sessions.  Parents who teach one class will assist in some manner for two other sessions.  Parents who do not teach will be assigned to assist in some manner for three sessions.
19. I will be volunteering as an Assistant. What is expected of an assistant?  Basically, assistants are there to help the teacher, and they are just as important to the success of the class as the teacher. Each class has at least one assistant to ensure two adults per class. Assistants are expected to fill in for the teacher if she is absent, help the teacher keep track of time so students will not be late to their next class, participate actively in class, assist students who need extra help, handle discipline in the classroom, help the teacher gather supplies and implement lessons, and help clean up when class ends. If an assistant is not a teacher or team teacher elsewhere, she may be asked to teach at least once during the semester. 
20. What is expected of parents? By joining co-op, you are agreeing to participate for the full school year, so please prayerfully consider before committing yourself and your family. Participating in co-op means attending diligently and being on time. By registering your children, you agree to work during their class periods as assigned.
21. What if we have to be absent?  As soon as you know that you will be absent, you must find a replacement for every job you hold at co-op. Teachers should ask their assistants, as assistants are supposed to substitute for the teacher in the event of absence. Assistants should call a parent on break that period and call the teacher to let her know who will fill in. Do not call anyone on the Leadership Team as they will not find a substitute for you.  Anyone who neglects to secure a substitute three times will be asked to leave co-op.  If you must leave co-op in an emergency, not an errand, you may ask another parent to be responsible for your children. If so, please sign out in the fellowship hall, including listing the adult who will be responsible for your children in your absence.  When a student is absent, it is the responsibility of students grades 7-12 or their parents to find out what was covered and what assignments are due in each class.  If you need to stay home with a sick child, you may send your well children grades 3 and up to co-op with a supervising adult, either an adult relative or a parent currently at co-op.
22. What is your sick policy? We don’t stay home for a little cold, do we? On the other hand, we won’t be exposed to every cold bug at co-op, will we?  We cannot stress this enough: If you or your children are sick or recovering from an illness, even the common cold, please do not attend co-op that week. We do not want co-op to be a source of sickness for any family, so please use good judgment.