West Branch Learning Tree Homeschool Co-op West Branch Learning Tree Homeschool Co-op Calendar West Branch Learning Tree Co-op Registration
 

FAQs



Q:

When and where does the West Branch Learning Tree Co-op meet?

A:

We meet on Mondays from 9:00-2:30 PM.  Friendship Baptist Church, at 8580 Cheviot Rd. in Cincinnati, OH, has generously allowed us to use their facilities on Mondays.  Please contact us through this website and not the church.

Q:

How many hours of classes do you offer?

A:

Our day is broken up into 5 hours.  Our first hour classes meet from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM.  Our second hour classes meet from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM.  Our third hour classes meet from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. From 12:00 - 12:30, all students eat lunch in the gymnasium.  Our fourth hour classes meet from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM. Our fifth hour classes meet from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM.  

Classes are taught by attending members. Our class offerings are therefore dependent on what our members want to teach each year. Have a class you want to see offered? Consider teaching it!

Membership is prioritized to families with at least one child in first grade or older. Families with an oldest child in Kindergarten will be added to our waitlist and admitted as space is available.

Attending families may choose to attend the hours that suits their family.  Our tuition is a flat fee and is not prorated if you do not attend a full day. For administrative and financial reasons, we require that families enroll for at least three hours (out of the five hours offered).

There are fewer classes offered 5th hour. 

Q:

How are classes organized?

A:

Our students are divided by age into the following departments:

  • Nursery (0-2)
  • Preschool (2-4)
  • Kindergarten (5 years old by September 30 of the current school year)
  • 1st-3rd (6-8)
  • 4th-6th (9-11)
  • 7th-12th (12-18)

Homeschool families hold grade levels very loosely, but for the size of our co-op (200+ kids) these divisions have worked best. (Children may be considered for a higher grade class if they will turn that age by September 30 of the current school year. In addition, there may be other factors such as prerequisites that prevent a student from being admitted to a higher level class.)

We understand that each child is a unique individual both academically and emotionally, but we follow these guidelines for class planning and classroom management reasons.

From the 1st grade level and above we offer at least 3 different class options per hour. Some classes have class size restrictions based on which room they are held in or other factors.

Q:

What are parents expected to do during co-op?

A:

Each family is expected to have a parent (or responsible adult) attend co-op with your children. This adult will teach and / or help in a classroom.  (Hours of help required varies based on how many families we have attending and how many adults are available each hour.) We have a parent room that is available all 5 hours as a place to relax and meet other parents. 

Attending families also help with lunch clean up on a rotating basis.

Q:

What is the cost?

A:

Tuition for each child age 2 and above is currently $100*. The following discounts are available:

  • Nursery discount - children under the age of 2 are not charged tuition
  • Multiple Children Discount. Families are charged for a maximum of 3 children (ages 2 and above). Tuition will be discounted for the 4th and following children in a family.
  • Teacher discount - a teacher will receive a tuition discount equal to one hour of teaching. This applies to teachers in preschool classes and above.

Fees vary by class. Some classes have no fees while classes with fees range from $5-$100 per class. Fees are not discounted or covered by any other adjustments.

In addition, there are several classes offered where the teacher is paid a fee directly. These classes will be clearly marked and the teachers should be paid at the beginning of each semester. (This includes, but is not limited to, our Taekwondo and Ballet classes.)

There are a limited number of scholarships available. Members should contact the treasurer ([email protected]) if a payment plan is needed. Payment plans can be weekly or monthly, but all tuition and class fees are due by the end of the 1st semester, unless otherwise specified.

Tuition is to pay for the expenses of our co-op such as:

  • Insurance
  • Background checks 
  • This website (how we communicate with all members, keep track of attendance, and enable each class to have their own secure forum, etc.)
  • Supplies used by the entire co-op
  • Technology used by both the church and our co-op (such as screens in classrooms)
  • Class expenses up to $25 per class

*this may rise slightly in the next school year due to rising expenses outside of our control. We are committed to keeping tuition as affordable as we can, as a blessing to our member families, while still paying for the necessary expenses of an organization of our size.