Find Your People. Join the Co-op.

Join the Spokane Learning Co-op

Maybe you've been reading about Self-Directed Education for years and you're finally ready. Maybe you just moved to Spokane and you're looking for your people. Maybe you pulled your kids from school last month and you're not sure what comes next.

Wherever you are, this page will help you figure out if we're the right fit, and if we are, how to make it official.

Is This Right for Your Family?

We want you to be sure before you visit, because the families who thrive here tend to know it the moment they arrive, and the families who don't tend to know that too. Here are some honest questions worth sitting with.

Do you trust children to direct their own learning? 

We don't use a curriculum, assign projects, or measure progress. Kids spend their time here playing, building, digging, talking, negotiating, and doing exactly what children have always done throughout human history. If part of you is still hoping we'll sneak some phonics in, we're probably not the right fit yet.

Are you comfortable with real physical risk? 

Kids here climb trees, wrestle, run, and occasionally fall. We cultivate a space where children learn to trust their bodies, which means adults have to let go of the urge to intervene every time something looks scary. We honor family boundaries, but we will not stop a child from taking reasonable physical risks. We find it useful to distinguish between Risk and Hazard. A Risk is something a child can learn from: carrying heavy tires to the top of the straw bale pyramid, for example. A Hazard is something we genuinely intervene on: a child who has taken off their shoes and is about to step on a nail. We try to avoid intervening in cases of Risk, because learning to navigate Risk is itself a crucial skill, and it is safer to practice it than to not practice it. We highly recommend There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Åkeson McGurk, which captures our approach well.

Are you looking for real, recurring community, not just activities? 

What makes this place work is that the same kids show up, week after week, year after year, on the same land. They build real relationships. They build a real community. If you're looking for a drop-in activity or a rotating park meetup, this is something different. It takes a few weeks to feel it, but once you do, you'll understand why our families stay.

Are you comfortable outdoors in all weather? 

We gather outside in rain, cold, mud, and snow. Families who camp, hike, or have a Scouting background adapt immediately. Families who are newer to outdoor life adapt too, it just takes a gathering or two. The right clothing makes all the difference. We provide a detailed clothing guide to every new family.

Are you secular, or comfortable in a secular space? 

We do not have a statement of faith, a religious affiliation, or a philosophical requirement beyond a belief in Self-Directed Education. We are proudly welcoming of all faiths, all ethnicities, all family structures, and all neurotypes. If you have been made to feel unwelcome elsewhere, you are welcome here.

Are you recently out of conventional school and still figuring things out? 

If your family just left public school and you're still in the thick of deschooling, the Co-op might feel disorienting at first. We've found that families who've already been unschooling for a while, families who've had time to shed the idea that learning requires a teacher and a schedule, tend to fall in love with us immediately. If you're newer to this, you're still welcome to visit. Just come with an open mind and give it time.

How to Join 

Step 1: Email us to schedule a visit.

Write to Katy at hello@spokanelearningcoop.org. Tell us how old your child or children are, which gathering you'd like to visit, and what date works for you. We'll take it from there. If you have questions, include those too.

Step 2: Come for a visit.

Visits are free and low-stakes. Bring your kids, wear your outdoor clothes, and plan to stay the full three hours. Don't spend the whole time watching from the edges, that's hard to do anyway, because the kids will pull you in. This is where you'll feel whether it's right.

Step 3: Register.

If you're ready after your visit, or even during it, you can register the same day. The registration form and a one-time $35 registration fee per family covers all of your children, regardless of how many are enrolling.

Register Here →

What We Ask of Families 

Parent Presence

If your child is under 5, we ask that you stay on-site for the full gathering every time. If your child is 5 or older, we ask that you stay on-site for 25% of your child's enrolled hours, which works out to roughly once a month if you attend once a week.

Many parents ask if they can stay every time. Yes, absolutely. Your comfort and your child's comfort are important. You're welcome to stay as long as you need to, and to move toward drop-off at whatever pace feels right for your family.

Background Checks

All participating adults are required to pass a background check before their first gathering.

Snack

Tuesday and Wednesday kids bring their own snack. Friday families take turns bringing snack for the group. It rotates, it's simple, and it's one of the small ways the community takes care of itself.

Offerings

You're also welcome to bring an Offering, such as a game, a craft, a song, a skill, something you feel like sharing with the group. There's no requirement, no signup sheet, and no minimum. You simply bring it when you feel inspired. It's one of the ways parents get to participate in the life of the community.

Tuition 

We charge $78 per month for children ages 0–4, and $120 per month for children ages 5 and up. This covers one weekly gathering per month. Families enrolling more than one child in the same gathering, or who are enrolling in more than one weekly gathering, receive a small discount. Ask us about it when you reach out.

We are committed to economic diversity in our community. If our tuition would create a genuine hardship for your family, please reach out before scheduling your visit and we'll do everything we can to find a way to make it work. Every dollar we give in aid reduces what we have available for salaries, site improvements, and resources, which is why we ask that you reach out honestly and early.

Homeschooling in Washington State 

Most of our families are homeschoolers. If your children are 8 or older and not yet registered as homeschoolers, you'll need to file a Declaration of Intent with your local school district. It's a simple one-page form. Get the form and easy instructions here.

If your children are under 8, they are educationally free in Washington State. No paperwork required.

Who Can Join

General Eligibility

We welcome children and teens if they, their family, and our community all believe they will thrive here. Children who are dropped off need to be able to use the bathroom independently. Children need to be able to understand and follow Co-op boundaries with gentle reminders, things like participating in community rule-making and respecting one another's physical boundaries.

Enrollment is open throughout the year, depending on availability.

Neurodiverse and Special Needs Families

Maybe self-directed education is exactly what your child needs.

Neurodiverse students, including those with ADHD, autism, and learning differences, have been shown to thrive in self-directed environments. The absence of forced compliance, arbitrary schedules, and constant evaluation removes many of the conditions that make conventional school so difficult for these kids.

That said, we are not a therapeutic school and do not have staff trained specifically in special needs. All members need to be able to function safely in our environment and communicate well enough to understand and follow Co-op rules. We accept students who have an IEP, but if a student is not successful with reasonable accommodations, they may not be able to stay in the program. We do not have staff dedicated as aides for specific students.

If your child needs specific services or counseling, those will need to be arranged outside of our program. We do not believe, though, that any young person is ever "behind" or "not succeeding," because how can anyone be behind in their own life? Each child is an individual with individual gifts, talents, and challenges. We aim to foster an environment where students can embrace themselves exactly as they are and build a life that makes them happy. With that pressure removed, students are given the freedom to find their own way, and they do.

If you have questions about whether the Co-op is a good fit for your child's specific needs, reach out to Katy at hello@spokanelearningcoop.org before scheduling your visit.

Our Larger Vision 

The Co-op is the first step toward something bigger. Our goal is to become a Washington State-approved independent school which will allow us to offer a full-time, Monday through Friday program. The families who join us now are building that future with us. Read more about our vision here.

Register Here → 

Questions? Write to Katy at hello@spokanelearningcoop.org