Welcome to the RCHSA family,

Thank you for joining RCHSA. We are excited to have your family as part of our group. Please note that if this is your first year registering with RCHSA that your online account will not be activated until one of our administrators confirms your registration. Because RCHSA has no full time staff this may take a few days so please be patient. You will be emailed when the registration is approved and at that point you will be able to log into the site.

Also once approved, you will start receiving group emails via “firehose@rchsa.com” and “offtopic@rchsa.com”.  To avoid the messages going into your SPAM folder, you should put these addresses and  “rchsamailster@rchsa.com” in your address book.  If you decide you don’t want one of these being sent out you can go under your account on the site and turn off one or both.  You will also begin receiving The Torch (Newsletter) every month via email.  It comes out around the first week of each month.

How to Use Firehose/Off-Topic

If you want to send an email to the group it is very simple.  Just put one of the addresses above in your “to” field in your regular email software.  So, if you normally send emails via Outlook, just open a new email message, type the address in the TO field and type the rest of the email like you normally would.

Important: The firehose@rchsa.com email is strictly for group related items so that our members can get updates on field trips and things directly affecting all RCHSA Members.  The offtopic@rchsa.com email is for anything else.  This can include items for sale such as used curriculum, personal things happening in area, etc.  When you receive an email from one of these addresses make sure if you want to reply to the sender that you copy and paste the correct email in the To box.  If you just hit reply it will NOT go back to the person that sent the email and simply be discarded.

If you need any assistance you can email info@rchsa.com or use the Contact Us page on the website.

Best Regards and blessings,

RCHSA

STARTING HOMESCHOOLING

Deciding to homeschool doesn’t have to be overwhelming. RCHSA is here to help you in this journey from start to graduation. There are steps you must take to legally start your homeschool before joining RCHSA. Click the read more button to learn how to get started from the “North Carolinians for Home Education” (NCHE) website. Once you have started your official homeschool, joining RCHSA may be your next logical step to get all the support you need from local families.

Youthful girls with crayons drawing pictures while sitting by table in the kitchen with their mom on background

STATISTICS

Homeschooling in America continues to grow. As of March 2020 there are about 2.5 million homeschool students in grades K-12 in the United States (or 3% to 4% of school-age children). The homeschool population is continuing to grow at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past few years. North Carolina is growing at an even greater rate of about 15% per year.

Boy and girl drawing chart on whiteboard in classroom

THE LAW

Is Homeschooling legal in North Carolina? The short answer is YES.

North Carolina law defines a “homeschool” as “a nonpublic school consisting of the children of not more than two families or households, where the parents or legal guardians or members of either household determine the scope and sequence of academic instruction, provide academic instruction, and determine additional sources of academic instruction.” (NC Bill 189).

WHAT WE OFFER

Our members will find support for social and educational opportunities which will enhance their curriculum and homeschooling experience.

Cute little girl in a blue apron. Child painting at home

WHO IS RCHSA

The Rowan County Home School Association (RCHSA) is a Christ-centered homeschool support group serving Rowan County North Carolina and surrounding areas. We offer our members the opportunity to participate in academic programs and social activities that strengthen and promote traditional family values.

WHAT IS HOMESCHOOLING

Homeschooling is a form of education in which parents teach their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including special needs of children, dissatisfaction with the educational options available, different religious or educational philosophies, and the belief that children are not progressing within the traditional school structure.

Close up of mother helping her child with homework