Welcome to our Homeschool Co-op! We are thrilled to partner with you in providing a Christ-centered, academically enriching, and community-building experience. This handbook outlines our mission, expectations, policies, and programs to help guide your journey with us.

HCAZ Homeschool Co-op is a hybrid home education model. What does that mean? All children in the State of Arizona between the ages of 6 and 16 are required to be educated in Math, Grammar, Reading, Science and Social Studies. As a parent educating your child at home, we are wanting to come alongside you and partner with you to fulfill this state requirement. We will be offering on campus learning up to three days a week. Every day will have independent learning in Math and the English Language Arts. We will be rotating in Science, Physical Education, STEM, History, Bible, Social Studies and awesome electives throughout the weeks and school year. It is up to you, as the parent, to determine what supplemental teachings are needed on the days your student is at home. We are here to support you as you educate your child/children. We are honored to have the space to speak love, life, and learning into your family.  We are excited to teach your children all about Jesus and how uniquely purposed each one of our students was created.

The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is available for students in the state of Arizona and can fully cover your tuition for HCAZ Homeschool Co-op in most cases. Our tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $3500 for the entire school calendar year. If you have not already applied for your student(s) please do so at azed.gov. It does take time to be approved so do not delay. We do require quarterly payments for our ESA students and monthly payments for our cash students. No spots can be guaranteed without payment and we want your child here!

In this handbook you will find the expectations, rules, the calendar and more. Please read the handbook in its entirety to ensure you have all of the information needed to help your student(s) have a hassle-free, successful year.

We at Harvest Church would like you to know we have been praying for each of your families. We are thankful you have entrusted us with a part of your child’s learning this year. We take this very seriously and welcome you. You are also welcome to meet the leadership at our church at your convenience. Service times are Sunday at both 9am and 11am. May God bless you in all that you do.

School Mission, Vision and Values
HCAZ Homeschool Co-op is anchored on the truth of Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instructions…” We believe that knowing Christ is at the heart of all wisdom for our students. Though we believe it is the parents’ primary job to train up their children in Christ (Proverbs 22:6) and to lead a Godly example at home (Duet 4:9), we believe it is our job as a school under Prescott Life Church to come along side you and reinforce those teachings and practices (Matthew 28:18-20).

We believe in the doctrinal distinctions located on the Harvest Church website. Please visit our website at hcaz.org to read through the beliefs of the church. We recognize that HCAZ Homeschool Co-op students come from all religious backgrounds and have different doctrinal teachings. We will not focus on doctrinal differences at HCAZ Homeschool co-op. Our focus will be on the foundational, salvation-based concepts of Scripture in order to unify our students and the local churches. Let’s focus on what we have in common, when we can.

Our primary values for school instruction focus on Christ, attitude and effort. We believe that when we have an education purposed for Christ, and students show up with a positive attitude and maximum effort, each child will achieve their personal highest potential.

Harvest Church
HCAZ Homeschool Co-Op is contracted with Harvest Church. What a fantastic location for exploring and learning! We truly are blessed with THE BEST campus. It is an honor to be able to rent this facility and it is an affordable option which keeps your tuition costs down. We use their buildings and grounds, their power and water, and fill their trash cans. They graciously allow us to do so and our portion is to care for their facilities well. Toby Mac has a song “Show Up. Choose Love” in which it talks about leaving things better than we find them to begin with. We want to always leave our campus in a better condition than when we had arrived. Please help us in this mission.

Every Monday children will help with setting up tables and chairs in the classrooms. Every Wednesday, children will help break down the classroom. Students will help with vacuuming and wiping down tables. They will help stack chairs (when age appropriate) and help with the overall condition of the campus before parent pick-up.

Safety procedures are in place for your children. A First-Aid kit is on campus. We do not have a nurse on staff. We do have a CPR and First Aid trained person on campus most times of the day. In the event of an emergency, 911 would be called. Any child with a minor injury will receive an incident report and the parent will be notified.

Children are only allowed around campus with permission and supervision. Children are to be in their designated play or learning areas at all times when outdoors. We will be VERY strict about this.

Every parent must fill out a release of liability form for their student(s). Harvest church and HCAZ Homeschool co-op is not responsible for any injuries that occur while on campus. Each child should have their own health insurance to cover any injuries or illnesses that may occur.

DROP OFF
Drop off time is between 8:15 and 8:30am. If you have kids in the Primary Class, please park and escort your child to their classroom. No Primary children are allowed to walk themselves to class. If you have children in the Intermediate Class, they can walk themselves to class as long as they go directly to class. If any student is found on any path that is not direct to class, this privilege will be revoked for that student. If an Intermediate student has a primary sibling, they may escort that sibling to class before going to the Intermediate class with parent permission. This is for the safety of the children, so please plan time to park and walk your student to class.

PICK- UP
All students will be escorted to the parking lot for a 2:30 pick-up. Please be on time in order to avoid tuition increases for holding teachers longer than planned. No aftercare is provided at HCAZ Homeschool Co-op. You are responsible for transportation to and from school. If there is an emergency reason for your delay, please notify the teacher.

Technology Policies and Procedures
HCAZ Homeschool co-op understands that many of you will want to send cell phones with your children to school. We will allow cell phones on campus, however, your student may NOT have access to their phone. We prefer that phones and all other tech items not needed for class, remain at home though allow that to be the parent’s choice. Cell phones, and other tech items, are not a part of learning and lead other children to stumble that are not allowed access to phones. Phones will be collected at drop-off and required to be silenced. Phones will not be given back until the child is leaving campus. If you need to get a message to your student, you will need to do that THROUGH the teacher. And let us remember that the teacher is TEACHING. So please, limit the communication with your child to emergency communications only during their time at HCAZ Homeschool Co-op. Any child found with a phone that was not turned in for the day will have their phone removed immediately and could receive further disciplinary action. Phones produce safety risks for foster children, a possibility of saved images, and internet access.

Computers are allowed on campus ONLY for the purpose of independent Math and ELA as required by a parent’s provided self-driven curriculum choice. If you are choosing to have your child do Math and/or ELA online, you must provide the technology and the parental controls to keep your child safe while on the device. The computer will be turned into the teacher at all times that are not Math and ELA times. A power cord and headphones must be provided by the parents for the computer as well. Any child that is not prepared for Math and ELA due to not having their computer, headphones, or power will be reading and doing math sheets for the day as an alternative directed by the teacher. (This applies only to students that are on a technology driven curriculum vs. the PACE curriculum.)

Other tech items such as tablets, MP3 players, smart watches, cameras, etc will not be allowed on campus without a specific educational need. If a teacher is requesting students to bring in such items for a learning project, parents will be notified in writing by the teacher in advance. Please do not send tech items to school with your children unless specifically asked to do so. HCAZ Homeschool Co-op are not responsible for damage to any tech items the child may bring.

Any tech items found will be immediately seized, parents will be notified and disciplinary action may occur.


GRADING
Because this is a hybrid school, no transcripts are being produced. If you would like to produce transcripts (not required for a homeschool diploma or college entrance, though recommended on the state website), feel free to do so. Arizona Foundation for Homeschool Education is able to give you a diploma for your children should they be graduating. Let us know if you need direction as your children approach 12th grade.
 
MATH/ELA
If you have elected to use PACES through ACE, the curriculum we are offering for purchase through HCAZ Homeschool Co-op or on your own, you will get a grade for attitude and effort for your child for their time in Math and ELA. PACES requires a mastery of 80% in order to move forward in the learning packets, so you can expect your children to do well and have teacher oversight to ensure your student is successful. The finished packets and tests are sent home upon completion so you can see the progress your student is making. Any questions regarding their skills or progress should be directed to the teacher.  These core subjects are foundational to all the other subjects your children will learn so we take the foundational principles of reading, writing and math very seriously. For our Early Learners, they will receive direct instruction using PACEs daily since they cannot read or write yet.

If you are providing your student their Math and ELA curriculum it must be self-driven and you are responsible for tracking your child’s progress. If your child appears to be off task when they should be doing ELA or Math on a regular basis, we will ask you to consider changing to PACEs for the days your student is at HCAZ Homeschool co-op in order for us to be able to correctly hold them accountable to their best effort in class.

OTHER SUBJECTS
All learning subjects (Math and ELA being required an 80% or higher to move on) will not earn letter grades. The goal will be to communicate to the parent the mastery level of the student so the parent knows where strengths and weaknesses exist. The grading scale answers the question “Has my child mastered this concept”. The scoring will look like this:

A= Agree
N= Neutral
D= Disagree

Your child’s overall understanding will be communicated to you in writing at the completion of units, as needed.

CHARACTER ASSESSMENTS
HCAZ Homeschool co-op believes that your student’s character is as critical to their success as their retention of knowledge, if not more. Your child will be monitored as they participate in all the areas of learning and free time at HCAZ Homeschool co-op. On Wednesdays, your child will receive a report card on character for the week. We encourage you to review this with your student weekly and talk about what their relationship with God, themselves and others looks like. Your student will be reviewed based on:
Attitude, Effort, Participation, Good Study Habits, School Readiness, Flexibility, Ability to Take Redirection, Cooperative Play, Willingness to Serve
The reporting scale is the same as for core learning but answers the question of “Is my child displaying the character of _____________” Your child will receive an “A”, “N” or “D” with each attribute. And any “D’s” will be explained to the parent in writing.

Code of Conduct
This is a Christian school. We expect our students to display God-honoring behavior (Galatians 5:22) both on and off campus. We also recognize that our students are growing, learning and going to stumble (Romans 7:14-25). We acknowledge that though you as parents may have accepted the Lord as your Savior, your children may not have. We want to have grace where it is needed, but also help your children on their walk to be more like Jesus every day.

Campus Rules-
●No tech except as prior approved or needed for school, phones are to be turned into the teacher if brought on campus- NO EXCEPTIONS
●No hoodies up in class, nor sunglasses on indoors
●No weapons, drugs, smoking devices
●No profanity of any kind
●No bullying or isolating peers
●Follow Dress Code daily
●No leaving approved campus areas without both supervision and permission
●No pets allowed
●Must go by name and gender of birth certificate at time of birth
●Treat campus with respect, keeping it clean and undamaged
●Do not take things that are not yours
●No harassing local animals or insects on campus
●No passing notes in the bathrooms or during class
●Do not lock any doors without instructions to do so
●Golf carts are for staff use only
●No PDA on campus, all hugs between friends should be brief. Hands are to be kept to yourself other than when greeting/departing or in a structured activity.
●Keep personal space between you and your peers as socially appropriate
●No students are to wonder off, even when together. Stay in sight of your teacher at all times.
●Students are to use the assigned bathrooms at all times.



Classroom Respect-
●Follow instructions
●Be kind to one another (safe bodies and safe mouths)
●Do not leave without permission

This is a living Code of Conduct and can be modified as needed throughout the school year.

Disciplinary Action
Safety concerns to oneself or others may result in immediate expulsion from the school.

Issues of respect or character violations may result in a written warning, parent/teacher conference, or suspension from school. This applies to both actions on and off campus.

Most minor offenses that are not chronic will be redirected with a verbal warning. We expect our students are going to be awesome and not need more than redirection, however we are prepared to do what is necessary to keep the integrity of the school in line with a Christian school that is God honoring and a joy for all students to attend. We may have a child sit out for a preferred activity if the child is unwilling to self-correct. If a child has been asked to sit out for a preferred activity, we will inform the parent.

Daily Preparedness
We want your children set up for daily success! We define success as achieving their highest potential for the Lord on a daily basis. Positive attitudes, best efforts, and kids that are prepared and ready to learn each day will have the best experience possible at HCAZ Homeschool co-op. Please send these items to school daily:
●Backpack (may need Wednesday to send packets home)
●Lunch (no nut products)
●Water bottle
●A lightweight Bible (Primary class and older)
●Materials for Math and ELA if applicable
●Free-Reading book approved by the parent

Any other items needed will be communicated ahead of time. We highly advise not allowing your children to bring toys, items of value, sugary foods, or other personal items from home. Things can get lost, damaged, or create a distraction for the learning environment.  We will periodically ask for glass jars, cardboard tubes, shoe boxes, etc. to be brought is so feel free to start saving if you so choose!

Dress Code
Modesty and preparedness are the policy. Girls must wear shorts under any dresses or skirts. The minimum length of any shorts or dresses is mid-thigh, past fingertips when standing. No stomachs should show when arms are raised. All shoulder straps must be 2 adult finger widths wide with no bra straps showing. Any tears in jeans must be below mid-thigh if flesh can be seen. No images on clothing that represent death, evil, horror, skulls or negativity as determined by school administration and at their discretion.

Dressing prepared for the weather and activities may change, however we ask that close-toe shoes be worn daily because we are an active campus. Crocs are not allowed. Please plan to layer your children according to weather and activities. If your child is sensitive to sun, please send hats and sunscreen and let the teachers know you prefer for those items to be used.

Water Day Dress Code
We ask that all students (both male and female) wear a swim shirt or tshirt on water days. The shirt should be UV protection so dark in color OR an actual UV swim shirt, as well as it helps with scratches when kids pull up on the sides or steps. One piece swimsuits are required for girls. Full length (normal) swim shorts are required for boys. No one may swim in their “normal” school clothes. Please put your name on tape and place it on your towel so the right towel gets to the right child. Sunscreen and hats are highly recommended.

Lost and Found
Please put names on literally everything that comes to school. Lost and Found has been a huge obstacle in the past year. We are not responsible for items left on campus. Jackets, water bottles, towels, lunch boxes, backpacks, purses, pencil pouches, etc should all be labeled with your student’s names.

Sick Policy
If your child isn’t feeling well, please keep your child home. If your child has had a fever within the last 24 hours, we would ask that you not send your child to school. Please have your child on any prescribed medications for acute illness (such as antibiotics) for a minimum of 24 hours AND feeling well before returning them to campus. Please inform the teachers if there is anything other than a common cold in which your child has contracted and had while at school. We will want to notify the other parents to be aware and actively looking for symptoms within the student population (Examples would be Strep, lice, Pink Eye, etc).

Attendance
This school will not be taking attendance. Attendance is at your discretion. Think of your monthly costs as a “membership” fee. You may drop your kids off or pick up as needed. We simply ask that if you choose to pick your child up early or drop your child off after the 8:30am start time that you communicate with the teacher and plan for this to occur in between subjects. We want to minimize the distractions during teaching. Please try not to be late on chapel days as people coming in while worshiping or instructing does pose an ongoing distraction. Chapel will begin at 8:40 and conclude at 9:20.



Payment Policy
The total cost for each student has been calculated and divided into 10 equal payments. The 2025-2026 tuition total is $3500. All ESA students will be invoiced quarterly. The total invoice amount will be $1071.00 which includes 3 months’ tuition and a 2% processing fee charged by ESA to us as a vendor. October, November 2025, will be invoiced at $714.00 which is two month tuition and a 2% processing fee.

NEW: Parents more than 15 minutes late to pick-up will be assessed a late fee of $20. Each student has one “grace” exception. Please be on time as we are working hard to ensure the safety of our students and break down our campus for the hosting camp facility.

All students not on ESA will be eligible to pay either monthly or quarterly.

All payments are due in advance or upon distribution of ESA funds. Past due invoices are cause for immediate correction and/or suspension from attendance at HCAZ Homeschool co-op. Please notify the director if there are any issues with payments that we need to be aware of.

Special Events
We will host special events throughout the year. We will have an art show hosted at Harvest Church. We will have a couple of Spirit Week’s in which we will focus on an attribute of God’s character and tie one a day to outdoor play and activities. We will have missions projects, food events, prom, holiday programs and optional field trips. All activities are optional attendance, however if your student is attending, we expect them to participate. If you or your child is not interested in the activity, please consider educating them at home on that day/days.




Parent Concerns
We recognize that we all have flaws and that sometimes HCAZ Homeschool co-op may “get it wrong”. We are open to hearing your concerns within the peer culture, regarding instruction, etc. The protocol we would like you to use, when it isn’t an emergency, is to write your teacher first. Clearly voice your concerns in writing so that nothing can be misconstrued. Your teacher will then address your concerns, in writing. If the concerns are not able to be addressed to your satisfaction, a parent/teacher/Director meeting will be set in which we will pray, discuss, and resolve any issues you may have. Any issues brought to the teacher verbally will be communicated in writing to their direct supervisor in order to ensure a record of the concerns. In order that your voice, as the parent, is accurately reflected it is preferred for your concern to be written rather than spoken.

We also recognize that HCAZ Homeschool co-op is not the right fit for every family. At any time, you may withdraw your student from the school. We will be true to our school model and to the calling the Lord has put upon the leadership of the school, to the best of our ability. We hope the model is a fit you are excited about. I know we are. But when the teaching model isn’t a fit for you, there are no hard feelings in you moving on to what works best for you and your children. We are partnering with you and only want you where the Lord directs you.

Parent Volunteers
YES! You can volunteer! We need a background check on file and you need to sign up with your child’s teacher. We only want 1 parent volunteer per teacher at any one time, except at swim times and special events. We welcome the added support in the classroom.

We know it can be hard to drop off a child that is so bonded with you and used to being at home with you full time. However, we cannot allow parents to stay on campus without a volunteer spot being signed up. This is for a few reasons. We don’t want “random” parents floating around campus in which we are peeking constantly to identify if the person “over there” is safe or unsafe. We will not have people in random places on campus therefore, will be alarmed to see anyone and safety measures would go into place. Secondly, children learn a lot in a healthy and safe separation. They can navigate peer communication, cooperative play and conflict resolution. If a parent is readily seen, this can impact children’s ability to navigate those social situations. And lastly, it simply isn’t the drop-off model that we are aiming to achieve and feel called to.

Rainy Day Schedule
During pick-up on a day with wet weather, we would ask that you please pick up your child in their classroom rather than the parking lot for grades Primary and under. We do not want kids waiting out in the weather and getting cold. If you bring an umbrella with you to the classroom, your child can make it to your car without getting soaked. Leaving an umbrella in your car may be helpful for unexpected rain.

We will have snow days based on the accessibility of the camp facility during and immediately following snow storms. In the event of a snow day, an email will go out as soon as the decision to cancel school is made. Check your email, WhatsAp and the Facebook page so you don’t drive in when the camp is deemed unsafe due to weather.

On days when we have snow at camp and the roadways and parking lot are clear, we may ask your child to bring snow gear to school! We would love for your kids to play in the snow, learn about cubic measurements and volume, etc by actively participating with the snow! We will let you know if we plan to use the snow for active play and learning!

Birthdays and Special Events
We love to celebrate with our HCAZ Homeschool co-op family. If you have a special birthday, adoption, etc please notify your teacher so we can praise the Lord with you and for you. You may bring in treats for your class if you wish. Please let your teacher know ahead of time so the teacher can plan accordingly. You may have students in your class that are gluten-free or dairy free requiring an alternate treat. Remember, we are a nut free campus. We will provide the alternative when necessary but will need to know to plan accordingly.

If your child is inviting peers to an off-campus party and not including the entire class, please be discreet with the invitations by personally messaging other parents rather than distributing on campus so no child feels left out. We know this can be difficult, but your best effort is appreciated. Also, please try where you can to have your students attend parties they are invited to. It is really hard to have a party where no one comes. Or a party happens where peers feel uninvited and singled out. Our character counts! LOVE BIG.

Let’s Make It Great
HCAZ Homeschool co-op is a community. It includes the Lord, Harvest Church, parents, teachers, camp staff, students. We all have a part to play in making this school year a success for each student and family participating. We get to choose how we contribute to the community. Our prayer is that we will us show up with excitement for the Lord, passion for learning, patience as we develop, grace and forgiveness for where it may go a little left or right, and unconditional love for one another. If we all have great heart attitudes and a willingness to let God work within us as individuals, I have no doubt that this school year will be GREAT! Thank you for being a part of the greatness at hand. We value you.