Local Curriculum Stores and Support Resources,
and Organizations Friendly to Christian Homeschooling
This page is an archive directory to provide information about local homeschool stores, organizations, resources and support groups in our area to help you get started with and continue Christian homeschooling.
Resource links can change often, so if you come upon a link that is dead or an organization that is no longer offering its services, or if you find that the resource is not well suited for homeschool families that hold a Christian, or wholesome-type worldview, please click on Contact Us (at the side bar) to let us know.
Many of these resources post pertinent information about their current schedules on our CHOC Talk Forums of "Curriculum and Services" or our "Calendar Talk," so be sure to check out those forums for their latest data (click on CHOC Talk Forums on the side bar).
The Legal Stuff in Oregon:
OCEANetwork. This is our regional homeschooling support group and legislative lobbying group. Membership with OCEANetwork will enable you to receive all e-lerts to any laws or issues that will affect homeschooling rights. You can also obtain a copy of current homeschooling laws in Oregon from them for a nominal fee, or view them on their website. OCEANetwork also provides an annual homeschool workshop generally in August.
Homeschool Legal Defense Association. HSLDA is a national watchdog group that provides a regional presence in each state. It watches over national and statewide homeschool concerns in legislature, both national and state. For membership of $100 per year ($85 if you are an OCEANetwork member), you receive FREE legal counsel and support should your family ever run into problems with local authorities regarding your homeschool (which has been known to happen with over-zealous ESD's). Membership provides an e-lert to any national or state issues regarding homeschool freedoms.
The National Home Education Research Institute. Their mission statement is:
"Produce high-quality research (e.g., statistics, facts, findings) on home-based education (homeschooling); Serve as a clearinghouse of research for the public, researchers, homeschoolers, the media, and policy makers; Educate the public concerning the findings of all research on home education" They are a NW grown group located in Eugene, Oregon.
Local Testing and Educational Counseling:
Basic Skills (Services and Testing). This is a local homeschool support organization located in Oregon City, Oregon, that provides annual achievement testing for homeschoolers (required after grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 in our state). They also provide additional testing sites in various places around the Portland metro area so that you do not need to go to their main office if you do not wish (but Exodus Provisions book store is right next door, see below, so shop while your kids test!). Further resources from Basic Skills are educational consultation, tutoring, and onsite classes to purchase by subject matter, a diploma extension program whereby you can homeschool at home but receive their highschool diploma (through New Covenant Christian Academy), and an annual workshop which is generally in February of each year. Go to the Basic Skills website for more details on their services and testing schedules.
New! Home School Support Service, located in Hillsboro, provides small group testing in a comfortable home setting, either your home or mine. The CAT test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and the Stanford Achievement Test, are offered, and we specialize in testing students with special needs or those with test anxiety. Please call Megan Nixon at 503.640.6455 or email her at thenixons@verizon.net
Write Worthy: In the Beaverton/Hillsboro area, the CAT (California Achievement Test) for grades 1 through 12 is available at Write Worthy. Testing takes place in a relaxed Christian home environment, administered by a professional teacher with many years of experience in assisting home schooling families. Small group test dates (as well as private testing) are available throughout the spring and summer. The cost, of $35 per student, includes the test session, scores, and diagnostic profile. While, test scores are confidential and sent only to parents of the student, an extra copy is provided for those needing to meet the Oregon home school testing requirement. Sign up early to secure a place in the small group sessions. Visit the Write Worthy website for current dates and to reserve a place.
Local Stores For Purchasing Homeschool Curriculum:Exodus Provisions. This is a new/used Christian homeschool store located in Oregon City, Oregon. The friendly service and selections are bountiful, and many good deals can be found in the used portion of the store. Shop their online catalog for curriculum and curriculum reviews, literature and Christian book suggestions, and excellent links, then download the map to drive out to the store and view their used curriculum (which changes daily) or to just discuss homeschooling (the proprietor was homeschooled!). You can even be put on a waiting list for something used if it's not currently available, and they will let you know when it arrives! Their shipping is also very reasonable. (Southeast side)
Harmony Christian Gifts & Homeschool, new and used homeschool curriculum store. Hours Monday 12-6pm; Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm. 20407 SW Borchers Dr (close to the corner of Roy Rogers Rd. and Hwy 99W). 503-925-1451. (Sherwood)
Kingfisher Curriculum Cove. A family owned, Christian, homeschool store that sells a variety of books both new and used. Some in-store classes available, check their website. (Eastside)
Lighthouse Book and Bible. Christian book and bible store that carries a limited selection of homeschool curriculum. (Westside, Hillsboro)
Homeschool Friendly Organizations:
Beaverton Four Square Church Library This library of 22,000 books is open to the general public. They offer Christian books, magazines, videos, tapes, and cd's for the whole church family. They ALSO have a nice homeschool section and include many Creation Science videos in their video section. Really nice little library! Hours best for the general homeschool public are Tuesday 11am to 1pm and Wednesday 11am to 3pm. Located at 13565 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton, upper level of the main sanctuary building. Phone 503.644.9104. (Call during open hours).
FiredUp For Youth This is a unique youth ministry that embraces the whole family in discipling youth to become leaders for Christ in their own churches. "You will find that the youth activities reflect our own conservative Christian worldview. We consider it a real responsibility to provide a learning atmosphere free from the influences that might be found in a similar setting of young adults [including clothing style]. Since this is a family youth ministry we are asking families to help with special events, activities and cleanup." Weekly meetings are held during the school year on Wednesdays at the Mollala Grange, Mollala. Summer includes social events and mission opportunities. See their website for full details and their schedule of meetings and events.
Homeschool Support Groups in our area:
Beaverton Christian Church Homeschool Group (OCEANetwork Affiliate) BCCHG welcomes all interested homeschool families. You do not need to be a member of Beaverton Christian Church to participate. Please contact Sherri Lam at 503-267-3419 for information and meeting times. (Beaverton)
Cascade Christian Homeschool. CCH is a homeschool support group for those living in the Sandy, Gresham, Troutdale, Corbett, Boring, Estacada areas. It has many activities for the children in the group and for the parents as well. CCH is for Christian Families Only. Contact Spencer Rogers at 503 317-3317. (East side)
FISH Net (OCEANetwork Affiliate): FISH Net (Fellowship in Schooling at Home Network) is a ministry of Bethel Baptist Church in McMinnville. We strive to be an encouragement to homeschooling families and to those considering it as a future option. For more information call Geri Ann Horton at 503-472-9341. (Gaston, McMinnville)
Forest Grove Homeschool Group (OCEANetwork Affiliate): FGHG is a Christian co-op that offers classes for Jr/Sr High students and relaxed learning and social interaction for elementary grades. Chess club, field trips, moms' night out, and swim time are other activities on our calendar. For questions you may call Gretchen Olson at 503-359-4301 or contact Urailak Liljequist at liljequist@juno.com. (Forest Grove, Gaston, Cornelius)
Home High and Alumni: This is a Christian informal support and social group for homeschooled students ages 13 and older, homeschool alumni (those who've graduated from homeschool high school), and their parents (please leave younger children elsewhere as this is meant to be a special time for our teens and young adults). We meet periodically for a time of active fun, fellowship and friendship. Contact Donelle Freitag at donellejf@aol.com for more information (Hillsboro and extended area). This group is suspended at this time.
Homeschool ALUMNI Organization Homeschool ALUMNI was founded in 2005 by homeschool graduates for homeschool graduates as they enter early adulthood. Homeschool ALUMNI exists to encourage and support homeschool alumni as they...Take advantage of their unique opportunities as homeschool graduates to lead lives of purpose and influence; Meet, share ideas, and find community with other alumni; Further the legacy of homeschooling to future generations; Advance the Kingdom of Christ in our families, cultures, churches and governments. There is an active regional group in our area that connects through the HSA forums.
LIFE @ home (OCEANetwork Affiliate): LIFE at Home is a Christian, nondenominational, homeschool support group, affiliated with OCEANetwork. Our aim is to support homeschooling moms and their families through monthly mom's meetings, kids' activities, and field trips. We seek to minister to those who do not have a support group available through their home church. We also have a sub-group, B.A.S.to support moms of special needs students. B.A.S. stands for Beyond Average Schooling. We hold breakfast meetings several times during the year to discuss current therapies and breakthroughs, and to lean on each other as we work through our unique challenges. Please email Paige Lindley at luv.to.read@hotmail.com if you are interesting in learning more about LIFE at Home. It is now accepting enrollment for Fall 2007 membership. (Banks, Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Hillsboro, Tualatin)
LIGHT (OCEANetwork Affiliate): Our purpose at LIGHT is to share ideas, materials, experiences, and information and to offer friendship and support to one another. We provide social activities and educational opportunities that are best suited for groups rather than individual families. Please contact Ginny Rake at 503-334-6263 or Lisa Quaglio at 503-625-0401 for more information. (South Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood)
NELT (OCEANetwork Affiliate): Welcome to the Newberg Homeschool Support Group. We offer an e-mail newsletter, fieldtrips, and a mom's support group to those who wish to work together with us to educate our children. For more information call Susan Dawson @ 503-537-3928. (Newberg, Southwest Hillsboro, Sherwood)
NW Christian Homeschoolers (OCEANetwork Affiliate): Northwest Christian Homeschoolers (formerly Sunset Homeschool Group) Connect with other Christian homeschooling families as we share in support meetings, field trips, chess club, and other fun events. We meet at East River Fellowship for a monthly support meeting the second Tuesday of each month from September to June. East River Fellowship: 1800 NE 25th Avenue, Suite 13 Hillsboro. Please contact nwchristianhomeschoolers@gmail.com for more information.(Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Tigard)
SACHSN (OCEANetwork Affiliate) Salem Area Christian Home School Network meets the 2nd Thurs. of the month (Sept-May, excluding Dec) at 7pm at Faith Baptist Church, 3345 Cordon Rd. NE, Salem. For more information please contact Colleen Busch @ 503-390-8043 or Kim Glenn @ 503-304-7169. It has also started a new wiki at http://sachsn.wikispot.org/front_page (Salem area)
TORCH (OCEANetwork Affiliate) We are a Christian homeschool group open to anyone. We offer field trips, family outings and holiday get togethers. For more information please contact Jenny Maywald at maywald@pacifier.com (Scappoose)