Homeschool Group Definition

Independent Support Group

An Independent Support Group (ISG) is an association of volunteers organized and operated by independent homeschoolers for the purpose of assisting and encouraging each other as well as those pursuing the choice of homeschooling for the education of their children.

The ISG is driven by some form of leadership, depending upon group consensus. Group policies, practices and procedures may or may not be written in the form of by-laws, depending upon the size, structure and functions of the group.

The ISG holds regular meetings, whether they are park days or other types.

An Independent Support Group is not a business. Therefore, it does not exist to produce goods or services for sale to those outside their group as a regular practice (i.e. magazine subscriptions, books, classes, I.D. cards, testing services, advertising services). Single-event fundraising is an exception.

An ISG is not operated by a for-profit business, nor is it operated by or affiliated with a government agency or public or private school. An ISG does not function as a substitute for the parent-teacher role or responsibility in any of the subject areas assigned by law (reading, grammar, math, science and social studies). In other words, an ISG stops being an ISG when it attempts to be a school.