VHS and VHEN: Vermont Homeschool Organizations and Support Networks

Vermont has two main statewide homeschool organizations — the Vermont Homeschool Society (VHS) and the Vermont Home Education Network (VHEN) — plus an active ecosystem of regional groups and Facebook communities. If you're new to Vermont homeschooling or looking to connect with other families, here's what each organization does, how they differ, and what the informal networks provide that the formal organizations don't.

Vermont Homeschool Society (VHS)

The Vermont Homeschool Society is a member organization for Vermont home study families. VHS focuses on community support, legislative advocacy, and events. Their activities typically include:

• Annual convention: VHS hosts a Vermont homeschool convention (usually in the spring) with curriculum vendors, speakers, workshops on Vermont home study law, and networking for families. This is the largest gathering of Vermont homeschoolers in any given year.
• Legislative advocacy: VHS monitors Vermont Agency of Education policy and state legislature activity that affects home study families. They provide member alerts when legislative changes are proposed.
• Regional contacts: VHS maintains a list of regional support group contacts across Vermont, useful for finding local co-ops and informal groups.
• Curriculum fair: Some years the convention includes a used curriculum exchange or fair.

VHS tends to have a broader umbrella of approaches — families using structured curriculum, Charlotte Mason, classical, and unschooling approaches all participate.

Finding VHS: Search for "Vermont Homeschool Society" — their web presence has shifted over time. Contacting them through their main email is the most reliable entry point.

Vermont Home Education Network (VHEN)

VHEN operates as a network and resource hub for Vermont home education families. Like VHS, it provides community connection and resource sharing, but with somewhat different emphases:

• Regional group directory: VHEN maintains contact information for local co-ops, support groups, and activity groups across Vermont. This directory is one of the most practical starting points for new families.
• Legal and compliance resources: VHEN provides information on Vermont's home study law, Notice of Intent requirements, and assessment options.
• Events calendar: Regional events, field trips, and cooperative activities organized by member families.
• Secular and inclusive orientation: VHEN is generally seen as more inclusive of secular homeschooling families than some other state organizations.

Finding VHEN: Search "Vermont Home Education Network" for their current web presence and contact information.

Vermont Homeschool Convention

The annual Vermont homeschool convention is the premier event for Vermont home study families. Whether organized under VHS or another entity in a given year (the organizational structure has shifted), it typically includes:

• Curriculum vendor hall — opportunity to see and compare physical curriculum before buying
• Workshops on Vermont law, assessment, and homeschool approaches
• Speakers on educational philosophy and practical home study topics
• Networking and community connection with families from across the state
• Used curriculum exchange (check whether offered for the specific year)

The convention is typically held in late spring — April or May. Dates and location vary; checking VHS or searching "Vermont homeschool convention [year]" in early spring will find current details.

For new Vermont homeschool families, attending the convention in your first or second year is worth the investment. The vendor hall alone saves the time you'd otherwise spend ordering and returning curriculum that doesn't work for your family. The networking produces connections that can turn into co-op relationships.

Regional Groups and Support Networks

Beyond the statewide organizations, Vermont's actual community life for homeschoolers happens at the regional level. What exists varies significantly by region:

Chittenden County / Burlington metro: Most active region in Vermont for homeschool community. Multiple co-ops with different philosophical orientations (classical, Charlotte Mason, secular, eclectic), organized field trips, and a critical mass of families large enough to find a compatible group.

Central Vermont / Montpelier-Barre area: Active groups, somewhat smaller than Chittenden County. VHEN's regional contacts list is the starting point.

Upper Valley (Windsor County / White River Junction): Strong cross-border community with New Hampshire homeschoolers. Several well-established co-ops serving the Vermont/NH river communities.

Rutland / Southwestern Vermont: Several informal groups; historically served by Green Mountain Homeschoolers and related contacts.

Northeastern Kingdom (Essex, Caledonia, Orleans counties): More sparse. Informal networks around St. Johnsbury, Lyndonville, and Island Pond. Families here tend to drive further for community or build very small local groups.

Southern Vermont (Windham, Bennington): Brattleboro has the most active community in the region. Upper Valley connections for Windsor County families.

Facebook Groups: Where the Real Community Lives

The most active day-to-day community for Vermont homeschoolers is on Facebook. Key groups:

"Moms Homeschooling Vermont Chat Group": The largest active Vermont homeschool Facebook community. Used for curriculum questions, finding local families, activity planning, and general support.

"Vermont Homeschoolers & Unschoolers Unite": Broader in scope; includes unschooling families and those with non-traditional approaches.

Regional groups: Search Facebook for "homeschool [county name] Vermont" or "homeschool [town] Vermont" — local groups exist for most major population centers and some rural areas.

These Facebook groups are where you'll find:

• Real-time responses to Vermont-specific law questions
• Local co-op openings and family meet-up announcements
• Used curriculum buying and selling
• Field trip organizing
• Finding families to build a pod with

Joining 2-3 relevant Facebook groups and posting your location and interests is the fastest path to connecting with Vermont homeschool community.

Front Porch Forum

Vermont's hyperlocal community platform is not specifically a homeschool resource, but it's the most Vermont-specific tool for finding local families. Posting "looking to connect with homeschool families in [town/region]" on Front Porch Forum consistently generates responses from families who aren't in the Facebook groups or VHEN directory. This is particularly useful in rural areas where the formal network is sparse.

What Organizations Don't Provide

Vermont homeschool organizations are primarily volunteer-run and have limited capacity. What they don't provide:

• Legal representation or advice (contact HSLDA for that, or consult a Vermont attorney)
• Curriculum guidance specific to your child's profile (you make that decision)
• Daily community (they can connect you with people; building ongoing relationships is your work)

For the legal and documentation side of Vermont home study, see Vermont homeschool laws and Vermont notice of intent homeschool.

Connecting with VHS, VHEN, and the Vermont homeschool Facebook community early in your journey will save you significant research time and introduce you to families who have navigated the same decisions you're facing. The Vermont Micro-School & Pod Kit at /us/vermont/microschool/ is designed to complement these community resources with the specific documentation and operational structure you need to run a compliant Vermont home study program or microschool pod.

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