by Renée Gotcher

When my family started homeschooling in Castle Rock in 2010, I was grateful that Colorado offered three legal options, including the private, independent school route (which we chose). Since then, the homeschooling landscape has expanded dramatically, with an abundance of private and publicly funded resources and programs now available. 

While more options can be beneficial, they can also bring confusion. And who has time to sift through the legal details of state homeschooling policies while managing day-to-day homeschool responsibilities and endeavoring to enjoy the journey?

Christian Home Educators of Colorado understands the unique challenges you face as a homeschooling parent and believes you shouldn’t have to tackle them all on your own. Since launching the CHEC Independent School more than 20 years ago, the staff has been committed to lightening the load for Colorado homeschool families who choose the independent school option, providing support to simplify the process and guiding families every step of the way so they can focus on what truly matters — investing in their children. 

Now CHEC is extending these same trusted tools and established support system to all Colorado homeschool families, whether you choose to enroll in the CHEC Independent School or file a Notice of Intent (NOI) and follow the Home-based Education Law. With HomeBase by CHEC, you’ll find the resources and assistance you need to help you navigate your responsibilities, stay organized, and, most importantly, homeschool with confidence. 

I know what you’re thinking: If I don’t choose the private, independent school route, why would I consider paying for something that’s not legally required? Good question! And I’m sure you have more, so let’s get started.

 

1. What is HomeBase by CHEC?

HomeBase is a new homeschool support program for any Colorado homeschooling family. Whether you file your own Notice of Intent (NOI) or enroll in the CHEC Independent School, HomeBase gives you one trusted guide, with personalized guidance, practical tools, and year-round support. HomeBase is not just a starting point for homeschooling in Colorado; it’s the trusted place you’ll return to whenever you need guidance, answers, or encouragement throughout your homeschool journey.

If you are unfamiliar with the CHEC Independent School, you may not realize that enrolled families are not only receiving support for legal compliance — they also receive an abundance of perks and discounts. When you join HomeBase, you’ll receive the same extras! Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits that CHEC HomeBase families receive:

• Answers from real people by phone or email, along with free admission to two in-person educational workshops — the Introduction to Homeschooling Seminar (normally $20) and the High School and Beyond Seminar (normally $69) — and one year of free membership to online events provided by HomeschoolSummits.com.
• Tools such as an easy-to-use attendance tracking tool, a simple way to generate and download an NOI, downloadable teacher and student ID cards, report card and transcript templates, printable homeschool planners, and more!
• Assistance from CHEC staff, including guidance for choosing the homeschool pathway that’s right for your family, a review of your assessment records (if submitted), secure record storage, and helpful reminders so important deadlines don’t sneak up on you! ​​​​​​​
• Over $400 in homeschool discounts, such as a substantial discount (60% off) for the whole family to attend the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference, exclusive pricing on the optional Christian curriculum from Generations, and membership discounts for Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and Heritage Defense. 

 

2. Why would I pay for HomeBase if I file a Notice of Intent (NOI)?

Yes, filing an NOI yourself is a free option for homeschooling legally in Colorado. However, HomeBase will help you take care of this step easily — and much more! With HomeBase, you can quickly generate an NOI that fulfills legal requirements and is ready to submit to a school district, receive secure storage for your test scores (submitted to CHEC Independent School instead of the district), use the included attendance tracking tool to help you follow the attendance requirements of a Home-Based Education Program, receive reminders so important deadlines don’t slip through the cracks, and save money with more than $400 in membership perks (see above). 

When you join HomeBase, you gain a supportive homeschooling partner and trustworthy guide to walk with you throughout your homeschooling journey. HomeBase gives you the confidence and clarity to know — not wonder — what to do next, so you always have a place to turn to for help instead of searching Facebook and YouTube for answers. When you don’t have to manage legal research and decode fine print on your own, you’ll also have more time to teach, learn, and simply enjoy being together as a family.

 

3. What’s the difference between filing my own NOI and enrolling in the CHEC Independent School?​​​​​​​

An NOI is filed independently with a local school district in Colorado, and you stay responsible for your own records and test score submission to the district. You are also required to comply with Colorado’s home-based educational program requirements, which include the timing of submitting your NOI, number of days/hours of instruction, subjects taught, testing/evaluation, record-keeping (including immunizations), etc. 

The CHEC Independent School serves as your private “umbrella” school, keeping your enrollment, attendance, and testing/assessment records stored securely for you, with added privacy and flexibility. By choosing the independent school path, you do not have to file any paperwork or records with any local school district — your records are kept private. You must also comply with the independent school’s policies.

Both the NOI and the CHEC Independent School paths are fully supported through HomeBase, at the same low per-family price. When you join HomeBase, you are not required to be a part of the Independent School unless you choose it for legal compliance.

 

4. I have a current Colorado teacher’s license. Can I still use HomeBase?​​​​​​​

Yes. Colorado law exempts licensed teachers from reporting and testing requirements, so you don’t have to file an NOI or enroll in an independent school to homeschool legally in Colorado. However, if you would still benefit from the reminders, tools, perks, and support that HomeBase offers, you’re welcome to join by choosing either the NOI or CHEC Independent School path. Once you choose either of these options, you will also need to comply with their requirements.

 

5. What’s required to join HomeBase?

Membership in HomeBase is currently $95 per family until August 31, 2026. Whether you choose to file an NOI or enroll in the CHEC Independent School, the cost to join HomeBase is the same. Every year, you can take advantage of the Early Bird pricing ($95/family) until August 31; after that, membership will cost $120 per family until registration closes for the school year.

HomeBase supports Colorado homeschool families who are homeschooling children from kindergarten through high school graduation. So no matter where you are in your homeschooling journey, HomeBase is ready to support you! And if your family’s needs change, whether you started with an NOI and want to move to the CHEC Independent School, or the reverse, HomeBase can also help you make that switch.

 

A Partner You Can Trust

You might be thinking that my family’s experience homeschooling with the CHEC Independent School makes me an ideal cheerleader for this new offering from CHEC. And you’d be right! When my husband and I were weighing our homeschooling options in Colorado, we were attracted to the independent school for many of the benefits I’ve already mentioned. 

However, the most important decision-making factor for us was having a partnership with CHEC itself. CHEC has been supporting homeschool families and defending your homeschool freedom in Colorado since 1990! CHEC’s commitment to home discipleship that is Christ centered, parent directed, and free from government control aligned with our “why” for homeschooling our daughters. Linking arms with CHEC’s mission by enrolling in the independent school was a bonus! 

Now that CHEC is extending that arm of support through HomeBase to all homeschooling families in Colorado, regardless of your legal compliance choice, I can’t think of a better way to support CHEC’s mission and receive the trusted guidance CHEC is known for!

 

Dive Deeper: Answers to Additional Homeschooling FAQs

• Understanding Colorado Homeschool Law
• CHEC Independent School FAQs
• Homeschooling in Colorado FAQs
• Getting Started FAQs: First Steps

 

About the Author: Renée Gotcher

Renée Gotcher is the Communications Coordinator at CHEC, as well as a freelance writer, editor, and recently “retired” homeschooling mother of three daughters (two are also college graduates and the youngest attends BJU). Renée and her husband of 31 years, Kenny, are next-generation homeschoolers who were homeschooled in the late 1980s and began homeschooling in 2010. Soon after, Renée launched a homeschooling blog, NextGenHomeschool.com, and actively supported the local homeschool community through various leadership roles for 14 years. She recently contributed to Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today devotional series and writes monthly devotionals for the Daybreak Devotions series on Crossmap.com and her personal blog, The Pace of Grace.