What is South Branch Cooperative all about?

South Branch Cooperative (SBC) seeks to create a safe, supportive, and open space for homeschool families of all backgrounds. We are committed to the principles of inclusion while offering a much-needed supportive community for the duration of the homeschooling journey. SBC is a secular homeschool cooperative and was created in 2024 to aim to be a safe place for religious and non-religious families alike.

SBC is expressly open to and welcoming of individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion/faith tradition, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin or genetic information. In this Co-Op, we believe that Black Lives Matter and that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. We pledge to see and honor each other’s differences while taking the time to learn the world outside of our own, realizing that the experiences of others are valid and real.

SBC's educational philosophy is deeply influenced by Montessori philosophy, though SBC is not strictly a Montessori co-op. The Montessori-method is a multi-sensory, child-centered, child-led, and self-paced approach to education that fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth. Teachers guide and enrich the environment for children, while multi-aged peers can lead each other through their learning in a collaborative and nurturing environment at their own pace. The core value of this philosophy, which SBC thoroughly embraces, is that children are respected and embraced as individuals, exactly as they are, and SBC vows to honor each child's needs while facilitating their growth in all areas: knowledge, independence, emotional well-being, social development, and more.