Welcome to the GHF Virtual Co-Op (“Co-Op”).  The Co-Op is a volunteer-run outreach of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (“GHF”), and is a virtual platform where parents and/or other adults in the GHF community can voluntarily provide enrichment courses for their own and other gifted/2e learners that focus on engaging collaborative discussion and activities, fostering a peer community.

The Co-Op is a "community first" model. Parents who are interested in sharing time and volunteering resources for our gifted/2e youth first come together within our community, and then work together in providing collaborative learning via enrichment classes and other activities, coordinating scheduling with teaching preferences. All families share in leading classes and activities, and our GHF team is here to provide assistance, support, and coordination. 

The Co-Op is very similar to a traditional parent-led nonprofit cooperative learning environment.  Like a traditional co-op, the costs are held as low as possible by every family taking a primary role as a parent teacher or lead to teach a small group of learners in engaging, collaborative enrichment courses and social activities.  The logistics of the Co-Op, including membership, guidelines and expectations, class approvals, scheduling, and communications, as well as final determinations, are led by the GHF Virtual Co-Op Director along with a volunteer team of moderators.

The class offerings and success of the Co-Op is dependent on family involvement.  All families must provide an adult volunteer to either teach, co-teach, or co-lead in at least one virtual class or social group during every semester that their family participates in the Co-Op.  Classes and social groups are generally held one hour weekly unless teachers/leads choose otherwise. Teachers choose their own courses, grade levels, and curriculum/teaching plans, which must be approved by the GHF moderator team.  Social group leads provide weekly low-prep social activities to foster peer engagement and relationships or one day events such as an end of year virtual science fair.  GHF volunteer moderators help organize the Co-Op logistics, approve class proposals, and provide guidance, solutions, and determinations as necessary. 

Here are just a few quotes from families about their experiences:

• "We feel so fortunate to have found a joyful, rigorous, generously supportive learning community. The GHF co-op has made such a difference in our schedule- connecting us with friends, new ideas, and reminders throughout the week that it's ok to move through the world in a different way."

• "I really appreciate having a space where my kids can connect with other gifted learners! It is a unique community that is unlike other co-ops we have participated in. I have also enjoyed getting to know some of the other parents."

• "GHF has been a wonderful opportunity for my children. They have enjoyed the variety of opportunities for learning that have been offered and have learned some interesting material. They have particularly enjoyed spending time with others who think in similar ways to themselves."

• "I have found the place that I can feel belonging and freedom. For my child, he has found friends and adults (teacher) who are caring, loving at GHF."

The 2025-2026 Co-Op application process is open now.  We encourage families to sign up as soon as possible so we can start fostering community and building the semester!

What is a co-op? How does this work? Where do we start?  

• For an overview, please first check out our 2024 GHF Virtual Co-Op FAQ (will be updated with the 2025 GHF soon, so expect minor changes)

• Then, for more details, please review our 2025-6 GHF Virtual Co-Op Guidelines and Expectations

We're ready to sign up!

We encourage early sign ups since we anticipate filling openings quickly.

• Fully complete and submit a GHF Co-Op Family Application.  There is no cost to submit the application. To access the form, you will need to create, or sign in to, a Google account.

• Register to become active members of the 2025-2026 GHF Virtual Co-Op Core Membership Plan. Annual membership is $50/year for one adult and one youth participating member. Additional participating youth may be added for $25/year, and additional adult family members may be added for $35/year. Families are requested to purchase their memberships within seven (7) days of approval of their Family Application. (PLEASE NOTE, this is a different membership plan than the "GHF Friends" membership).
  
  Primary Co-Op Membership (1 adult and 1 student age 5-17) - $50 (Once this is complete, you will be in our private MN/GHF Forum group just for enrolled members.

• Additional Adult GHF Virtual Co-Op Plan

• 2nd GHF Virtual Co-Op Learner Plan

• 3rd GHF Virtual Co-Op Learner Plan

• 4th GHF Virtual Co-Op Learner Plan

• Any adult family member participating in the Co-Op must then complete an online criminal background check, provided directly through backgroundcheck.com. This is paid by GHF with the Co-Op membership fees.  We will send you a link.

• All families must provide an adult volunteer to either teach, co-teach, lead or co-lead one 6 or 12 week virtual class or social group during every semester that their family participates in the Co-Op.  We are here to help! 

• If you will be teaching a class or a social group, submit a Class and Social Group Proposal (2025-6 update coming soon) for review and approval. Teachers may elect to teach six- or twelve- week classes. Social activities will also run weekly in six or twelve week sessions. Families may also offer to host special events. Proposals for the Fall 2025 Semester are considered in order received. 

Once you have enrolled, please check back here and with your emails as more information comes.  We're looking forward to our fabulous semester together!

Warmly,

Lisa Jobe

(GHF Board Member and Director of the Virtual Co-Op)