ADVOCATES FOR HOME EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS INC

To educate the public about homeschooling as well as support active homeschooling families in Massachusetts.

We proactively reach current and potential homeschoolers, as well as the general public, legislators, and school officials about the value of homeschooling. To this end we gather and disseminate information regarding homeschooling in Massachusetts using means including but not limited to a website, email newsletter, written materials, questionnaire, informational database, and telephone contacts. We also sponsor public educational events where ideas, opinions and writings relating to homeschooling may be expressed and shared with others. From time to time we expand and re-define our educational programs as necessary and engage in other activities related to informing the public about homeschooling in Massachusetts.

• AHEM’s volunteers have decades of combined experience personally homeschooling and helping others homeschool in Massachusetts.
• AHEM publishes informational materials explaining how homeschooling works in Massachusetts, and weekly emails that address current events and issues. Publications are created in-house and provided to the public for free.
• AHEM maintains a list of people interested in receiving weekly emails that keep them up-to-date on issues relevant to homeschooling in Massachusetts, as well as current news regarding the activities and offerings of the organization.
• AHEM maintains an informational website www.AHEM.info with information about how homeschooling works in Massachusetts, including important documents and overviews of regulations, contact and event information to facilitate networking, and personal stories and links which bring the face of homeschooling to life.
• AHEM sponsors conferences and workshops to inform the public about homeschooling while also providing a forum for people to connect and communicate with each other.
• AHEM watches for proposed legislation that may affect homeschooling in Massachusetts and keeps interested parties informed. The organization encourages citizens to get to know their elected officials and maintain active relationships with them.
• AHEM representatives are available to speak to the public about homeschooling. They have been invited to do this at informal gatherings in private homes, library-sponsored events, and public forums.
• Volunteer representatives are available by phone or email to answer questions about homeschooling.
• AHEM maintains a questionnaire and database regarding homeschooling policy and practice in Massachusetts. This data is available to help answer questions about homeschooling practices in specific towns and keep an eye on trends and hotspots.

Homeschooling has come to be to be largely understood and accepted statewide as a bonafide educational option. The tools AHEM provides, including a sample education plan, are widely used and relied upon statewide. As homeschooling continues to grow, market forces have started to play on common fears and insecurities homeschooling parents may have about educating their children. Our work continues to demonstrate that home-centered family-based education is a workable, attractive, and fulfilling choice. Our education efforts are becoming more targeted while still reaching statewide. We are also developing programs such as AHEM coops to strengthen the grassroots nature of homeschooling. Our website has become the go-to source for information about homeschooling in Massachusetts, and we expect that to continue and expand with a comprehensive website redesign now in the works.