Homeschool benefits: Elizabeth School District
Independence Classical Academy (ICA), a public charter school in Elizabeth, runs a tuition-free classical enrichment day every Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., for homeschooled children in kindergarten through grade 5. You stay your child's primary educator and keep a current Colorado notice of intent on file.
Who qualifies
Homeschools in grades K-5
The program serves kindergarten through grade 5 and is open to local homeschool families, whether new or experienced.
Has a current notice of intent
Families in a public homeschool enrichment program must have a current annual Notice of Intent (NOI) on file with any Colorado school district. If you already filed, give ICA a copy.
Gets a seat
ICA limits enrollment to keep classes small, and families enroll through the online Homeschool Enrichment enrollment form.
What the program gives you
The terms come from ICA's Homeschool Enrichment program overview and FAQ.
- Tuition
- $0
- Days a week
- 1, Tuesdays
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
- Grade groups
- K/1, 2/3, 4/5
- Lunch
- Not provided
- Transportation
- Family provides
A uniform is required and ICA posts a separate 2026-27 Homeschool Enrichment supply list, so ask the coordinator what those cost before you enroll.
How to enroll
- Before you enroll
File your notice of intent
Download the NOI form from the Colorado Department of Education and submit it to any Colorado school district, then keep a copy for ICA.
- When you apply
Fill out the enrollment form
Use the Homeschool Enrichment Enrollment Form on ICA's site, or contact coordinator Megan Storhaug with questions.
- Each Tuesday
Drop off for the day
Your child attends on their own from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a packed lunch, a water bottle, and any assignments the teacher requested.
- Each year
Keep your NOI current
A current annual NOI must be on file every year your child is in the program.
What it includes
Included
- Great books and poetry recitation
- Nature study and hands-on projects
- Art and music
- Biographies
Not included
- Lunch
- Transportation
- Letter grades
- Your core homeschool curriculum
Good to know
New homeschool families are welcome
ICA welcomes both new and experienced homeschool families. Your child needs to be in kindergarten through grade 5, and you need a current notice of intent.
Who to contact about the program
Coordinator and teacher Megan Storhaug answers enrollment and program questions through ICA's contact form; the school line reaches the front office.
303-646-1798 Contact the coordinator
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Colorado
Give written notice to a Colorado school district 14 days before starting and each year the program continues. Notice is not required before age 6; instruction need not begin until age 7 or continue after age 16.
Colorado sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide at least 172 days of instruction averaging four instructional contact hours daily, covering reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular instruction in the U.S. Constitution.
- Testing: Academic evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11: standardized test or evaluation by a qualified person.
- Records: Permanently keep attendance, test or evaluation results, and required immunization records; produce them on 14 days’ written notice when the superintendent has probable cause to believe the program is noncompliant.
- Teachers: Instruction is provided by a parent or legal guardian, or an adult relative designated by the parent; no teaching license is required.
Read the Colorado homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Colorado
Questions parents ask
- Is ICA's enrichment day a co-op where parents teach?
- No. ICA teachers lead the day, and parents do not stay on campus. You handle drop-off and pick-up.
- Will it replace our homeschool curriculum?
- No. The program is enrichment, and you remain your child's primary educator for the rest of the week.
- Is there homework or grading?
- Light homework in upper grades, and no letter grades. Upper grades get occasional work such as memorizing a poem or reading, and ICA shows growth through participation, projects, presentations, and a Classical Learning Portfolio.
- Where is the program held?
- On ICA's campus at 589 S Banner St. in Elizabeth. The schedule can shift with the Elizabeth School District's final elementary bell schedule.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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