Homeschool benefits and savings in Windham
Willimantic Public Library runs Homeschool STEM, a hands-on program for ages 5 and up held one Friday a month at 10:30 a.m. from September through May, with no advance registration. A Willimantic library card, open to Windham and Willimantic residents, adds nine online databases, including eBooks through hoopla and Libby.
Who qualifies
Ages 5 and up for STEM
Homeschool STEM is listed for ages 5 and older, and you can simply show up.
Windham resident for a card
Residents of Windham and Willimantic can apply for a library card online. Most databases need a Willimantic card.
Parent applies for a child
Children under 14 and teens 14 to 17 need a parent or legal guardian to show ID. Adults need a valid photo ID with a current address, or ID plus proof of residence.
What the library gives you
The terms come from Willimantic Public Library's homeschooling, events, card, database, and loan-period pages.
- Homeschool STEM sessions
- 1 a month, Sept.-May
- October 9, 2026 session
- 10:30-11:30 a.m.
- Book loan period
- 3 weeks, 2 renewals
- Overdue fines
- None
- Library card term
- 3 years
- Lost card replacement
- $1
The library bills the replacement cost of any item that is three weeks overdue, even though it charges no daily fines.
How to take part
- Before you go
Check the topic
Each month has a different STEM topic. Find the date on the library's event calendar; the October 9, 2026 session built wildlife crossings.
- On the Friday
Attend Homeschool STEM
Come to 905 Main Street, Willimantic, at 10:30 a.m. No registration is needed.
- Any time
Get a library card
Windham and Willimantic residents can apply online. Residents of other Connecticut towns can borrow with their own town's card.
- Every 3 years
Renew the card
Cards are issued for three years and can be renewed when they expire.
What it includes
Included
- Monthly Homeschool STEM program
- Databases such as Mango Languages and researchIT CT
- eBooks and audiobooks through hoopla, Libby, and the Palace Project
- Homeschooling books on the Family and Caregiver shelf
- Makerspace
Not included
- Database access without a Willimantic card, for most databases
- Replacement cost of items billed after three weeks overdue
Good to know
The library does not say if siblings can join
The library lists Homeschool STEM for homeschool families with children 5 and up, so call 860-465-3079 if a schooled sibling wants to come.
Who to contact about homeschool programs
Willimantic Public Library staff answer questions about Homeschool STEM, library cards, and online resources.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Connecticut
State law does not require a homeschool notice. The State Department of Education asks parents to tell their local school district that they intend to homeschool, but that request is guidance, not a legal requirement.
Connecticut sets these rules:
- Subjects: Instruction in Connecticut must include reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, US history, and citizenship.
- Testing: Connecticut does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Connecticut does not require homeschool records, but keeping them is recommended.
- Teachers: Connecticut does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Connecticut homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Connecticut
Questions parents ask
- We live outside Windham. Can we use the Willimantic library databases?
- Mostly no. Most databases require a Willimantic card, which is for Windham and Willimantic residents, but researchIT CT works with any Connecticut public library card. Check which databases your own town's library offers.
- What else does the library offer homeschoolers?
- The Youth Services Department keeps a Family and Caregiver shelf of homeschooling books, and the makerspace can add STEM and creative projects to your curriculum.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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