Homeschool benefits and savings in Marshall
A Marshall Public Library card signs you in to Educate Station, a full Pre-K through fifth grade curriculum with weekly learning plans and worksheets, plus World Book research tools and thousands of World Book eBooks. Cards are free for families living in the Marshall Community School System area, and homeschool families use the same card as everyone else.
Who qualifies
Lives in the Marshall district
Cards are free to people living in the Marshall Community School System. Residents of York and Melrose townships apply at the West Union library instead.
Applies with a parent
Each person age 6 and over needs their own card, and a parent or guardian must apply in person for anyone under 18, with proof of residency.
Uses the card to sign in
Educate Station and the World Book products open with your Marshall Public Library card number. Nothing asks about your child's school.
What the card gives you
The terms come from Marshall Public Library's homeschool, card, and nonresident pages and the library's Educate Station sign-in page.
- Educate Station English and math
- 35 weekly plans each
- Educate Station science and social studies
- 18 biweekly plans each
- Worksheets per learning plan
- 5 or more
- World Book eBooks
- Thousands of titles
- Card for district residents
- Free
- Nonresident card
- $130 a year
An online courtesy card works for only 30 days, so visit the library with proof of residency within that time to keep access.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Bring proof of residency
Bring proof that you live in the Marshall school district. A parent applies in person for any child under 18.
- Online or at the desk
Get a card
Register online for a 30-day courtesy number, or apply at 612 Archer Avenue, where staff verify your ID and residency.
- At home
Sign in to Educate Station
Enter your card number on the library's Educate Station page and print the learning plans and worksheets for your child's grade.
What it includes
Included
- World Book Kids, Student, and Advanced
- World Book eBooks and Timelines
- Early World of Learning for preschoolers
Not included
- Free cards for York and Melrose township residents
Good to know
Educate Station includes plans in core subjects
Educate Station has 35 weekly learning plans each for English language arts and math, 18 biweekly plans each for science and social studies, social-emotional learning plans, and art activities, with five or more worksheets per plan.
Nonresident cards cost $130 a year
Families outside Marshall pay $130 a year for a card. Nonresident property owners can get one free card per parcel, and some unincorporated families with a student in grades 3-12 under the USDA income guideline can get a free card under the Cards for Kids Act.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff issue cards and help with Educate Station and World Book sign-in.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Illinois
You do not have to file a homeschool notice.
Illinois sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach language arts, math, biological, physical, and social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health, in English, at least at public-school level.
- Testing: Illinois does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Illinois does not require homeschool records.
- Teachers: The instructor must be competent; no state teaching certificate is required.
Read the Illinois homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Illinois
Questions parents ask
- What can my older child use?
- World Book Student serves upper elementary and junior high, and World Book Advanced serves high school and beyond with research tools and a citation builder.
- Does each of my children need a card?
- Yes, if they are 6 or older.
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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