Homeschool benefits and savings in Mount Zion
A Mt. Zion District Library card signs you in to a free Pre-K through fifth grade homeschool curriculum on Educate Station, with 35 weekly English and math learning plans and five or more worksheets per plan. Resident cards are free for people living or owning property in the library district and last three years.
Who qualifies
Lives in the library district
Resident cards go to people living or owning property in the Mt. Zion library district. Families outside the district with no library service can buy a one-year nonresident card for the whole household.
Shows photo ID with address
Bring a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If it lacks your current address, add a lease, utility bill, bank statement, or two pieces of mail postmarked within 30 days.
A parent signs for children
Cards for anyone under 18 need a parent or guardian's signature, and the parent must be present when the card is issued.
What the card gives you
The terms come from the library's Educate Station sign-in page and its circulation policy, last approved February 13, 2024.
- English and math learning plans
- 35 weekly plans each
- Science and social studies plans
- 18 biweekly plans each
- Social-emotional learning plans
- 9 monthly plans
- Worksheets per learning plan
- 5 or more
- Book loan period
- 3 weeks
- Resident card
- Free, 3 years
Borrowing stops once fines on the card pass $1.00, and kits carry a $5.00 daily late fee, so return hands-on items on time.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather ID
Bring a photo ID with your current address, or a photo ID plus a bill or other proof of residency.
- At the library
Get a card
Apply at 115 W. Main Street. A parent signs for each child under 18 and must be there when the card is issued.
- At home
Sign in to the curriculum
Enter your library card number on the library's Educate Station page and print the plans and worksheets for your child's grade.
- Every 3 years
Renew the card
Resident cards expire after three years, and you show a valid photo ID to renew. Nonresident cards renew every year.
What it includes
Included
- English language arts and math plans
- Science and social studies plans
- Social-emotional learning and art activities
- Printable worksheets
Not included
- Curriculum above fifth grade
- Free cards for households outside the district
Good to know
A library card is all you need
The library's home page invites cardholders to log in with a Mt. Nothing asks for proof that you homeschool.
The curriculum covers six subjects
The Educate Station curriculum covers English language arts, math, science, social studies, social-emotional learning, and art. Each learning plan comes with five or more worksheets, except art, which is a set of 18 biweekly activities.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff issue cards and answer questions about the homeschool curriculum, Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
library@mtzion.lib.il.us 217-864-3622 Contact the library
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
- We live outside the district. Can we use it?
- Only if your home has no library service. Then you can buy a one-year nonresident card for your whole household; the fee is your home's assessed value times the library's tax rate, so ask the library for your amount.
- Does the library charge late fees on books?
- No. The library charges no late fees for books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, or CDs. Hotspots, kits, and some devices carry daily late fees.
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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