Homeschool benefits and savings in Tipton County
Tipton County Public Library issues Educator cards to homeschool families, along with local teachers and tutors. The card is good for one year and can be renewed, and library cards are free for Tipton County residents and property owners 18 or older.
Who qualifies
Is a homeschool family
The library's card policy, revised September 2026, names homeschool families among those eligible for Educator cards.
Completes the Educator application
Educator cards use a separate Educator card application, which the library says carries the further details.
Shows ID and address
Adult cards require a current photo ID and proof of address.
What the card gives you
The terms come from the Tipton County Public Library Card and Circulation Policy, revised September 2026, and its Get a Card page.
- Educator card length
- 1 year, renewable
- Books, loan period
- 14 days, renew 3 times
- DVDs
- 10 at a time, 14 days
- Kits
- 2 at a time, 14 days
- Replacement of a lost card
- $1.00
The policy does not list separate checkout limits or loan periods for Educator cards, so ask the library what the Educator card application allows.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather ID and proof of address
Bring a current photo ID and proof of your address to the Tipton or Windfall library.
- At the library
Fill out the Educator application
Ask for the Educator card application and tell staff you are a homeschool family.
- Each checkout
Return or renew on time
The library tries to renew items automatically two days before they are due.
- Each year
Renew the Educator card
Educator cards are good for one year and may be renewed.
What it includes
Included
- A separate card for homeschool teaching
- Holds on most materials
- Automatic renewals when no one is waiting
Not included
- Replacement or repair costs for lost or damaged items
- Items 8 weeks past their lost date
Good to know
The card lasts one year
You can renew the card when it expires.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff answer questions about Educator cards and library accounts.
reference@tiptonpl.org 765-675-8761 Get a card
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Indiana
No state registration or homeschool number is required. On withdrawal, notify the school in writing. For a high-school student, a parent or guardian must also sign the Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form.
Indiana sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide 180 days of instruction and instruction equivalent to public schools; state law does not define equivalency, and public-school curriculum rules do not apply.
- Testing: Indiana does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Indiana requires you to keep attendance records.
- Teachers: Indiana does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Indiana also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Indiana Education Scholarship Account pays about 90% of state tuition support, for students with a qualifying disability or an eligible sibling. Once enrolled, your child is no longer an independent homeschool student, and the money stays in ClassWallet for approved costs.
Read the Indiana homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Indiana
Questions parents ask
- What happens if a Tipton County library item is overdue?
- Borrowing is suspended until overdue items come back. Items become lost at 21 days overdue, and you can return them within 8 weeks after that without penalty.
- Do we have to live in Tipton County?
- Not necessarily. Cards are free for Tipton County residents and property owners 18 or older, and non-residents can buy a card for the current non-resident fee, so ask whether an Educator card is available to you.
- Does the Educator card have its own checkout limits?
- The policy does not say. It lists no separate checkout limits or loan periods for Educator cards, so ask the library what the Educator card application allows.
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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