Homeschool benefits and savings in Oakland County

Oakland County Parks runs a weekly Homeschool Series for children ages 6-12 at Red Oaks and Wint nature centers, with naturalist-led lessons and a STEM project each week, for $80 per child for the eight-week fall session. Every homeschooled student is welcome; the fall series began October 7, and winter and spring sessions will follow. Other options include college classes and scholarships.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Oakland County Parks homeschool programs

Who qualifies

1. Is homeschooled

   Oakland County Parks says all homeschooled students are welcome in the series.

2. Is 6 to 12 years old

   Each program is designed for students ages 6-12 and runs as a drop-off and pick-up program.

3. Registers for the whole series

   Preregistration for the entire series is required; you cannot sign up for single weeks.

4. Has a signed release form

   A release form must be completed with registration.

What the series gives you

The terms come from the Oakland County Parks homeschool programs page for the fall 2026 series.

Cost per child, full series

$80

Cost per weekly session

$10

Wint Nature Center, Wednesdays

Oct. 7-Dec. 2, no class Nov. 25

Red Oaks Nature Center, Thursdays

Oct. 8-Dec. 3, no class Nov. 26

Session time

2-4 p.m.

The fall series is already under way and enrollment in the whole series is required, so call Programs and Services to ask whether late registration is possible or when winter registration opens.

How to sign up

1. Before the series

   Pick a nature center

   Choose Wint Nature Center on Wednesdays or Red Oaks Nature Center on Thursdays.

2. At registration

   Register and pay

   Register online at any time, call 248-858-0916 during business hours to pay by card, or register in person at either nature center or the parks office at 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford.

3. Each week

   Drop off for two hours

   Programs run rain or shine, partly outdoors. Send closed-toe shoes, clothes that can get messy, and a refillable water bottle.

4. Winter and spring

   Sign up for the next session

   Oakland County Parks plans winter and spring sessions after the fall series ends.

What it includes

Included

• Eight weekly naturalist-led lessons
• A STEM-based project each week
• Inquiry-based nature exploration

Not included

• Single-week drop-ins
• Children younger than 6 or older than 12
• Snacks and outdoor gear

Who to contact about the series

Programs and Services takes registrations and payments by phone and answers questions about the homeschool series.

Info@OaklandCountyParks.com 248-858-0916 Homeschool programs page

Oakland Community College homeschool dual enrollment

Who qualifies

1. Is in grades 9-12

   OCC says homeschooled students are eligible for dual enrollment, and every dual enrollment student must be in 9th through 12th grade.

2. Has a sponsor or self-pays

   Free dual enrollment requires sponsorship and counselor approval from a school district. Michigan's Department of Education says a homeschool student follows the policy of the district they are enrolled under.

3. Has a parent's authorization

   A dual enrollment authorization and FERPA release form is needed every semester. It routes to a parent for self-pay students, and to a parent and then a counselor for sponsored students.

4. Meets English placement

   New students complete English Self-Placement or an allowable exemption before registering for classes.

What it is worth

OCC's 2026-27 rates are $119 per billable contact hour in-district and $224 out-of-district, plus a $110 Student Support Fee each semester.

One 3-hour class, in-district

$467

One 3-hour class, out-of-district

$782

Two 3-hour classes, in-district

$824

Two 3-hour classes, out-of-district

$1,454

Any load with a district sponsor

$0

Billable contact hours can differ from a course's credit hours, and a sponsor pays only if your student passes, so ask the dual enrollment office for the billable hours of each course before you count the savings.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Ask about sponsorship

   Ask the district your student would be enrolled under whether it will sponsor dual enrollment; otherwise plan to self-pay.

2. By March 1 or October 1

   Apply online

   Submit OCC's free application by March 1 for summer or fall, or by October 1 for winter. You apply once for all of high school.

3. Each semester

   Submit the authorization form

   Complete a new dual enrollment authorization and FERPA release form every semester your student takes classes.

4. Before registering

   Finish MyOCC steps

   Activate MyOCC, then complete the 30-minute New Student Orientation, English Self-Placement, and the Online Learning Readiness Course (DIST 1000).

5. Before classes start

   Register and buy books

   Register through Student Planning in MyOCC and buy books from the OCC Bookstore.

What it pays for

Covered

• Tuition for sponsored students
• Fees for sponsored students
• Books for sponsored students
• Tutoring, advising, and disability accommodations

Not covered

• Tuition and fees for self-pay students
• Sponsored courses your student does not pass
• Students below 9th grade

The free version depends on a school district paying OCC from its dual enrollment funds; homeschool families without a sponsoring district pay OCC's regular tuition.

Who to contact

The dual enrollment office answers questions about sponsorship, the authorization form, and registration; Colleen Jones, K-12 Partnerships and Youth Program Coordinator, takes calls.

secondary@oaklandcc.edu 248-410-4253 Dual enrollment steps

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Michigan

No state report under the parent-led homeschool exemption, MCL 380.1561(3)(f). The nonpublic-school route has separate reporting; an annual membership report is required for eligibility for auxiliary services.

Michigan sets these rules:

• Subjects: Under exemption (f), provide an organized program in reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar. The nonpublic-school route requires subjects comparable to local public schools.
• Testing: Michigan does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: No prescribed homeschool portfolio or attendance-record format under exemption (f). Keep progress records for transfers; the nonpublic-school route has separate reporting requirements.
• Teachers: Under exemption (f), the instructor must be the child’s parent or legal guardian; no degree or teaching credential is required. MDE requires a reporting nonpublic homeschool parent to have at least a bachelor’s degree unless a sincerely held religious objection applies.

Read the Michigan homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Michigan

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