Homeschool benefits and savings in Durham County
North Regional Library lends homeschool science kits containing supplies for hands-on, project-based learning to anyone with a library card. Durham County residents can get a card free, and homeschool families can also attend the library's weekly Thursday Homeschool Learning Lab.
Who qualifies
Have a library card
Science kits are intended for homeschool students but can be borrowed by anyone with a library card.
Document identity and address
Bring photo identification and proof of address to a library location to get a card.
An adult accompanies a minor
Children under 18 need a parent or guardian present when signing up for a full-privilege card.
Meet free-card eligibility
Durham County residents qualify without a fee. Property owners in the county, county government employees, and Durham Public Schools employees also qualify; other non-residents pay $45 per year.
What the program gives you
The North Regional page describes the kits and weekly lab; the library card and borrowing pages give card fees and expiration terms.
- Subject-based science kits
- Supplies for hands-on, project-based learning
- Resident library card
- Free
- Other non-resident card
- $45 per year
- Homeschool Learning Lab
- Weekly on Thursdays at North Regional
- Regular non-temporary card
- Expires after 3 years
How to use the program
- Before borrowing
Get a library card
Visit a library location with photo ID and proof of address; bring a parent or guardian for a child under 18.
- Before choosing a kit
Ask North Regional about loans
Call 919-560-0236 for available kit subjects, the kit-specific checkout period, and renewal or return requirements, which are not listed on the branch page.
- At checkout
Borrow a science kit
Use your library card to borrow supplies for learning at home.
- On Thursdays
Attend the learning lab
North Regional hosts a weekly Homeschool Learning Lab welcoming students of all backgrounds and abilities.
- Before card expiration
Renew your account
Regular non-temporary cards expire after three years; non-resident cards require annual renewal.
What it includes
Included
- Subject-based science supplies
- Hands-on project materials
- Homeschool Learning Lab
Good to know
Cards are free for county residents
Durham County residents get free library cards. Some non-residents also get free cards through property ownership or employment; other non-residents pay $45 a year.
No loan period is published for the kits
The general borrowing table does not list the science kits either. Ask North Regional at 919-560-0236 for the checkout period and renewal rules before you borrow.
Who to contact
North Regional staff answer science kit availability, checkout, and Homeschool Learning Lab questions.
khayes@dconc.gov 919-560-0236 Branch and homeschool resources
Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina
You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.
North Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
- Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.
North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.
Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Do we have to be homeschoolers to join the lab?
- No. The lab also welcomes public and private school students when their schools are out of session, with all backgrounds and abilities welcome.
- Can my child get a card independently?
- Not a full-privilege card. A child under 18 needs a parent or guardian present to sign up, though there is no minimum cardholder age.
- What happens if library materials are lost or damaged?
- The library charges the item's list price plus a $5 processing fee for lost items, including items 40 days overdue. It charges no late fines; ask staff how its replacement policy applies to missing kit components.
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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