Homeschool benefits and savings in Deschutes County
A Deschutes Public Library Educator card gives you 28-day loans instead of 21 and up to 30 holds instead of 15, on the same card number you already use. Homeschool parents qualify by showing staff the High Desert Education Service District registration that confirms their child is homeschooled.
Who qualifies
Homeschools a child
The card is for teachers in public, private, or charter schools and for parents who homeschool.
Registered with High Desert ESD
Show a copy of the registration sent by the High Desert Education Service District (ESD) confirming your child is homeschooled, along with a valid photo ID.
Not a charter school parent
Parents of charter school students are not eligible, because Oregon considers charter students to be public school students, not homeschoolers.
What the card gives you
Deschutes Public Library's Educator Card page compares the two cards side by side.
- Loan period
- 21 days vs. 28 days
- Holds at one time
- 15 vs. 30
- Card length
- 1 year from issue
- Curriculum Crate (about 20 books)
- 1 per card
The library does not list a different checkout limit for the Educator card, so ask staff your item limit when they update the account.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Find your ESD registration
If you misplaced it, ask Stacy Kelley, Home School Coordinator at High Desert ESD, at 541-693-5656 or stacy.kelley@hdesd.org for a copy.
- At any library
Ask staff to upgrade your card
Bring your photo ID, your current library card, and the registration. Educator cards are issued only in person.
- At signup
Sign the card
Signing accepts financial responsibility for every item checked out on the card.
- Each year
Renew in person
The card is valid for one year from the date issued. Bring your documentation again to renew.
What it includes
Included
- 28-day loans
- Up to 30 holds
- Your existing card number and apps such as Libby and Kanopy
Not included
- Parents of charter school students
- Online signup or renewal
Who to contact about the card
Library staff answer questions about Educator cards and update accounts at any location.
541-241-2630 Libraries, hours, and phone numbers
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Oregon
You must notify your local Education Service District (ESD) within 10 days of withdrawing from school, or of the school year's start if not withdrawing. You must notify the ESD if you leave your school district or stop homeschooling. After a move to a new ESD, notify the new ESD within 10 days.
Oregon sets these rules:
- Subjects: Oregon does not require specific subjects or a particular curriculum.
- Testing: Use an approved standardized test by August 15 after grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, subject to the initial 18-month testing grace period and disability-plan alternatives. Interscholastic participants meet annual testing or district-adopted alternative academic-evidence requirements, which may include an approved portfolio or work sample.
- Records: Keep test results and submit them to the Education Service District when requested. Retaining the ESD notification acknowledgment is also recommended.
- Teachers: Oregon does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Oregon homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Oregon
Questions parents ask
- Can I borrow a Curriculum Crate on the Deschutes Educator card?
- Yes, one at a time per card. A crate holds about 20 books on one subject.
- Do I have to switch to the Deschutes Educator card if I qualify?
- No. You can choose either the Educator card or the resident card.
- Our children attend a charter school part of the week. Do we qualify?
- Not as charter school parents. Oregon treats charter students as public school students, so the library does not count them as homeschooled for this card.
- What happens when we stop homeschooling?
- Your Educator card goes back to a resident card. Tell staff at any location so they can update your account.
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.
Find benefits for your ZIP code