What is a homeschool collective?
A collective is a collaborative learning community where families pool resources to provide a social and academic “anchor” for their students. While we provide the daily structure, the main qualified teachers, and the social environment, we are not a traditional private school. Instead, we are a collective where all the individual families participating come together to support you in the education of your child.
Homeschooling laws vary significantly by country and, within the United States, by individual state. Each family is responsible for understanding and complying with the specific educational statutes of their “home” jurisdiction (their legal place of residency or the state where they file taxes/maintain a permanent address).
In a collective, the parent is the Registrar. While we provide the curriculum and the daily lessons, it is the parents responsibility to keep a portfolio of your child’s work (their Main Lesson books, essays, and math sets). This portfolio serves as your legal proof of education should you return to a traditional school system or apply for high school in the future
A Quick “Who Does What” Guide
| The Collective Provides: | The Parent Provides: |
| Instruction: Waldorf-inspired “Main Lessons.” | Legal Standing: Filing home-state paperwork. |
| Community: A consistent peer group & social life. | Record Keeping: Archiving the year’s work. |
| Materials: Science lab supplies and art guidance. | Curriculum: Parents may be responsible for purchasing outside curriculum such as the Oak Meadow Curriculum |
| Expertise: Guidance through the 8th Grade Project. | Validation: High school & college transcripts. |
Where will it take place?
We are still confirming the exact location of the home school collective. This will depend partly on how many students are enrolled. We aim to find a location that provides both a permanent learning environment where the students are comfortable and well equipped for learning; while also providing amenities that serve the students of this age. There must be space to move and play; explore, and learn.
How many students will you be enrolling?
We hope to serve anywhere between 6 – 10 students in our first year.
How much does it cost?
Fees are designed to cover shared expenses rather than generate profit. Typically, costs include:
- Annual Supply Fee: Covers Main Lesson books, curriculum resources, high-quality art materials, science lab materials, and additional operational expenses..
- Monthly Tuition/Dues: Covers facility rental, a sustainable living wage for the lead teacher and program director, specialty teachers (eg. Spanish, Math) and any additional guest teachers.
The final cost of tuition has yet to be determined as the cost will vary depending on the number of students enrolled. However, we anticipate a cost of approximately $1,000/month or $10,000/year plus an annual supply fee.
What academic calendar does the collective follow?
We follow a traditional U.S. academic calendar (September through June). To support our local community and families with siblings in other programs, our breaks and holidays are intentionally aligned with the private schools in Nosara.
What sort of commitment does it require?
To maintain the social rhythm and “block” flow, we ask for a full school year commitment (Sept–June). Because our Waldorf-style blocks build upon one another, frequent entries and exits can disrupt the group dynamic and the students’ project work.
Can my child attend during the “high season” only?
To ensure a stable social container, we prioritize full-year enrollment. However, we will offer a limited number of Seasonal Guest spots during the ‘High Season’ (Dec–April) for families who align with our Waldorf-inspired approach and wish to join our academic blocks.
What days of the week does it run? In what schedule?
We will meet Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
The schedule will be finalized and customized to the enrolled students. The mornings will include warm-ups, main lessons taught in blocks of humanities, sciences, and math. Daily Spanish and Math lessons. The afternoon program is where:
- Experiential learning happens
- Service learning develops
- Group cohesion strengthens
- Social dynamics deepen
While some potential families have expressed interest in a full school day experience, others have expressed a desire for some flexibility to pursue outside passions during the day.
A possible compromise could be:
- Structured subject and experiential afternoons 3 days per week
- 2 flexible days that allow for independent projects, internships, or individualized pursuits. Students wishing to stay could participate in a study hall to stay on top of their work loads.
This would preserve group integrity while offering some flexibility.
Main subjects would be taught using a block rotation. Spanish and Math would be offered daily.
Does it include a snack and lunch?
Families are asked to pack a healthy, litter-free snack and lunch. In the spirit of the collective, we may occasionally hold “Community Meal” days where the students help prepare a shared meal as part of their experiential curriculum.
Are there different options?
We are considering the following options. TBD based on interest, and budgeting. Please let us know if you are interested in the enrichment only options.
- Full Collective Member: Attends all days; participates in all academic blocks and social outings.
- Enrichment Only: Attends the afternoons for art, movement, and social experiences only. .
Can my child follow their own AI curriculum at home and attend for social life?
Yes! We welcome “Hybrid” families. Your child can follow their personal AI or digital curriculum at home for core subjects like Math and Grammar. When they are at the collective, they would participate in our Main Lesson Blocks (History, English, Science, etc.), extra curricular and social activities. This allows them to benefit from the community and the hands-on Waldorf approach to real world learning, without abandoning their home-based tools.
Because our fixed costs (facility, lead teacher, and materials) remain the same regardless of a student’s home-base tools, tuition remains consistent for all full-time members, whether they utilize our math/language arts support or follow an independent AI curriculum at home.”
Is the Nosara Home School Collective a part of Casa de las Estrellas school?
No, The Nosara Home School Collective is an independent initiative. Although our philosophical and pedagogical approaches are aligned, we are not a part of CDE which is a MEP certified school. However, we do hope to collaborate with CDE on many of their festivals and community events. There is also the possibility of student mentorship and engagement with the younger students of CDE that we hope to explore.
Are you certified with the MEP (Costa Rica Ministry of Education)?
No. As a homeschool collective, we operate independently of the MEP system; therefore, parents are responsible for their child’s legal standing as homeschoolers.
Hey, aren’t you that circus guy? Can we really trust a clown to educate our children?
Yes and YES! While my work with Hup (clap) HEY! has made me a visible part of the community, my foundation is in the classroom. I bring over 20 years of Waldorf teaching experience including having led a group of 25 students through the entire Waldorf curriculum from 6th-8th grade at an established Waldorf school in Minneapolis. I have also taught additional blocks in the middle grades including having taught several blocks to the seventh and eighth grade at Casa de las Estrellas in Costa Rica. I would be happy to offer up several references of local students and families that I have worked with in the past. I have a passion for working with students of this age and am confident that I will bring both strong academic learning while respecting whole child development.