How do you prove you homeschool in order to receive retail discounts? For example, I am home preschooling...but, I still need to purchase some educational/craft items. How do retailers verify you are a homeschooler?

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~Jessica

A Classroom of One's Own

Do you get a discount for that? I would think with preschool, anyone with a preschool age child could claim they were homeschooling. Not to be rude, but we all teach our young children.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Gosh, I been thinking about this, and I hope I don't sound rude, but I don't believe you can get any kind of discount for homeschooling preschool, since those of us who do send our children to preschool have to pay to send them! Now when you get into kindergarden and above, I assume you will receive some kind of support or tax free card from your local school district that you are working with, since we all pay taxes for a public education. But preschool should be totally your own responsibility. I may be totally off base here, but that is what makes sense to me.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Yes, it does sound rude...although I'm sure it isn't your intention.

I, unlike many of my friends, chose to home preschool--most of my friends enrolled their kids in free, church sponsored programs or Montessori-type PreK programs.

I will not, however, homeschool from K-High School. Instead, my husband & I are considering a virtual charter school. As my husband & I both hold Master's degrees in education (Teaching & Curriculum and Fine Art), I trust our decision.

Our thousands of dollars in school taxes will go toward the charter school just as they would have to our son's education in our local school district--so, you needn't worry that we will be sponging any sort of "support" or tax freedoms from which you, yourself do not benefit.

Since this is Mommysavers, I was simply inquiring about obtaining a discount on PreK curriculum items. I realize many people spend $$$ on formal preschool programs, however I am choosing to focus on my son's PreK education here at home rather than send him away. I'm not attempting to bilk anyone out of anything--just trying to save a dime.

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~Jessica

A Classroom of One's Own

Wow!! I must have sounded alot worse than I thought!! I am sorry to offend you! I certainally did not mean to imply that you were trying to sponge off anything!! I was simply saying that since preschool is a totally optional thing, I don't think there should be any sort of homeschooling discount. I don't have any problem with homeschooling at all. I totally admire anyone who can do it!

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~Happiness is a large family~

I have a friend who homeschools and I know she gets discounts on things like teachers do, but I don't know if she did in preschool or exactly how she proves it. I'll try to ask her and let you know, but it may be tomorrow before I can answer. HTH

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I don't think it was rude, Happymom. Of course, I know you and know that was not your intent either.

I think here, in Florida, you don't get a discount on preschool because the students do not have to take the state test until Kindergarten. I think maybe certain retailers might GIVE you the discount just to get your business. A friend that homeschools was talking about this a couple of months ago. She gets the discounts for school aged children, but not preschool. She does get one sort of gratis from one small retailer in town though.

At least that is what I was told.

I don't think we can get preschool discounts here either. If you register with the state (Indiana), they send you a letter acknowledging that you are a legit homeschool. That is what I use to get discounts.

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"Fostering Excellence in Intellect & Character"

In my limited experience, it all varies from store to store, and you have to ask. Some require proof (some HS accountability issue membership cards); some don't. Some stores are helpful and friendly, some not. I have found that I just have to ask. I HS my two kids, who are both preschool age, and I do feel that I am a teacher to the point of qualifying for the discount. I have never thought twice about asking... but I am not shy! (too many garage sales, LOL).

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

You may be best off checking with the stores you want to do business with. I only ever tried at Lakeshore. Even though my son attends public schools, they recognize that I also educate him at home, so they give me the discount. I don't know if it's because he is considered Special Needs, though. In truth, it seems that the discount is either so small or doesn't apply on what I buy.

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