Frequently Asked Questions

SofCon (School of Consciousness) is not a traditional school as defined by the state of Missouri. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational co-op that provides a full-time, community-based educational experience in alignment with Missouri homeschool law.

Each child enrolled at SofCon is legally homeschooled by their parent or guardian, who remains the primary educator of record. Our facilitators provide structured daily learning, creative exploration, and holistic development within a conscious and collaborative environment—but the legal responsibility for education remains with the family.

We offer over 1,000 instructional hours per year, a consistent rhythm, facilitator documentation, and support with state compliance while allowing families the flexibility and sovereignty of the homeschool model.

No. Children attending SofCon are not legally enrolled through SofCon, because we are not a licensed private school or public charter. Instead, your child is officially considered homeschooled, with you—the parent or guardian—serving as their legal educator of record.

To comply with Missouri homeschool law, families must:

• Keep records of instructional hours, subjects covered, and student progress
   
• Maintain a portfolio of work samples (SofCon helps with this)
   
• Ensure a minimum of 1,000 instructional hours per year, 600 of which must be in core subjects
   

You do not need to register with the state or file a formal notice unless requested, but you do need to retain documentation in case of inquiry. SofCon provides extensive support to help you meet these requirements.

SofCon is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational co-op, not a licensed school or childcare center. Under Missouri law, families who homeschool do not need to attend licensed educational institutions as long as they meet the legal requirements for hours, documentation, and instructional oversight.

Because SofCon operates as a parent-led cooperative supporting legally homeschooled children, we are not required to hold a school license. We do not issue report cards, transcripts, or diplomas. Each parent remains the legal educator of record.

That said, we are committed to safety, transparency, and integrity. We have:

• Registered as a nonprofit with both the IRS and the state of Missouri 
• Secured permission to use our location in alignment with zoning and occupancy standards 
• Followed safety and space-use guidelines appropriate for programs serving children
   

If any local or state policies shift in the future, we are prepared to evolve accordingly while remaining true to our mission of conscious, community-rooted learning.

SofCon does not follow a standardized or boxed curriculum. Instead, we draw inspiration from holistic and alternative education models such as Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and nature-based learning, while incorporating our own conscious, emergent approach.

Our facilitators develop seasonally-aligned themes, projects, and experiences that support academic growth, creative expression, emotional intelligence, and life skills. Learning is child-led and facilitator-guided, meaning it adapts to the unique needs and interests of each group.

See our curriculum Here.

SofCon is a drop-off program for enrolled families. Parents are not required to remain on-site during the day. However, because we are a co-op, parents are asked to participate in the community through monthly support hours, volunteering, or co-creating offerings.

We also require families to log 100 hours of at-home learning per year to support legal compliance and deepen the learning experience across both home and co-op life.

Legally, we don't have to—we already exceed the state's required 1,000 instructional hours. But we believe that asking families to log 100 hours of home-based learning each year serves a much deeper purpose than just checking a box.

Here’s why we require it:

1. To honor the homeschool model.
   SofCon is an educational co-op, not a school. That means each parent is still the legal educator of their child. Requiring 100 hours at home helps keep that responsibility alive and clear, while still offering full-time support.
    
2. To strengthen the home–school connection.
   Children thrive when learning doesn’t feel like it’s happening in two separate worlds. Those extra 100 hours create space for reflection, personal interests, and family-based experiences that enrich and complement what happens at SofCon.
    
3. To deepen ownership and partnership.
   SofCon is a co-created community. The 100-hour practice reminds all of us—parents, facilitators, and children—that education is not something that happens to us. It’s something we all participate in, shape, and share.
    

This isn’t about pressure, it’s about presence. Many families find that they’re already doing far more than 100 hours of meaningful learning at home, they just weren’t tracking it yet. We’re here to make that easy and inspiring.

Home learning can look like a lot of things and most families are already doing more of it than they realize. You don’t need textbooks or formal lessons. If it invites curiosity, connection, or growth, it likely counts.

Here are some examples:

• Reading books together or listening to audiobooks
   
• Journaling, writing stories, or sending letters to family
   
• Cooking with your child and talking through measurements or ingredients
   
• Going on a nature walk and noticing animal tracks, plants, or changes in the season
   
• Visiting a museum, farm, historical site, or cultural event
   
• Building something together—like a birdhouse, LEGO set, or art project
   
• Talking about current events or exploring family history
   
• Playing strategy or logic games like chess, puzzles, or card games
   
• Practicing yoga, mindfulness, or breathwork
   
• Creating rituals for full moons, birthdays, or seasonal celebrations
   

The key is presence. These hours don’t have to be “school-like”, they just need to be intentional, meaningful, and in relationship with your child’s learning.

We provide a simple log to help track these experiences throughout the year.

No. SofCon is not affiliated with any religion. We are a spiritual but non-religious community, rooted in principles of consciousness, personal growth, reverence for nature and self-awareness.

Our practices may include things like mindfulness, breathwork, gratitude circles, or seasonal rituals, but participation is always invitational, never dogmatic. We honor the diverse spiritual paths and belief systems of our families and create space for each child’s inner life to unfold authentically.

SofCon currently serves children ages 5 to 12 through two mixed-age learning groups:

• Early Childhood (ages 5–8): Focused on rhythm, play, imagination, and foundational skills through hands-on exploration, story, movement, and connection with nature.
   
• Middle Childhood (ages 8–12): Emphasizes creative independence, project-based learning, deeper inquiry, and collaborative problem-solving with space for emerging autonomy and reflection.
   

We group children based on developmental readiness more than strict age cutoffs, and our facilitators are skilled at meeting each child where they are.

As our community grows, we plan to expand offerings for ages 13+ with mentorship-based models and conscious leadership development.

SofCon operates on a full-time rhythm (Monday–Friday, 10 AM–3 PM), but we do not have a strict attendance policy. Families are welcome to use the program as much or as little as fits their needs and values.

Whether your child attends daily or just one day a week, tuition remains the same, and your family is still responsible for meeting Missouri homeschool requirements, including tracking 1,000 instructional hours per year.

That said, we’ve found that children thrive in consistent environments, especially when relationships, routines, and projects build over time. Regular attendance supports your child’s sense of belonging, confidence, and learning momentum.

Tuition for SofCon is $100 per week per child, or billed monthly at $400/month. This includes all programming, facilitation, materials, and documentation support. We operate year-round and tuition is continuous regardless of attendance frequency.

We are committed to making SofCon accessible to a wide range of families, and we offer a limited number of sliding scale and scholarship opportunities each year. These are funded through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and generous community donations.

If tuition presents a barrier for your family, please reach out, we’ll do our best to work with you. We also welcome tax-deductible contributions to our Community Fund, which supports scholarships and helps expand access to conscious education for all.

At SofCon, we approach behavior as communication, and discipline as an opportunity for growth, reflection, and connection. We do not use punishment, shame, or coercion.

Instead, we:

• Hold clear, consistent boundaries rooted in respect and safety
   
• Support children in learning emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and communication skills
   
• Use restorative practices when harm or disruption occurs
   
• Address challenges in partnership with parents, seeking shared insight and support
   

Facilitators are trained to model and scaffold conscious behavior through presence, empathy, and firm but loving redirection. If a pattern of behavior consistently disrupts the learning environment, we will initiate a collaborative process with the family to explore solutions. In rare cases, if the needs of the child exceed what SofCon can safely support, a transition may be recommended in the child’s best interest.

We believe that all behavior makes sense in context, and every child deserves understanding and guidance, not control.

SofCon is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While tuition payments are not tax-deductible, there are several other ways you may be able to support the community and receive a charitable deduction on your taxes.

Below are the types of contributions that qualify for tax-deductible receipts, according to IRS guidelines:

1. Donations Above and Beyond Tuition

If you give funds to SofCon that are not tied to your child’s participation—meaning you receive no direct goods or services in return—these contributions may be considered charitable and tax-deductible.

Examples:

• A general donation to the co-op’s growth or sustainability
• A gift to help with supplies, events, or development
• An end-of-year donation to help cover community needs

2. General or Scholarship Fund Contributions

SofCon offers opportunities to support other families through need-based tuition support or community grants.

Note: To remain tax-deductible, these donations cannot be earmarked for your own child’s tuition or benefit.

3. Donations of Materials, Supplies, or Equipment

In-kind donations of physical items used by the co-op may be eligible for a tax-deductible receipt. Examples include:

• Art supplies, books, curriculum resources
• Gardening tools, kitchen items, building materials
• Classroom furniture or educational games

Receipts can be issued based on fair market value with adequate documentation.

4. Mileage & Out-of-Pocket Volunteer Costs

While the value of your volunteer time is not tax-deductible, you may be able to deduct:

• Mileage driven in support of SofCon (e.g., supply runs, field trip transport)
• Purchases made for events, classrooms, or facilitation (with receipts)

Consult with a tax professional to determine eligibility and record-keeping requirements for these types of deductions.

Receipts & Documentation

If you plan to claim a charitable deduction, please request a donation receipt for any qualifying contribution. We’re happy to provide written documentation for:

• Cash or check donations
• Online donations through our giving platform
• In-kind gifts or donated materials
• Reimbursable or non-reimbursed volunteer expenses

No. SofCon operates year-round, Monday through Friday, with no formal summer break. This consistent rhythm supports a deep sense of continuity, community, and developmental flow for children.

That said, we do take seasonal breaks throughout the year, typically one to two weeks at a time to honor holidays, reset the space, and allow families and facilitators time to rest. These breaks are announced well in advance and woven into the natural rhythm of the year.

Families are always welcome to take additional time off as needed for travel or personal rhythm, and we honor the flexibility that homeschooling allows. Tuition continues monthly regardless of attendance, and facilitators remain in session year-round outside of scheduled breaks.

This model helps us exceed the 1,000-hour annual requirement with ease, without pressure or rush.

SofCon is more than a drop-off program, it’s a living learning community, and every family plays a role in co-creating its culture. While you are not required to stay during the day, we do ask that parents remain engaged, communicative, and collaborative.

Here’s what we ask of each family:

• Contribute time or financial support:
  Each family is asked to contribute either 4–6 volunteer hours per month or participate in our sliding scale tuition model to support the sustainability of the program.
   
• Log 100 hours of at-home learning per year:
  This supports legal homeschool compliance and keeps the home-school connection strong. We provide a simple tracking template and examples of what qualifies.
   
• Stay in communication:
  Attend seasonal check-ins, keep facilitators informed about any needs or changes for your child, and respond to community updates.
   
• Model community values:
  Practice conscious communication, support a screen-light environment, and participate in conflict resolution with openness and care when needed.
   
• Honor the rhythm:
  Arrive and depart on time, communicate absences, and support your child’s consistency when possible.
   

Our facilitators hold the daily container but the energy, integrity, and magic of SofCon depend on active parent participation. When families show up with presence and intention, children thrive.

No, SofCon does not provide meals or snacks. Families are responsible for sending a packed lunch and daily snack with their child. We recommend healthy, nourishing options that support energy and focus throughout the day.

Children eat together during our communal lunch and snack breaks, and we use these times to cultivate gratitude, responsibility, and social connection. Please avoid sending sugary drinks or processed foods that may disrupt the group rhythm.

If your child has allergies or dietary needs, please let us know, we are mindful of creating a safe and inclusive food environment.