Joplin Public Library’s mission is to open tomorrow’s doors today by providing for the educational and informational needs of all patrons. We know that school and learning look different for every family. Regardless of whether that learning takes place at home in a homeschool setting, at home with virtual learning, or in person at a school site, we want to help you navigate this process!

This webpage includes legal information, state standards, curriculum, networking information, and other virtual educational resources.

SOCIALIZATION/NETWORKING

• Joplin Area Homeschoolers Group (Facebook)
• Classical Conversations Community Search
• Homeschoolers’ Network
• Families for Home Education: Statewide home school organization in Missouri featuring virtual and in-person informational sessions, legal resources, and more

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES

• Help bring history to life with our Living History book list, a collection of exciting nonfiction history titles for grades 3-7
• Find more online and virtual library resources here.

Legal

Homeschool laws by state, according to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

• Missouri
• Arkansas
• Kansas
• Oklahoma

State Standards

• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) — Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program (MOCAP)   Information and standards for Missouri’s statewide virtual school program.
• DESE — Show-Me Standards  Brief document outlining Missouri’s overall educational standards and goals for students.
• DESE — Missouri Learning Standards  Breaks down Missouri’s educational standards by grade and subject.
• DESE — Missouri Learning Standards-For Parents  Provides a video, FAQs, and other information about state learning standards packaged for parents and guardians.
• Oklahoma State Department of Education — Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS)  General information about Oklahoma state standards plus a breakdown of standards by subject, including OAS Employability Skills.
• Kansas State Department of Education — Curricular Standards   The state’s curricular standards divided by subject and links to detailed competencies for each content area.

LOCAL DISTRICT VIRTUAL INFORMATION

JOPLIN SCHOOLS

• Joplin Public Schools Online and Alternative School   Links to the official website for district-sponsored online learning.
• Joplin Schools Online and Alternative School — Facebook  Links to the official Facebook page for district-sponsored online learning.  The Facebook page is very active and offers the most recent updates.

MISSOURI VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM

• MOCAP  This is the official page for Missouri’s virtual school program.

KANSAS

• Kansas Department of Education — Virtual Learning   Main page for virtual learning information from the Kansas Department of Education; includes links to content area educational standards.

OKLAHOMA

•  Oklahoma State Department of Education — Home School  General information from the state plus resources from the state’s Office of Instruction listed by content area.