FAQs

FAQ

What is Cornerstone Cooperative?

We are a volunteer-run homeschooling group that offers a yearly cooperative membership to the greater East Tennessee homeschool community. We provide opportunities for homeschoolers in our area to participate in weekly co-op days that include both academic and enrichment class offerings, as well as activities, field trips, dances, and events for moms and families along with online support and connection. Cornerstone Cooperative is designed to enrich your homeschooling, not replace your homeschooling at home.

What is a "co-op"?

Co-op is short for cooperative, where people work together towards a common goal. Cornerstone parents pool our talents and time to provide an opportunity for our children to be with peers, whether it be on co-op meeting days or at other events scheduled throughout the year. We work together to emphasize fellowship, discipleship, and support within our community.

On class days, every family is expected to participate and fill a role within our cooperative, whether it’s teaching or helping out in the nursery, security and hall monitoring, assisting with morning set-up, or clean-up at the end of the day. We strive to place a parent in an area based on their gifts and/or children’s needs; however, there are no guarantees, and we ask each parent to have a servant’s heart as we work together for the greater good of our community.

Where, what time, and which day does Cornerstone meet?

Cornerstone Cooperative meets in Maryville and Seymour, TN. Classes are held weekly on Mondays (Seymour) and Tuesdays (Maryville). Our schedule is as follows:

Chapel - 9:30am to 9:55am

First Hour - 10am to 10:50am

Second Hour - 11:00am to 11:50am

Lunch - 11:50 to 12:30pm

Third Hour - 12:30pm to 1:20pm

Fourth Hour - 1:30pm to 2:20pm

Q:	Is there a time we could observe a class to get a feel for how the group works?
A:	Because we have so few spots available, we have limited our Visitation Days to those who have applied. If you are serious about joining and wish to visit, please fill out an application and we will reach out to you.

What Does Cornerstone Cooperative Offer for Families?

Fall and Spring Kick-Off Events
Weekly Co-Op days
Strong academic classes as well as fun enrichment classes
Field trips (oftentimes at a discounted group rate)
Mom’s Night Out (any member can host one at their home or restaurant)
Social gatherings
Academic events (some ideas listed below)
Park Days
Service Projects
Spring Used Curriculum sale
Homeschooling workshops and seminars
Holiday Celebrations
Yearbook
New Member Brunch
Dances, including Formals for high schoolers and a Father-Daughter dance for all ages
Coordinated events for middle schoolers
Coordinated events for high schoolers
Membership cards to use for area discounts
Online forum and facebook group for support and encouragement
New homeschooler support
Social events for the whole family - picnics, holiday parties, etc.
Free listing on our website for any businesses that are owned by homeschool families
Opportunity to participate in assisting other homeschool families with temporary homeschooling help, physical needs, and prayer support
Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) discount
Teach Them Diligently homeschool convention discount

What is Chapel all about?

Because we desire to give God our first fruits in all we do, we meet together to worship, pray, and share a devotional before we begin our class day. This is also where we will share any necessary announcements for the day. Please note that Chapel is an integral part of our community and our co-op days. Chapel is not optional, and we request that families make every effort to be present and seated by 9:30am so that our worship and devotion time is uninterrupted and no important announcements are missed.

We are thrilled to be led in worship by many of our students at both campuses. If your child sings or plays an instrument and would like to use these talents to worship the Lord and bless our community, please let us know.

What type of classes are offered at Cornerstone?

We are pleased to offer classes for every age range through graduation! Our offerings include electives as well as academic classes to supplement already-established homeschool curricula that our members use at home, and they vary each semester based on demand and what parents want to teach. In general, we seek to offer a wide variety of academic and enrichment classes to fit the needs and desires of our membership.

Class offerings for each semester will come out before registration in December and April. Some classes are year long and some only run one semester at a time, but no class is guaranteed to repeat every semester as needs are always changing. To see a current schedule of this semester’s classes, click HERE.

Q:	What are the eligibility requirements for class days?
A:	Families must have at least one child who is at least five years old when classes begin. Full day and year-long (fall and spring semester) participation is required.

What will be required of me on class days?

Cornerstone Cooperative is a service oriented co-op where we all work together to make it run smoothly. It is our prayer that we all will have a servant attitude and view this co-op as an opportunity to serve one another. Our parents teach classes, assist in classes, help plan social activities, and assist with set up and clean up, etc. Many hands make light work, so the load is not overwhelming. And the regular fellowship with one another is a blessing!

Families are required to arrive on time to begin our day together at Chapel. Any more than 3 tardies to chapel will result in delayed signups for the following semester.

Parents participating in our class days are required to serve 3 service positions throughout the day. These positions include teaching, assisting a teacher, hall monitor, security, nursery, float, setup and cleanup. Moms of infants 4 months our younger are exempted from serving. Moms of infants 4 months - 1 year are asked to serve 2 hall monitor positions.

Do I have to stay with my child at the co-op, or can I leave?

Because the heart of our co-op is community focused, Cornerstone’s class days are not meant to be a school or a drop-off. One parent or legal guardian is expected to stay on site for the entire day, and after participating in Chapel with their child(ren), will either teach, assist, or fill a service position 3 out of 4 hours of classes. Our goal is that each parent will get one hour off each day to either rest, have some alone time, or fellowship with other parents who are off that same hour.

What is the Dress Code?

Our dress code is intended as a guideline in assisting children in developing a Christ-centered attitude toward their outer appearance, and a maturing view toward the appropriateness of certain attire for certain occasions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of acceptable and unacceptable attire. It is not meant to take the place of parental rules, which may be more or less restrictive than those set down here. Nor is it meant to relieve the student of the opportunity to grow in personal responsibility for his or her own appearance.

We need parental help to maintain modest dress not only during co-op days, but also at all Cornerstone events. Please read and address these standards with your child. Violations may require parents to take the child home to find appropriate clothing.

The Cornerstone Board reserves the right to make the final decisions concerning compliance with the standards.

Our desire is that the students would dress in such a way as to please the Lord. Our outward appearance is to be a constant reminder to those around us of our desire to honor God.

General Standards for ALL Co-Op members:

You should dress and groom yourself in a manner that is neat, modest, and respectful to yourself and the other members of the co-op.
You should not wear any clothing that display messages inconsistent with the Christian lifestyle.
All clothes must be free of questionable language and phrases, and include no derogatory statements about people groups.
Garments that are semi-transparent or “see-through”, are not permitted.
Clothing that is “shredded” to look ripped or torn should not expose skin. Tears or rips higher than 4” above the knee must be worn with a layer of fabric underneath so that no skin shows.
Low necklines showing cleavage, bare back/midriffs, or tops that show bare midsection are not permitted. Tank tops that are not "spaghetti strap" are permitted provided they are modest.
Undergarments should not be seen at any time.
Leggings that are skin-tight, particularly for teen ladies and moms, are not permitted unless a dress or shirt completely covers your backside.
No dresses (without leggings) or shorts should be worn that are not above 4" above the knee.

Q:	What if I go out of town or have an appointment?
A:	Our co-op runs most smoothly when everyone is present, so we ask that you schedule other activities around class days whenever possible. However, since some absences cannot be avoided, we do allow 3 excused absences per semester. More than 3 absences will result in delayed class sign-ups for your family.

Q:	How are teachers selected?
A:	Most teachers at Cornerstone are parents of children attending co-op. Occasionally, an outside teacher, generally known by one of the families, may teach a class or multiple classes based on particular background or ability.

How big are classes?

Typically, classes are maxed at the following:

-Preschool: 8

-K-2nd: 10

3rd-5th: 12

Middle & High School: 15

When do I register for classes?

Class registration typically takes place during the months of April and December, and registration occurs through the website only, so you must have online access in order to complete the registration process. The exact day and time for registration will be sent out through emails and listed on the website calendar. It is your responsibility to ask any questions before registration opens. Classes usually fill up quickly, so please be aware that registration occurs on a first-come, first-served basis. Semester fees must be paid by the deadline to register.

Can I choose just one or two classes for my child to attend, or do I need to register for all four hours?

Due to parental participation and our commitment to quality classes, we require that you attend all 4 hours of co-op. There is a lot of time and energy that goes on behind the scenes of co-op to ensure its success and we value the community that comes with a full day commitment. For middle and high school ages, you may choose to take advantage of a Study Hall hour if your child needs that for an hour.

If your family attends full days at one location and your driving high-schooler needs a class at the other location, you may take advantage of attending only the needed class/es at the second location.

Q:	Should I register my unborn baby?
A:	Congratulations on a new life joining your world! Yes, please register your baby. You must register all children in your home, including babies who will be born and who will need a slot in the nursery during the co-op year.

What do you do to ensure safety during co-op meeting days?

We make every effort to ensure that our campuses are safe on co-op days. We utilize a group of moms and/or dads who serve on our security team. These parents are security trained and watch over the campus to alert the board of any concerns. All parents and students of Cornerstone Co-Op will be issued a lanyard which must be worn during class days.

We have an evacuation plan on file for each location.

Do you accommodate children with special needs or learning differences?

The terms “special needs” and “learning differences” cover a vast array of diagnoses. Children with special needs may have mild learning differences or profound mental challenges; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems. Because most parent-teachers are not equipped to teach or maintain discipline in classrooms containing children with severe learning differences, please prayerfully consider if Cornerstone is right for your special needs child before applying. Depending on the parent, teacher, and the Board’s assessment of a child’s ability to participate in classes with minimal disruption to the learning process, we may not be able to acommodate these needs.

My child is very interested in one of the High School classes but is not yet in High School, can he/she sign up?

We generally require students to be in the age/grade range listed for a particular class for many reasons. Most of our classes are limited by the space of the rooms and by the abilities of the teachers who may be equipped to handle only a certain age-range with an expected maturity level. For many courses, particularly those offering credit hours to high school students, separation by age is necessary based on the skills required; after all, we want upper-level courses to be challenging for high school students trying to earn high school credit. As a result, sometimes the skills required for a class outweigh the student’s interest in that class.

Additionally, when a student is far advanced in academics but young in age and maturity, he or she may not “fit” in most high school courses. An older student can effectively sit in on a class meant for a slightly younger age group, but a younger student may not work out as well in a class intended for older students. While accelerated learners may have an advantage in academics, they usually have not achieved the maturity to match. Even though they can handle Algebra and read high school literature, they would not be able to discuss many of the broader topics that the other high school students are interested in discussing and studying.

Furthermore, although accelerated learners may be intellectual equals of the teens, they are not equipped emotionally, physically, or in any other way to participate in the teens’ social events, and one of the benefits of being a member of Cornerstone is making friends and developing a social life. Fellow classmates, who would be so much older and more mature, may not accept them as equals or friends. In other words, their emotional/philosophical level is still in elementary school, where their age places them. For their self-esteem alone, it would be better for them to be with peers closer to their age.

Q:	What are the fees for classes and how will I pay for them?
A:	Class payments are to be made directly to the teachers no later than the first day of classes, unless otherwise specified by a teacher. Your child’s teacher will communicate how he or she prefers payment.

Can I get a refund on classes once I’ve registered?

Your class fee is generally non-refundable once you have taken a spot in our classes, so please carefully consider your decision before registering for a class.

As homeschoolers, we enjoy a great deal of flexibility with our students’ educational plans, and we understand that situations in life often change. However, please understand that Cornerstone, as well as each instructor, invests a great deal of time and resources into planning for the co-op and classes. When you enroll in a class, you are making a financial commitment to Cornerstone, and that commitment is binding. The instructors at Cornerstone rely on those commitments to budget and purchase class materials, etc.; additionally, signing up for a class and then deciding not to enroll in it may prevent others who truly want that class from being able to participate. Therefore, we ask that you make careful consideration of all your family’s and student’s commitments, classes elsewhere, sports, etc., as you sign up for classes.

Q:	Are background checks required for teachers and parents?
A:	Yes, all teachers have a background check, and the main parent/legal guardian of students attending Cornerstone must also have a background check. Because a parent or guardian is required to stay on campus during Cornerstone hours, we want to do all that we can to ensure the safety of each child and family who is on campus.

What do families do with younger children during co-op meeting days?

We encourage parents of young children to put them in age appropriate classes. If participation isn't age-appropriate or would cause a disruption to the class, then we ask that the child stay in the nursery where their needs can be met in fun and age-appropriate ways. Generally, the nursery is intended for children 2 and under and preschool classes are for children ages 3-5 (preschoolers must be potty trained).

What do the membership and semester fees cover?

Your membership fee covers insurance fees and website fees as Cornerstone is billed per family by the administrator of the site. Additionally, your semester fees covers expenses such as office supplies, whiteboards, bank fees, etc., as well as the facility usage fee to our host church as they generously open their doors to us each week, provide us with space, allow us to use their sanctuary for Chapel, and host various events. We are so grateful to our host churches for making their beautiful facilities available to us!

Q:	Is there a co-op orientation?
A:	Yes, each fall we will have a co-op orientation at our host churches. Attendance is mandatory for orientation as it guarantees that all participants are aware of the facility guidelines and rules set forth by Cornerstone and its host churches. It is also an opportunity for students and teachers to meet and become acquainted with the layout of the facility.

How long is Cornerstone's membership committment?

When applying for membership to Cornerstone Cooperative, you are applying for a year-long commitment to the upcoming school year. Upon acceptance into the co-op, you may remain a member as long as you are in good standing.

Our members have the option to continue with us at the end of every school year, and we are pleased to report that we have very little turnover. Should you choose to leave after fulfilling your commitment, know that you will have to reapply and wait until there is space to return.