What Would it Cost to Homeschool Using a Private Teacher?

Question: My husband has been talking about homeschooling and I don't feel capable. He said that we can consider hiring a private teacher to help out, but we're not rich. I feel like this can be costly. Can you give me an idea of what it would cost to use a private teacher to homeschool? By the way, my kids are still babies, age 3 and 4.

Answer: Private tutoring can be expensive. Depending on your budget, you are going to have to teach some courses yourself, and hire teachers for others. You may want to consider taking advantage of local college kids for tutoring in some subjects, and look to join in on group classes in our area. I know people who have used all of these approaches at one time or another.

In the case of the wealthiest homeschoolers I know, mom and dad were busy running a small business empire so they hired a homeschool teacher who had her own son to come over and teach their kids. She was paid handsomely, probably more than most homeschoolers can afford, and the kids got an extra playmate. In addition to having he teach the kids, their kids were involved in other homeschool groups and activities so they had full and enriching lives. The private tutor was just used a few days a week. .

A middle class family I know decided to have a live-in nanny. This started way before they decided to homeschool. They discovered that the cost of having two kids in childcare cost more than what a live-in nanny would cost, so they hired one. Then, when they decided to homeschool, the nanny just stayed and took on the role of the homeschooling teacher. They paid her the same amount she was getting working in a daycare system, plus she also got a free private room and bathroom. The cost was approximately $350.00 a week.

In my case, I picked and chose where we would utilize a homeschool tutor. For the most part I just hired a math tutor to come in once a week, as I was very rusty with math and slowing my kids down. This cost about $140 a month for 2 hours a week math tutoring. Also, when my kids where in middle school years, I put them in hybrid homeschooling program where they went to classes one day a week for academics and brought home a ton of homework to complete. This cost about $350.00 per class, per child.

Although it was also out intention when we began homeschooling, we never did hire a full time teacher. It was just too expensive. Regardless of how many kids an educated, credentialed, teacher is instructing, she would still have to make a living wage and expect a national average of about $40,000 a year. You may also want to consider finding a homeschool family or two with whom you can split the cost of such an expense. But then you would have to find a teacher willing to teach what is essentially a one-room school house with students of different ages. It could happen.

Your very best bet at this time might be to hire a homeschool consultant. A homeschool consultant would be someone who has homeschooled for many years, and perhaps have graduated successful homeschoolers. This person could help you set up your homeschool program and be available to hold your hand when necessary. They will help you get comfortable with teaching your own small children and will advise you when and if it is time to hire a tutor or teacher. They would charge a yearly fee to mentor your ranging from $300 to $1000 a year, depending on what they offer. Some may even be able to issue you an accredited diploma when your child is done homeschooling.