Charity L.E.A.H - Mission & Faith

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection. ~ Col. 3:14

Charity LEAH is a local homeschool support group of approximately 80 families which is located in Rochester, NY. We are a non-denominational, Christian support group, and we welcome homeschoolers of all faiths to join us. It is our desire to support, encourage, and help guide all homeschoolers that seek us out, while at the same time being living examples of the love of Jesus Christ.

Charity LEAH offers group classes which meet at Browncroft Community Church in the fall and the spring, field trips at a variety of locations, ice hockey and figure skating programs, and other special activities, along with the support and encouragement of other local homeschoolers.

Our Mission

Our Statement of Faith

Our Staff

FAQ's

Our Mission
Scripture states in Rev. 4:11 that the entire purpose of God’s creation is to bring Him pleasure. Therefore the first and most important purpose of Charity LEAH is to please Him.
     With that in mind, Charity LEAH is a Christian based homeschool support group which seeks to encourage, support, inform, and provide fellowship to area homeschooling families. Because Jesus Christ is the only living example of how to perfectly please the Father, it is the intention of Charity LEAH to fulfill its purpose in a manner consistent with the life and ministry of Jesus.
    Our secondary purpose is to be a testimony of Christ and an example of Christian homeschooling to the communities in which we live and work.
    Using Col. 3:12-17 and Eph. 5:2 as a guide, Charity LEAH will strive to practice grace, compassion, and Christian love towards its member families and the community.

Our Statement of Faith
We believe:
1. The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substituting and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
4. That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be saved.
5. That salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose substituting death on the cross paid the penalty for man's sin.
6. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
7. In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that individual doctrinal differences that may exist, outside of the aforementioned, should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.
8. That the only true basis of Christian fellowship is His agape love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.
9. That God created man and woman after His own image, and that God has ordained marriage, consisting of one man and one woman, to be the foundation of the family and to be the only legitimate and Godly expression of sexuality.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Is homeschooling legal?
A - Yes, it is legal in all 50 states. However, each state has it's own regulations that must be followed. Go to the NYS Regs section for the NY regulations, or visit HSLDA for info on any other state.

Q - What is my responsibility to the school district?
A - You are required to provide to the school district a letter of intent to homeschool, an Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) for each student, quarterly reports, and an end-of-the-year evaluation. However, many school districts ask for more than the law requires for you to provide. See the NYS Regs section to learn what is required in NY State.

Q - At what age do I have to report my child to the school district?
A - You must report in the year the child turns six; provided that birth date is before by December 1st. After Dec. 1st you wait until the following year. Also, you must continue
reporting through the year when the child turns 16.

Q - Shouldn't I report my child to the district even though he's only 5; just to prove he's had kindergarten?
A - If you report, you must follow all of the regulations, including quarterly reports and an end-of-the-year assessment. Why bother when, according to the law, you don't have to? You may advise the district that you are homeschooling, but will not be reporting until your child is 6. Rarely will a district ask for proof of kindergarten, but it's good to have some work or an end-of-the-year test available just in case. Legally though, they can't even ask for it.

Q - Can I begin homeschooling after the school year has already begun?
A - Yes, you may begin at any point during the year. You simply write your letter of intent stating that you have just decided to homeschool, and then all the normal time spans apply.
Officially, you have to notify the district within 14 days of beginning to homeschool, but it's better to notify them right away if you pull them out of public school. This is because a truant officer will be contacting you sooner than 14 days if your child is not in attendance.

Q - Can I homeschool a child with special needs?
A - Yes you can. Also, your child is still eligible for special services, such as speech, as long as the district has an IEP or specialized learning plan on file for him.

Q - What about gym class and socialization?
A - You can provide gym class on your own through normal exercise and activity. However, it's a good idea to join a local support group. In this way you can participate in group gym classes and sports, as well as field trips, spelling and geography bees, science fairs, etc. Socialization is also achieved in the group settings, or maybe your kids go to Sunday School. Hopefully, your family spends at least some time during the week interacting with other families, thereby achieving socialization through normal daily activity.