On Dec. 16, HomeGrown Christian Learning Center, Clarke County’s only private school, received national accreditation through Christian Schools International. The accreditation will allow families access to the Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) for the 2025-2026 school year.
With 30 spots available for the next school year, HomeGrown’s registration opens this month. With 13 students anticipated to return, the remaining 17 spots will open first to kindergarten and first-grade ages with however many spots per grade are available. Any older siblings of accepted kindergarten or first grade students will automatically be enrolled, if they so wish. Remaining open space in other grades will be announced after that time.
HomeGrown
Co-founded by sisters-in-law Jamie Porter and Alena Phillips, HomeGrown opened its doors in fall 2023 with 12 students aged 5 to 12, and Porter and Phillips as the educators. Located in the First Christian Church, HomeGrown utilizes a homeschool curriculum called My Father’s World. The curriculum provides students with a Biblical worldview, with all subject matter based around the Bible.
The homeschool curriculum also allows each student to explore their interests and meet their individual needs. HomeGrown also focuses on whole-family involvement in the education process, with learning extending beyond just what is taught in the classrooms to include family involvement at home.
“Kids are really invested in what they’re learning,” said Phillips at a community meeting in December. “[There’s] a lot of power behind the family and the school connecting and being one…this is what we’re doing, this is why.”
School day and values
In order to meet the state of Iowa’s requirements for accreditation of 1,080 hours, HomeGrown will next year operate Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; they will continue to have Fridays off as a voluntary family community-service day. HomeGrown loosely follows the Clarke school calendar, with differences seen in start and stop dates, as well as length of breaks.
Classroom sizes will remain at 10 students, with an additional teacher coming on board next year.
“Smaller class sizes are important, so those kids are getting that connection with their teacher and really have that personal relationship,” said Porter in an interview in 2023.
Having multiple grade-levels in the rooms also lends to the older kids helping teach the younger kids in various subjects, enhancing learning for all.
HomeGrown’s mission will remain the same - empowering families “to develop a love of learning that is rooted in the truth of God’s word.” Their vision to “Educate students through the truth of God’s word using a curriculum that is non denominational and biblically-centered,” “Partner with parents to assist them in taking an active role in their child’s education” and “Develop a sense of belonging by collaborating with members of the Osceola community” will also remain.
Community members will continue to be invited twice a week to talk to the students about their jobs or hobbies.
Tuition and ESA
Currently, HomeGrown’s tuition is $5,000 for the year, plus an additional $500 registration fee. ESA values in 2024-25 were $7,826, with amounts yet to be released for 2025-26. While prior income restrictions applied, the coming school year will find all Iowa residents kindergarten through twelfth graders eligible for ESA funds at an Iowa accredited school regardless of income. Families apply through the state for ESA dollars, listing HomeGrown as their school, where the funds will be sent directly.
As part of the registration process at HomeGrown, families will fill out a short application and there will be a family interview with HomeGrown’s board of directors. Families interested in learning more about HomeGrown or the registration process can look at their Facebook page, HomeGrown Christian Learning Center, for the most up-to-date information, their website: www.homegrownclc.org, or can contact Phillips directly at 515-402-6313.
HomeGrown will be on a provisional accreditation for three years, during which time extra observations and check-ins are done to make sure the school is operating at a high standard.