In some respects today, homeschooling is finally being given its due. Homeschoolers can now qualify for a privilege that has often been withheld from them: the student discount and teacher/educator discount. More and more businesses now recognize the draw of the homeschooling market and have begun granting homeschoolers access to various discounts. However, a problem remains for some homeschoolers—how to prove our legal school status. Most of these businesses require us to conform to the educational establishment’s rules and regulations in order to receive discounts. Many homeschool groups have figured out how to “fit in”—with homeschool ID cards.

Don’t think it is cheating the system for your homeschool group to create student and teacher ID cards—you are a real educator. These businesses love to show they help education, and they also get a tax break for contributing to educational enterprises. Since most of these businesses now gladly recognize homeschooling as part of the educational establishment, you will rarely run into problems with them not accepting your status—as long as you can back it up with proof. Homeschool ID cards offer the easiest way to conveniently carry around that proof with you. No longer do you need to carry a letter from the state as proof. Your homeschool ID card can fit into your wallet just like any other card since it’s the size of a business card. You can also punch a hole in it and add a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck for visibility and easy access.

Although many more could be added, here are five major benefits of offering ID cards to your homeschool group’s members:

1 Homeschool students can receive the student rate for sports-related activities (skiing, snowboarding, etc.), conferences, museums, zoos, movies, and any other activity that requires a student ID. Some may also offer discounts on yearly membership fees to homeschool students or parents. Check under the educator’s discount section in their fee listings.

2 Parents can receive the teacher/ educator discount for school and office supplies and can get teacher discount cards that can be used for various items, depending on the participating store. Most major office supply stores have a teacher discount program, including Staples, Kinkos, CompUSA and Office Depot. You can also get discounts for craft supplies at major chains such as Wal-Mart (fabric department), AC Moore Crafts, Ben Franklin Crafts, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn Fabrics.

3 Homeschoolers can receive discounts on books. Several popular bookstores, including Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks, Borders Books, B Dalton Books, Half-Price Books, Books-A-Million, and Book Warehouse, offer homeschoolers discounts varying from 10% to 40% off. This is particularly nice since most homeschoolers are avid readers and some of these stores offer textbooks. Also, both Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video offer free rentals for movies for “classroom use.”

4 Aside from the monetary advantages, ID cards also allow homeschool groups to monitor their participants in field trips and group activities. I know of several homeschool groups that began requiring all members to wear their IDs at group functions after some former members and non-members caused trouble. These simple IDs are helping the homeschool groups protect their valuable reputation. In larger groups, having everyone wear nametags helps members get to know each better.

5 Perhaps the biggest advantage of homeschool ID cards is the software discounts they make available. Many top-selling and high priced software items are available at a fraction of the cost for educational use. In most cases, the version offered for education is fully functioning. But, typically, an educational ID is required to prove your status. Three major software suppliers, Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe, all offer homeschoolers their educational discounts. Apple even offers homeschoolers a separate store off the main “educational store” on their website, which features computers, accessories, and even iPods, as well as software, at discounted prices. Adobe offers one of its main programs, Photoshop, at a substantial discount for educators—only $299 (normally $649)—through authorized retailers. Microsoft offers its popular Office Suite for $149 (regularly $399). Many more programs are available, and most are eligible for the educational discounts.

In keeping with the educational establishment’s rules and regulations, most businesses prefer or require the IDs to have an expiration date or a “year valid” date. A select few require the IDs to include the person’s photo (such as www.journeyed.com, an online educational software company). If you go the picture ID route (a bit harder to create), you can use it as an official picture ID at places where one or more picture IDs are required. These are especially helpful for younger kids who are not old enough for driver’s licenses or permits.

There are many ways to create homeschool ID cards for your group. The easiest I’ve found is to order professional preprinted business cards with your group’s name on them from a business such as Vistaprint.com; apply a clear address label with the parent’s or student’s name and the “Valid until” date on it; and then laminate the card. Because of the process by which these are made, they look official. As mentioned above, you can also have the card hole punched in the middle to add a lanyard or clip so you can wear the ID.

If you come across a store or business that does not currently offer or publicize educational discounts, go to a store manager and ask if they will provide an educator’s discount. You can then show them your ID card as proof that you qualify for the discount.

Please note that at the time of writing, the companies listed above were still offering discounts. Be sure to check with them before deciding to buy something. Always remember, though, that not all retailers are the same and not all stores in all locations will offer the discount. If you come across a store that will not give you a discount but you have proof that their chain does offer it (such as a website printout), speak to a store manager about it. Typically you will be given the discount. Of course, please remember to be polite whether or not you receive a discount. Never be too shy to ask about a discount, though—you may help someone learn about the joy of homeschooling through your witness.

Sometimes you’ll run into a sales clerk who will question the validity of your purchases for an educational discount. This presents you with the opportunity to explain how most homeschoolers do not separate the learning and living in their lives. You can show them how normal everyday products can be used as educational tools in your homeschool. Most of the time, these clerks have never given thought to what homeschooling is or entails, so you can open their eyes and maybe even make believers out of them. As always, if the clerk still refuses the give the discount, ask for the manager and explain the reason you need the products for your homeschool.

In the past, I’ve often benefited from my homeschool group having ID cards. As a homeschool support group leader, you can help make these significant benefits available to other homeschoolers so that they can start receiving the same discounts offered to all public schoolers.

Shelley Duchemin is a homeschool graduate, wife, new mom, and small business owner. She runs a small home graphic and web design business, Purple Line Design (www.purplelinedesign.com). She offers discounted rates for homeschool groups and ministries. Please see her website for more information. For any questions regarding this article, email her at pld@purplelinedesign.com.