About WACHE
Welcome! WACHE — the Westside Association of Christian Home Educators — is a 501(c)(3) non-profit homeschool community serving families in the greater Fort Worth area.
We exist to encourage and support Christian families who have chosen to educate their children at home. We do that through year-round field trips, parties, retreats, service opportunities, and our weekly co-op classes (WACHE School).
WACHE vs. WACHE School — what's the difference?
WACHE is our main organization. Membership gives your family access to all of our events, field trips, and activities throughout the year, as well as our member website and private Facebook group.
WACHE School is our weekly Monday co-op for K–12 students — a benefit your family can opt into as a Level 2 member. See the Membership Levels tab for details.
Where we meet: Greater Fort Worth, Texas.
How long we've been around: Decades of serving Westside homeschool families since the 1980's.
What We Believe
WACHE is a Christian organization. Membership is open to families who affirm the following Confession of Faith:
- The Bible is the only verbally inspired and infallible authoritative Word of God, inerrant in the original copy.
- God is three persons in one — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is co-equal and co-eternal.
- Jesus Christ is fully God and man who was born of a virgin, led a sinless life, died vicariously on the cross as a substitute for sinful men, rose bodily from the grave, now reigns with the Father, and will return visibly and personally to the earth both in salvation and judgment.
- We are all born with a sinful nature that brings with it a penalty of death. Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior.
View Confession of Faith with Scripture references
- The Bible is the only verbally inspired and infallible authoritative Word of God, inerrant in the original copy. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20–21)
- God is three persons in one — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is co-equal and co-eternal. (I John 5:7)
- Jesus Christ is fully God and man (John 1:1, 14) who was:
- Born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18)
- Led a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15)
- Died vicariously on the cross as a substitute for sinful men (Hebrews 9:15)
- Rose bodily from the grave (Matthew 28:1–7; Acts 2:24)
- Now reigns with the Father (Acts 2:33; Hebrews 10:12)
- Will return visibly and personally to the earth both in salvation and judgment (Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28)
- We are all born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12) that brings with it a penalty of death (Romans 6:23). Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior. (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8–10)
By applying for membership, families confirm that they agree with this Confession of Faith and the Statement of Principles below, and will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with both during all WACHE activities.
Statement of Principles
These principles guide our organization and are affirmed by all members upon application.
The Family
We believe the family is the basic governmental, social, and spiritual unit created by God. In the family, the child learns self-government and social relationships, and develops a relationship with God (Ephesians 6:1–3; Colossians 3:20). The family also provides protection from over-extensive government and over-stimulating social involvements. We understand family to mean one male and one female parent with one or more children, all related by the institution of marriage, though we realize the exception of a single parent (Genesis 2:24).
Marriage, Sexuality & Gender
We reject homosexual marriages or homosexual orientation because it is contrary to the Scriptures and the intentions of God in creation (Romans 1:18–32). We also reject transitory, co-habitational relationships (I Corinthians 5:9–11). We believe these relationships to be in violation of God’s laws and incapable of providing the long-term nurture and instruction needed by children and commanded by God (Proverbs 1:8–9; Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4).
We believe that any form of sexual immorality — such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s born sex (also referred to as transgenderism) — is sinful and offensive to God. We affirm that divinely ordained differences between male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and flourishing. We deny that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption. All persons volunteering, teaching, or associated with WACHE in any capacity are expected to agree with and affirm these statements.
Parental Rights & Responsibility in Education
We believe the ultimate responsibility for the education of children belongs to the parents (Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:1–25; Ephesians 6:4). This is an inalienable right given by God, which the State can neither create, destroy, nor alter. Parents may allow another to teach some of the cognitive information that children need to know, but all education must be under the control and supervision of the parents (II Timothy 2:15). We believe education in the home to be the best form of education, but we recognize that many parents cannot educate at home for valid reasons, and we support the right of parents to educate their children as they are led by God.
Nature of Education
We believe that all education is religious in nature in that the instructor’s worldview is inevitably communicated, either overtly or inconspicuously, through the process of instruction (Proverbs 2:1–8, 3:1–2, 6:20–23; Matthew 28:18–20). Every discipline of knowledge will have, as its final reference point, a theistic or humanistic view of reality (Colossians 1:15–20, 2:8–15); therefore, there is no religiously neutral academic discipline. We believe that all social, physical, and cognitive knowledge should have as its beginning the fear of God, and as its end the Glory of God (Proverbs 1:7; Romans 11:33–36).
Rejection of Secular Humanism
We reject and oppose the anti-Christian tenets of secular humanism. These include the general theory of evolution, one-world government, government-mandated sex education, government-mandated parenting courses, modern feminist ideology, and abortion (II John 9–11; II Corinthians 6:14).
Membership Levels
WACHE offers two levels of membership so your family can participate at the level that fits you best.
Level 1 — Community Membership
$60 / family / year
Full access to the WACHE community and all of our year-round activities.
- Field trips (2+ per month during the school year)
- Parties, retreats, and family events
- Park days, Mom's Night Out, teen events
- Curriculum sales, graduation ceremonies
- Member directory and online calendar
- $20 discount on THSC membership
Level 2 — Community + WACHE School
$60 / year + co-op fees
Everything in Level 1, plus the opportunity to register your students for WACHE School co-op classes.
- Everything in Level 1
- Weekly Monday co-op classes (K–12)
- Core academic, enrichment & elective options
- IMPACT high school drop-off option (grades 9–12)
- Theater Teen Troupe
Pricing summary
- $60 / family / year — annual WACHE membership ($50 organization + $10 website fee)
- $30 / student / semester — WACHE School registration (Level 2 only)
- $10 / family / semester — Operations fee (Level 2 only)
- $100 / semester — IMPACT high school drop-off (optional)
- $11.95 / adult — Background check (every 3 years, paid directly to VeriFYI)
- Class fees vary by class.
WACHE School — Our Weekly Co-op
WACHE School is our parent-led co-op for K–12 students, meeting Mondays from 9:00 AM to 2:15 PM during the school year (12 weeks fall + 12 weeks spring).
How it works
WACHE School is designed as a one-day-per-week enhancement for your homeschool. We are not a drop-off program for elementary or middle school grades — parents teach, assist, and serve alongside their students for every hour their family attends. (See the IMPACT Program below for the high-school drop-off option.)
What we offer
- Core academic classes — Math, Sciences, History, Writing (IEW), Literature, Bible — graded and transcript-eligible, with stronger academic emphasis for grades 9–12.
- Enrichment & Electives — Music, Choir, Art, Theater, Cooking, Photography, Yearbook, P.E. (offerings vary by semester).
- WACHE Theater Teen Troupe — drama and tech classes with bi-annual productions.
Parental involvement
Every WACHE School family contributes by teaching, assisting in classrooms, or filling other volunteer roles for each hour their family is on campus. Teaching is welcomed but not required.
Registration & attendance
Class enrollment is based on availability and a priority registration system that rewards attendance and service. Consistent attendance gives your family the best registration priority for the following semester. See full details →
IMPACT — high school drop-off option
Learn more about IMPACT →
Membership Requirements
WACHE membership comes with a few important commitments that protect our community and our families. Please read these before applying.
Qualifications
- A homeschool student is defined as a child educated at home at least 51% of the time.
- WACHE serves families with children from birth through 12th grade.
- Students over 18 in a "bonus" or "super senior" year are limited to one year, must not have participated in commencement, and (if over 18) require a background check.
- The WACHE school year runs September 1 through May 31.
- Families must agree with the WACHE Statement of Faith.
Background Checks
For the safety of our children, every adult in a member household must complete a background check through our partner VeriFYI:
- $11.95 per adult, paid directly to VeriFYI (not to WACHE).
- Required once every 3 years for active members.
- If your membership lapses and you rejoin later, a new background check is required.
Membership Dues
Membership dues are non-refundable and are not prorated if a family joins mid-year.
Conduct & Community Standards
- Attendance & involvement — members are expected to participate actively in the WACHE community.
- Demeanor — conduct yourself, your children, and your guests in a manner consistent with our Statement of Faith. WACHE has a zero-tolerance policy on bullying.
- Visitors — visitor policies apply for non-member friends and family at WACHE events.
- Conflict resolution — concerns are addressed first directly, then with the Board if needed (Matthew 18 model).
- Cessation of membership — the Board reserves the right to revoke membership when standards are not upheld.
How to Join WACHE
Ready to apply? Follow these six steps. The full process typically takes a few weeks.
- Read & agree. Review What We Believe and Membership Requirements. Make sure your family agrees with both before applying.
- Submit the membership application below. Use an email address you actually check often. Be sure to mark whether you want a Level 1 or Level 2 membership.
- Board review. The WACHE Board reviews your application and checks any necessary references. Our Membership Director will email you when your application is pre-approved (pending background check).
- Background checks. Each adult in your household receives an email from VeriFYI with a link to complete a background check. The fee is $11.95 per adult, paid directly to VeriFYI.
- Approval. Once a clear background check is received, the Membership Director emails you confirming your membership is approved.
- Pay your dues. Submit your $60 annual membership fee via PayPal to complete the process. Your family is now a WACHE member!
Apply now
Complete the application below to begin the process:
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. For the full FAQ list, see the complete FAQ page →
What's the difference between WACHE and WACHE School?
WACHE is the umbrella homeschool organization — events, field trips, parties, community. WACHE School is our weekly Monday co-op for K–12, which Level 2 members can register for as a benefit of membership.
How long does it take to become a member?
Plan on a few weeks from application to approval. The board needs to review your application, references must be checked, and background checks have to come back clear before membership is finalized.
How much does it cost?
$60 / family / year covers WACHE membership ($50 organization + $10 website). Background checks are $11.95 per adult every 3 years (paid directly to VeriFYI). WACHE School (Level 2) adds $30/student/semester registration plus a $10/family/semester operations fee, plus individual class fees.
Do I have to teach a class?
No — teaching is welcomed but not required. Every WACHE School family does need to participate by teaching, assisting in classrooms, or filling other volunteer roles for each hour their family is on campus.
Is WACHE accredited?
WACHE is not an accredited school. We are a volunteer-led homeschool co-op that supplements the education families do at home. Parents remain the legal teacher of record for their students.
What grades do you serve?
WACHE serves families with children from birth through 12th grade. Our co-op classes run K–12. Nursery and pre-K care are available only for families that also have a K-and-up student attending.
Can my high schooler be dropped off?
Yes — through our IMPACT program for grades 9–12 (minimum age 14). $100/semester in addition to standard fees, with required paperwork. Learn more about IMPACT →
Do you offer HSLDA / THSC discounts?
WACHE is a registered THSC member organization — our members receive $20 off THSC membership. Members can contact the Board for the discount code after joining.