1980s

The modern Christian Homeschooling movement began in the seventies, but really took root in the eighties when Dr. James Dobson began to champion the idea on his radio program.

1983

Two attorneys, Mike Farris and Mike Smith, formed the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) to fight for parental rights to homeschool.

1986

A group of Christian homeschooling parents formed a support group named Lancaster County Home Education Association, L’CHEA. They held the first annual homeschool convention at the Farm and Home Center with just a few vendors

1988

In the eighties the legal situation in Pennsylvania was unclear. In 1988, HSLDA succeeded in having the Pennsylvania Homeschool law ruled unconstitutional. After this, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a law in 1988 making homeschooling an

1993

In what was a giant leap of faith, the convention was moved to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Since going to the Farm Show Complex, the CHAP convention has become one of the largest

1994

By this time, the reach of L’CHEA grew well beyond Lancaster County, and a change was in order. In an effort to better describe its mission, L’CHEA changed its name in 1994 to the Christian

2000

CHAP founded a program called CHAP Home Educators Lobbying Program (CHAP HELP) to help educate legislators about homeschooling.

Today

CHAP’s annual convention has thousands of attendees and serves families all over Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

CHAP’s Activities

Convention

Held annually in early June at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA, the CHAP Homeschool Convention serves to promote excellence in homeschooling.

Resources

CHAP has compiled a variety of resources for the benefit of homeschooling families in Pennsylvania.

Government

CHAP has been working in the political arena since 1987, lobbying for significant changes to Pennsylvania homeschool law in 1988 and 2014.

CHAP continues to to work on improving the homeschool law in PA.

In 2000, CHAP founded a program called CHAP Home Educators Lobbying Program (CHAP HELP) to help educate legislators about homeschooling.

Affiliations

CHAP has also been involved at the national level.

  • CHAP representatives have participated in the Home School Legal Defense Association’s (HSLDA) federal lobbying program.
  • CHAP board members have consistently attended the National Center for Home Education (NCHE) and the Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership’s (formerly The Teaching Home Magazine’s) national conferences.
  • CHAP board members also have spoken at local, state and national meetings on home education topics.

Support Group Events

CHAP works with Homeschool Support Groups throughout the state by providing resources, speakers and individual workshops to assist and encourage homeschool families.

Event Displays

CHAP attends and exhibits at a variety of events with the goal of promoting homeschooling, distributing materials, and initiating discussion about the benefits of homeschooling.