If you are a homeschooling family, you may be worried about what your options are when moving to Okinawa. However, homeschooling in Okinawa is really quite simple. There are no requirements, guidelines or oversight in order to homeschool here. In fact, there are a ton of resources available to you if you are homeschooling in Okinawa.

Homeschooling in Okinawa can be great. It is an alternative from the DODEA school system, which many children struggle with because the open-concept classrooms. Okinawa and the surrounding areas are so rich with culture and history that you will have so much to learn about and explore. And since we are directly on the water, you will be able to have wonderful interactions with nature.

What are the options for homeschooling in Okinawa?

There are quite a few resources for homeschooling in Okinawa. The homeschooling community is quite large here, so you won’t have trouble finding homeschooling activities for your children. There are also quite a few resources and activities on the different base installations that homeschooling families can utilize.

One huge plus for homeschooling families is that you can dual-enroll courses with DODEA schools at the high school level. You can contact Emiko.Kina@dodea.edu to find out more about dual-enrollment options (as of 2024).

The DODEA schools offer homeschool families the option to utilize school libraries, clubs, tutoring, classes, and sports as they wish. You do not need to provide school transcripts. You simply prove your residence and military affiliation along with birth certificate. You can choose which classes and activities you would like to participate/no pressure and parents’ choice (band, sports, math, culinary, photography, JROTC, etc). This is a great way to get your kids involved in some of the higher level classes and group sports activities that may not be available to them without utilizing dual-enrollment.

There are homeschooling activities outside the schools as well, and some are specifically catered to homeschooling families. The base libraries host homeschool classes such as Oki-STEM, writing clubs, sewing, art, and acting. The Kadena Arts and Crafts center offers classes as well, such as culinary arts, crafts like dragon boat oar painting, crocheting, and much more!

Resources for Homeschooling in Okinawa

Here are some groups and Facebook pages you might want to utilize:

Okinawa FISH Homeschool Co-Op – Okinawa FISH meets Fridays at the Foster Chapel from 8:15-12:15. Elementary classes rotate through specials- Art, STEM, Japanese, and alternate weeks with a guest Life Skills class. They also host playdates, field trips, cooking classes, community outreach, mom outings, and more. There is a middle school program and a HS program that is all-inclusive (writing, history, art).

Okinawa Christian Home Educators Association– Minimum semester fee $20 per family. They offer various science/history/Lego/ fairs, holiday parties, cooking classes, play dates, and gatherings. No obligation; sign up as you wish. This is not a co-op; just additional organized social classes and gatherings.

Okinawa Homeschool Group– different event opportunities and resources for homeschooling families in Okinawa.

There are plenty of homeschooling resources here on Okinawa, and many homeschooling families love it here because of all the different opportunities for learning that the area provides — not only with other homeschooling families but also on base resources and off-base learning opportunities.

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If you are new to homeschooling, that is ok, too! Many families opt to start homeschooling here because of the rich cultural experiences and because of the vast opportunities for learning. Some of the above mentioned Facebook groups can help you decide on curriculum to use and ways to schedule your homeschooling days if you need some help in getting started.

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