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Home Education: An Excellent Choice

PRESS RELEASE                                 
May 15, 2008                                                        
Subject: HEAV State Convention

Contact:
Anne Miller (President); 757-253-2518; president@heav.org
Yvonne Bunn (Director of Homeschool Support); 804-278-9200; ybunn@heav.org

Homeschool Convention Offers Support and Training to Thousands of Families
 
Families from all over the state travel to Richmond to get homeschooling support and to learn practical skills like filmmaking and living comfortably on a shoestring budget.

An estimated 9,500 are expected to gather at the Greater Richmond Convention Center during the course of the 25th Annual Home Educator's Association of Virginia (HEAV) State Convention and Educational Fairs on June 5, 6, and 7, 2008. Children, parents, and grandparents from all over Virginia and the surrounding states, as well as exhibitors and speakers from across the nation, will be in attendance. Most of these families will be homeschool families; others will be educationally minded parents interested in exploring alternate educational options or in learning how to better manage their money in an unstable economic environment. 

As one of the biggest homeschool gatherings in the country-and the largest in Virginia-the HEAV convention offers families practical support and encouragement. Also offered is the largest homeschool graduation ceremony in the country-this year with 177 graduates.

Workshops this year include:

  • A Financial Literacy & Economics Track with New York Times best-selling authors and 21-year homeschool veterans Steve and Annette Economides,
  • Sessions from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University,
  • A Film and Culture Track,
  • A Dad's Track,
  • A Struggling-Learner Track,
  • A 25th Anniversary Track and Celebration, and
  • Four free how-to-begin homeschooling sessions that include information on Virginia's legal requirements and how to choose curricula. 

The convention also offers a 67,500 square-foot exhibit hall with 295+ booths of exceptional materials making it one of the largest exhibitions of books, curricula, and educational resources in the country. A used curriculum sale will have an expected 40,000+ items-all no longer needed by the homeschool families who bring them to sell or give away.

"This year's convention will answer questions and offer hope and inspiration to thousands of moms and dads," says Anne Miller, HEAV president and homeschool mom of eight. "Parents can get their homeschooling questions answered, as well as learn how to stretch their hard-earned dollars. They can bring their teens to learn about filmmaking, book writing, financial literacy, and more. We have something for the whole family including an all-new children's program featuring skits, stories, songs, crafts, and activities." 

As an added bonus this year, HEAV is offering all registered attendees a free CD with more than $200 worth of materials including notebooking pages, e-books, audiobooks, MP3s, and more.

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The Home Educators Association of Virginia strengthens and empowers the more than 23,000 homeschoolers throughout the Commonwealth. HEAV, a statewide, member-supported, non-profit association, has served Virginia homeschoolers through information, legislation, and resources for the past 25 years. Media personnel can learn more by visiting www.heav.org/media.