There are a growing number of programs for homeschoolers that are part of the government school system. This is a significant change because it's blurring the lines between homeschooling and government schooling and at the same time causing a lot of controversy within the homeschooling movement as a whole because they present us with a two-edged sword. On one side, the programs are probably providing enough resources and support to help additional families leave the educational status quo and turn to a form of homeschooling which should help many more children receive a more valuable education. On the other side, government schools aren't offering these programs out of a deep sense of altruism and sharing. Many government school homeschooling programs were created when the schools took a look at the growing number of students they were losing to homeschooling.
Lost students mean lost revenue.
By encouraging homeschoolers to use their programs, these schools can keep up their enrollment numbers and continue receiving federal and state funding based on attendance. By taking the funds, these programs, and therefore those families using them, remain beholden to whatever rules are attached to the funds which, in the bigger picture, erode some of the freedoms of choice, resources, and approaches so vital to homeschooling's existence and success. Folks can watch the newspaper for ads or community announcements, ask at the library, watch for notices on community bulletin boards, talk with friends and neighbors, or even look in the phone book in metropolitan areas. But, this is the type of information that local homeschool support groups do best. You also reap the benefit of experience from those who may have already participated and get a good assessment of various programs.