AQED is an association that exists because of, and thanks to, its members. By joining our dynamic and engaged community, you gain access to several exclusive and valuable member benefits and services, available in the Member area.
The world of education is constantly evolving. It is sometimes difficult to keep up with the latest changes or important news. To make sure you don't miss anything, check out the updates that AQED provides to keep its members informed at all times.
Inevitably, when embarking on the adventure that is homeschooling, you will have a lot of questions. This FAQ provides answers that address the real circumstances of association members, in greater depth than the information found in the FAQs in the public support section.
To enrich the experience of its members, AQED offers several support options that meet a wide range of needs. Our experienced volunteers are available to answer your questions, whether by email, telephone or through our members-only Facebook group.
With AQED members located throughout Quebec, regional representatives offer assistance and guidance in several regions of the province. Also, in the Member area, you will find a list of community centres.
In addition to this exclusive content, AQED members have privileged access to the members-only AQED Facebook group.
The decision to do homeschooling involves submitting a fair amount of documentation. A number of resource documents are available to members to help them prepare this documentation.
These include additional examples of learning plans and reports, documents grouping ministerial educational competencies according to the compulsory subjects and end-of-cycle expectations for those competencies, a sample letter for evaluations by a certified teacher, and much more.
It can sometimes be difficult to navigate through the abundance of educational resources that are available. To help members, AQED provides suggestions for books, blogs and Facebook pages that may be useful.
Similarly, as there are many types of pedagogical approaches possible and understanding the differences between them can be difficult, there are descriptions of the main educational approaches chosen by homeschooling families.
AQED has negotiated various discounts for its members with several companies and publishers offering educational products or services.
AQED members also get a reduced price on services offered by the association, such as teacher evaluation services. Discounts are also available on the ticket price for admission to AQED conferences – inspiring conferences that bring together homeschooling parents and experts in education and other areas. An archive of recorded presentations is available for members to view.
These conferences are also the occasion on which the association’s annual general meetings are held, where the board of directors is elected and key decisions are made.
Members receive a subscription to AQED's Portfolio magazine, as well as access to back issues. The magazine contains articles on all aspects of homeschooling in Quebec, opinions from experts and parents, explanations of different educational approaches, presentations on support groups, teaching tips, sections on legal aspects, and news from the association. It is THE magazine for Quebecers who practice homeschooling.
Members also receive AQED’s regular email newsletter, which contains the latest news, updates from the Board of Directors and information on AQED activities (events, discounts, meetings with MNAs, media appearances, etc.). Special issues are published in addition to the regular send-outs when there is a topic that needs to be dealt with in depth.
AQED lawyers offer the most affordable and adapted legal support in Quebec. A paralegal expert and experienced volunteers are also available to support you, if needed, in your dealings with your school board, youth centres or in court. Certain conditions apply.
All of the official documents of AQED can be found in the Member area, including the roles of the Board of Directors, the association’s official by-laws and its annual reports. Important policies, briefs and other documents prepared by the association are also available to members.
AQED consults regularly with its members to better understand the realities faced by homeschooling families in Quebec. We relay your concerns to the Minister of Education, the Direction de l’enseignement à la maison (DEM), as well as all other stakeholders in the education and health systems.