About Arizona Families for Home Education
About AFHE
Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) is the statewide organization that has been serving the needs and protecting the rights of Arizona’s homeschooling families since 1983. AFHE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational, religious, and charitable corporation run by a Christian board of directors. AFHE membership supports the preservation of homeschool freedom as we watch legislation that may affect parents’ rights to teach their children at home in Arizona.
Our Mission
AFHE exists to inspire parents to homeschool their children; promote parent-directed, privately funded, home-based education; preserve the freedom to homeschool; and support parents who choose a home-based education option for their children.
Inspire
- Host the Annual Arizona Home Education Convention
- Provide support for Arizona homeschool group leaders through an annual Leadership Conference (or webinar)
- Host a senior high graduate recognition ceremony
- Award scholarships for post-secondary education to homeschool graduates
Promote
- Encourage participation in local homeschool support groups
- Host periodic regional or online workshops
- Maintain an up-to-date website
- Communicate with the homeschool community through email, legislative updates, and social media
- Participate in local and regional activities to share information about homeschooling when possible
Preserve
- Educate the public on the laws and merits of parent-directed, privately funded homeschool
- Monitor and guide state and national legislation affecting homeschooling
- Defend the right to homeschool
- Maintain the least restrictive laws and policies for homeschooling in Arizona
Support
- Maintain a robust website with information and resources useful to families who are pursuing home-based education
- Host moderated social media groups allowing parents to connect
- Maintain a mobile app for on-the-go access to AFHE articles, courses, notifications, and events
- Curate member benefits that serve a wide range of needs and enrichment for home educators
Our Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible is the inspired and only infallible authoritative Word of God.
We believe God existed from all eternity in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
We believe all have sinned, both by nature and by act, and it is only Jesus Christ who is able and has paid the penalty for humanity’s sin through His substitutionary death on the cross. He then triumphed over death by His visible, bodily resurrection.
We believe salvation is offered as a free gift to the sinner. This gift must be accepted by faith, not trusting in any personal work but in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ alone.
Our Philosophy
- We operate from a Christian perspective and make decisions from the ethical and moral standards established in the Bible.
- We believe that parents are responsible for the education of their children.
- We believe that parents have the God-given right to educate their children at home.
- We believe that all education has an implicit worldview.
- We believe that government funding of education will inevitably lead to oversight and control.
- We believe families should remain informed about homeschool laws at both the state and federal levels.
AFHE is not:
- A substitute for a homeschool support group
- A correspondence school or curriculum provider
- A substitute for membership with HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association)
Our Board
Shawn Duell
Board President
Scholarship Program Director & Communications Director
Cindy Duell
Board Member & Convention Director
David Garretson
Board Treasurer
Christina Garretson
Board Secretary &
Senior High Graduation Director
Jeff Jibben
Board Vice President
Michelle Jibben
Board Member &
Director of Government Affairs
Jeff Orr
Board of Directors
Sheri Orr
Board of Directors
