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QUINCY, ILL. -- It's the beginning of the school year for Quincy parents, including those who home school their kids.

The Quincy Christian Home Educators Association support group met Monday night.

Since each family teaches their own kids, this start of the year meeting is a great chance for all of the parents to learn about planned activities for the school year like sports schedules and field trip plans.

Co-founder Donald Amsler says many people think home schooled kids are not as socialized as public school kids.

But Amsler says that home schooled kids don't have to deal with what has become a growing problem in public schools.

"There's no bullying. Anything that happens, happens with usually the parents around or they're always with approved other kids. So there's always another parent that's doing," Amsler said. "So if there's a problem they're right there all the time."

The group was founded by Donald and Connie Amsler 21 years ago as a way of supporting parents like themselves, who were taking on the challenge of educating their own children.

It has grown from 17 participating families to 85 families last year.