Here are tips and advises from experienced homeschoolers to get some extras and help your family budget.
Alabama:
None.
Alaska:
?Allotment depends on services provided by the school and which school district the charter is based. https://education.alaska.gov/alaskan_schools/schooloptions?
?Alaska has a lot of different public school homeschooling options. Some are town based and some take students from state-wide. Essentially you enroll in apublic school (or distance learning public school) and can buy things with the allotment or be reimbursed. It is considered homeschooling by the state (you?ll see people who say that this isn?t homeschooling, but AK defines it as homeschooling. You can also homeschool without an allotment or any oversight if you wish.) In our case, the supervision required is monthly contact and 4 X per year work samples. In some districts, particularly those with a lot of fishing families, the kids can go in and out of public/homeschooling very easily. In our town, for example, kids have been allowed to homeschool for the fall and spring and go to public school for the 2nd half of 1st semester and the 1st half of 2nd semester. As I understand it, our school is actually the biggest school in the state ? with every kid doing completely different things.?
?My youngest is with Family Partnership in Anchorage and my oldest is with FOCUS out of the Whittier district. FOCUS has a completely different set of standards and much more flexible. FPCS is very particular which is fine except if you have a child that has severe dyslexia and they require so much screening and testing. We straddle two programs. My youngest can get up to $3600 for his education which is very helpful. My oldest gets $2200 but he gets other programs and online classes for free. Last year, he had Driver?s Ed through FOCUS and this year he has a Writing class taught socratic style at the school.?
?We went with IDEA because of its policy towards keeping materials. It?s been really good for us. It must be tough dealing with two separate programs ? I find it hard enough work keeping on top of one set of deadlines!?
Arizona:
?AZ is supposed to have the ESA program, but it is in court right now.?
Arkansas:
None.
California:
?Ocean Grove charter: http://www.ogcs.org/index.php/og-if/og-if-amounts?
?Inspire Charter?
?ILEAD Explorationwww.ileadexploration.org?
?Valiant Prep, Dehesa?
?We use Inspire with two full days of extracurricular activities a week we also get $500 to spend on school related things. We already have a curriculum so we opted for zoo passes, sea world passes, gymnastics classes and TaeKwonDo classes.?
?Summit ? no on-site but lots of flexibility and can work for unschoolers. I believe it?s $2700 in spending per year for k-8, purchasing from approved vendors. List of vendors is pretty long, although there have been some issues with the charter not paying vendors promptly. Meet with a teacher once a month in person or on skype, etc, and provide one work sample per month.?
?We use Inspire and do not use their enrichment academies. Funding this year was $2850 per child (we also opted out of their online package, accounting for $250 of the total amount).?
?We are also with Ocean Grove and boy do I miss Inspire. We now get $2200 per elementary student. We have to meet with an ES once a month and turn in 4 samples (History, LA, Math, Science). We do online testing twice a year and state testing annually. We also do the physical fitness testing.?
?Valley View Charter Prep (based in Stockton): $2500 a year per student. Meet ES once a month to sign attendance forms (just scribble initials on a calendar). Turn in 2 samples for each subject in fall and in spring. Testing in reading/math online in fall and spring ? doesn?t mean much, they just want to see that the numbers improve each time they take it. CA has state testing that all public students have to do (except 9th,10th &12th grade). One thing I really like about VVCP is that they reimburse you, so you are not restricted to just using vendors.?
?California/valiant prep academy $2800 yr. $500 summer. She let me usehealth waiver this year but we came from school system where they were already vaccinated. once a month FaceTime meeting. PE log and one sample each child.?
?Visions in Education (active in Contra Costa, Solano, Sacramento counties, to name a few). Offers $2,600 in student funds (elementary + junior high) per year. I have had good experiences with the special education department ? very responsive and helpful. Vaccinations required (health waiver available IIRC), lots of vendors and online ordering, enrichment classes in Carmichael once a week, other areas once a month. Sample requirements vary from teacher to teacher; some teachers require a sample every learning period per subject per student, others only require them once a semester. One meeting per learning period, 10 learning periods per year. Can meet at home or other agreed place. Teacher DOES meet with student as well. Not sure how much they offer for high school homeschool. There?s several different high school programs. River Springs Charter (active in Riverside, San Diego, and Orange Counties.) Not sure on how much they offer per year as a stipend but it was $1,000+ back in 2014. Areas with student centers nearby offer enrichment classes 2x a week.?
?Average $2800 K-8, $3000 for high school. If you do specialty programs through charter you get very limited $$. 1 day a week Enrichment academy offered for free, if you don?t use it you get $250 more. Online programs offered also and if you don?t use them, another $250 given. So $2800 can go up to $3200 for K-8. I?ve yet to see the extra $500 though. K-8 usually 1 sample per learning period. HS 1 sample of 4 required classes each learning period. Meet ES every month in person or by video chat. Very flexible. Many charters to choose from and styles of learning.?
?Sage Oak https://www.sageoak.education/?
?Sutter Peak Charter Academy is in Yolo and Sacramento counties. It is under the Heritage Peak umbrella and allows reimbursements, unlike the other charter schools in Yolo County. Funding K-8 is $2500 per year currently. Work samples once a year and monthly meetings to turn in receipts required.?
?$2850 from Inspire, opted out of the online subscription.?
Colorado:
?Some options programs provide asmall amount of funding, (like $100-$300) if you are enrolled in their program, many don?t. But options is fully funded through the public school system for one day per week extracurricular activities.?
Connecticut:
None.
Deleware:
None.
Florida:
?We have umbrella schools which you don?t get funding for, but we also have the Step Up scholarship which allows you to receive your tax dollars back towards the use of a private school if you qualify. And yes students with disabilities also have access to the McKay Scholarship and the Gardiner scholarship to help pay for items related to their disabilities. We also have Florida Virtual School and local counties have virtual schools as well that sometimes use the curriculum K12 which is an amazing curriculum and all of that is free. I am hoping and wishing that we get the option for distance Charters as I am looking into become one to offer my parents some flexibility in our state.?
?I am pretty sure K12 now operates as a charter school under the alias Florida Cyber Charter Academy. All of the counties except one in FL now use Florida Virtual Schools courses and their own county teachers. Don?t forget we also have Connections Academy here in FL too. Not sure what they are going to do after this year when their partnership with FLVS ends.?
?This is why the term Charter is so confusing. In States like California a charter school means that you can get money to use towards buying things for your education if you?re homeschooler and the school will basically make sure you are completing your work and check things over. Charter schools here can mean so many different things it could just mean public school that is privately funded in addition to getting some public funds. It could also mean an online program yet you won?t have access to the money at all. I am hoping that at some point it means that we can at least get the funding and use it towards things that we want.?
Georgia:
?Nothing in Georgia, but we have a good Dual Enrollment program. Free tuition, fees, and books to take college classes starting at age 14.?
?We have GA virtual school here. Homeschoolers in middle and high school can enroll in a single class or multiple. If you submit a semester ahead of when the class is given, they have an allotment for a certain number of homeschoolers to have their class paid for. This is not dual enrollment, but just free online classes through the state. http://gavirtualschool.org/?
Hawaii:
?Myron B Thompson Academy- $1500 allotment per student for grades k-5, you have to return non-consumables at the end of the year, you can use funds for classes or lessons for extracurriculars, you have to attend two days each month at the school. Choose your own curriculum and homeschool the rest of the time. Must take standardized state tests at the school each year.http://ethompson.org?
?MBTA middle and high school is different. They have assignments online managed by astate teacher, no $ allotment and you don?t get to choose curriculum. It?s essentially school online. Students can still go to the school for tutoring or extra classes and labs. Dual credit and AP courses are options for high school.?
?Harmony Education Services is a program that works in conjunction with two charter schools in the state. Students get up to $1000 each in curriculum, materials, lessons, etc. you don?t have to return anything. There is an option to use part of funds for a laptop or tablet each year, or to opt for online courses instead or a mix of online or flex courses that you choose, and homeschool your way using the materials you chose. You can customize your plan so you could be a totally independent homeschooler or do a blended plan where the student attends weekly enrichment classes and participates in field trips. They require one worksheet per flex course (if you don?t do online classes) to be completed and turned in every two weeks. They also require testing at the school for grades 3, 5, and 8. Harmony is grades k-8, right now but they plan to add high school in the future. You can also use your funds for private lessons or classes. Harmonyed.com?
?Hawaii Technology Academy is virtual public school. You don?t get an allotment, but since the student is considered a public charter school student they can participate in school clubs and activities. They require some attendance ranging from a couple days a month to three days a week depending on what you need/want. A teacher assigns lessons online and in class. https://hi.myhta.org?
Idaho:
?Harmony Ed: $1700 allotment. K-8th. Onsite Options Day (drop off one day a week) in Meridian offers elective classes like Lego Engineering, Drama, Art, etc. State test participation required. Work samples (worksheets) required?they are tweaking this requirement for upcoming year so I?m not sure of changes. No teacher check-ins. Very hands-off and parent directed. Keep all materials if you stay in the program for the year. www.harmonyed.com Fyi ? Harmony Ed also operates in UT, HI, and MN.?
?TechTrep: $1700 allotment. No work samples required, just two sentences each week telling about learning in core subject areas. I haven?t used this one personally so that?s all I know about it. Maybe someone else can chime in.?
Illinois:
?IL does offer a tax credit, max of $500 Ithink, for certain homeschooling expenses.?
Indiana:
?No money in Indiana. This school district offers classes online to anyone in the state. http://hs.eastnoble.net/for_families/e_n_s_c_online_school?
?Indiana has 2 choices for online public school. k12.com and connections academy. Also, there is a tax credit.?
?On the Indiana return there is a tax credit/deduction for homeschooling. It?s a $1,000 per child I think.?
Iowa:
?The West Des Moines school district offers homeschool enrichment classes. They are free through the public schools. I don?t live there anymore. They never offered funds while I was there, but that could have changed.?
?No funds, but if you dual enroll they will offer the use of school textbooks. Junior and senior year of high school you can take CC classes for simultaneous HS and college credit. We don?t associate with the schools, so we get nothing.?
? It depends on your local district. I?m in Davenport, which received less funding per student than the rest of the state. So you can choose to be part of the HSAP through the district for access to a teacher, a library of dated curriculum, and a few classes and field trips, but no funds. Surrounding areas have access to a library with technology and current resources, $100/year to purchase curriculum which if not consumable goes to the library when you?re finished with it, and more and better reviewed classes and field trips.?
Kansas:
None.
Kentucky:
None.
Louisiana:
None.
Maine:
None.
Maryland:
?Homeschoolers at the high school level qualify for dual enrollment at community colleges. Not free, but tuition is reduced by 50% at participating counties.?
Mass:
?This website is an online charter school, from what I understand. It doesn?t give you money but it is free to register, from what I understand. https://www.connectionsacademy.com/massachusetts-virtual…?
?And this is the first one I mentioned, located in Greenfield but I think you can attend from anywhere in the state https://www.gcvs.org/?
Michigan:
?We are in MI and my kids are enrolled here. Both are elementary age and we get $1000/year per student. Pays for educational consumables as well as athletics and music lessons. Forhigh school age students they pay tuition fees for dual enrollment college courses up to a certain amount every year in lieu of the stipend if preferred. They have been exceptionally accommodating and are providing IEP services to my oldest as well. I?m still able to select our curriculum and go at our own pace as we see fit. The only caveat is that the kids do need to participate in standardized testing same as public schools. https://theparisacademy.org?
?If you enroll at Oxford Virtual Academy they will pay for up to 5 extra curricular classes either online or at a partnership facility. The homeschool track includes count days but no testing. Or the full-time track includes testing & count, not sure about extra curricular options. Fall will be our first year with K. http://oxfordvirtualacademy.org/curriculumoptions?
?my kids are lower elementary so their required classes were assigned through Moby Max, BrainPop, and other miscellaneous programs for health and typing. The higher grades have some additional online programs. Their website lists the programs they use. And they provide registration for them so if you were paying the yearly fee for BrainPop, for example, you would be able to save that $. Personally, I use my own selected curricula at home and use the online options to supplement but they set it up so you can use their programs as a complete curriculum if you wanted to.?
?every student who participates in count day is eligible for the stipend or dual enrollment funds. I think they specify $500 per student per semester. Whenever I purchase something that qualifies, I email copies of the receipts and they mail a refund check. I usually wait and do it when I have a hundred or more to submit but you don?t have to. My son takes piano lessons and both kids are involved in sports so it has been very helpful. And it?s also helped us build up our library and purchase curriculum I wouldn?t usually otherwise buy on my own like the complete Hakim A History of US set.?
Minnesota:
?Harmony education a partnership with Vibe, which is part of the Worthington school district. Kids can receive $250 per 4 core courses, or choose to take an online course. If you do the flex option and receive funds, your child is required to submit aworksheet every two weeks. There is also an additional $300 in funds per child or a laptop option in lieu of the $300. Funds have to be used towards secular materials only, but you can teach using any materials you choose. There are also 3 current ?co-op? type meet ups in MN as part of Harmony called Options Day, or your child can choose from a plethora of elective kits available if you forego Options Day.?
Mississippi:
None.
Missouri:
?In the St Louis area, if you live in the city not the county, you can go to a charter school for free. not certain on this, but believe all are lottery based. also, some the st louis county school districts are included in this, but sadly not the one i?m in funny enough, the ones that are some of the better/higher school districts.
Montana:
None.
Nebraska:
None.
Nevada:
?Theoretically Nevada?s Educational Savings Account program can be used for homeschool materials, though technically kids using the funds (I think between $2100 and $2700 depending on family income) are ESA opt-in students and not homeschool students legally. Various groups sued the state over the legality of the program, and the state Supreme Court found the program legal but the funding unconstitutional. Currently the program is in limbo until the legislature comes up with a new funding bill. Not legally homeschooling, but there are several virtual charter schools that you can enroll children in and home educate that way. Currently homeschooling is as Kim Vinson described, though I know most of the co-op we?re a part of was in favor of switching to using the ESA option if/when it?s funded.?
New Hampshire:
?No money in NH. There is currently legislation in discussion, but as currently written, not all homeschooling families would be eligible.?
New Jersey:
?No money. But no regulation either. NJ is one of the easiest states in the country in which to homeschool. Some districts will allow homeschool kids to access their after school activities but it seems to be district by district. My own district has been nothing but good about it. But that is not everyone?s experience.?
New Mexico:
None.
New York:
None.
North Carolina:
?discovered this recently ? funding sources for kids to attend private schools: https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/state/north-carolina/?
North Dakota:
None.
Ohio:
? Qda gives curriculum options and monthly Internet reimbursement. I belive odhela gives an amount for extra curricular and some curriculum options but I never used them?I think I heard they were being investigated also.?
?I should also clarify?.qda, ohdela and treca are all online public schools ? so technically not homeschoolers?but I?ve found those in particular are the best for flexible options for when school is done instead of connections or k12.?
?If you homeschool, and your kid is on an IEP, you can get services (tutoring and therapies) through the Peterson Scholarship up to the amount of extra $ that your child?s disability would have brought to the public school district. The trick is finding a Peterson provider. Haughland in Columbus is one, but there are many others. And I believe that your public district does the triennial evaluations and annual iep meetings that qualify your child for special ed (and thus the Peterson Scholarship). It is not based on your income.?
Oklahoma:
?Epic Charter: $800. They also give referral bonuses. I got $200 for referring a friend?s two kiddos.?
?We also use EPIC. Required work varies by teacher. We use it as a supplement to traditional work. Money pays for online programs, certain supplies, and extracurricular classes that agree to use it as payment.?
Oregon:
?Fossil Distance Learning Program ? $1k/child, K-8. Easy CBM for K-2, 3?8 requires a specific assignment 2xa year ? once for math, once for ELA. Annual testing for 3?8. Lesson plans due weekly, and one work sample weekly (Math, ELA alternatingly). Quarterly in person check ins, monthly check ins that can be in person or video call. Field trips where your contact is count as in person as well.?
?Baker Web Academy ? high school ? provides online courses, no allotment beyond that. EOW in person check ins with Advisory Teacher. Tracking via spreadsheet to ensure they are on schedule.?
?Teach NW out of Marcola, K-12, $2k per student.?
?LOGOS in Medford. REACH in Grants Pass.?
?Bridge charter school.?
?Summit learning Charter ? $500 per student k-5. Then things get a bit confusing?if your in the EOP (early options program) k-5th then you are slowly moved to online for high school. What this looks like is 6th grade 1 online class you get $400, 7th grade 2 online classes and you get $300, 8th grade is 3 online classes and $200. 9th -12th is fully online. Early college program available starting in 10th grade. If you were not in summit for k-5 then 6th -12th is all online. 2 check ins a week (1- email, 1 jot form) no I person meetings require. K-5th no work has to be turned in. 6th and up, only the online classes have work. 2?3 assessments each year. K-3 in person at the school or satellite location. 4th and up online from home. Annual testing can be ?opted out? of. Laptop can be borrowed for the year your child is enrolled, enrichment classes offered on campus if you want to take advantage of them. Fieldtrips offered several times a year, as well as on campus activities (career day, fall festival, etc).?
?Silvies River $600/student for K-8. Not sure the high school reimbursement. We use Oak Meadow, but I?d already purchased our current year before getting in. We?ve used funds for Village Home classes (locations in Salem and Portland). Testing and check ins similar to others. Daily email check ins. Some paperwork logistics to get a location set up as a vendor. We did get kid scuba lessons paid as PE, but pay out of pocket for a STEM program because they don?t want the billing hassle (past experience with problems). We don?t get to keep non-consumables.?
?we are with Baker Web Academy for elementary school and they paid for all of our curriculum which came out to about $1,500 and have enrichment activities at their local office. We get to keep all of our curriculum at the end of the year which is great for younger siblings. Baker Elementary you can choose physical or online curriculum and we chose all physical. They gave us the choice between moving beyond the page, timberdoodle, and plenty of other choices.?
?Dallas Community School actually enrolls in multiple counties. We live in Salem, we just have to meet with the guide in Dallas every other week. I know that they have a guide that goes to Lebanon to meet witha handful of families there too. You get $750 a year and the guide and parent together write a personal learning path and parents choose curriculum. Once core subjects are covered by the PLP they will pay for extra curriculars like swim lessons basketball at the Y etc. we keep consumables (workbooks or PDFs designed for single family use or kiwi crate stuff) materials but teacher guides and textbooks are returned to the school. They can be checked out over the summer and the family that bought them have first dibs on the the next school year. They have a small library you can get curriculum from and they offer enrichment classes (choir ASL art coding and others at little to no cost- art was $15 for 10 weeks). You have 2x a week attendance emails and 1x a month PE report (just have to say how many minutes kids did and examples of what type. Can be bike riding playground play dance yoga swimming etc.).?
Pennsylvania:
?Some public cyber schools will supply a laptop and funds for Physical education programs (like dance and taekwondo) but I can not remember which we don?t homeschool under that option.?
?High schoolers qualify for dual enrollment.?
Rhode Island:
None.
South Carolina:
?https://virtualsc.org it?s 8?12th grades (except 1?2 classes that are not high school credit)?
South Dakota:
None.
Tennessee:
None.
Texas:
?Speech therapy and academic disability testing is available for homeschoolers. Otherwise nothing?
?UNTHSC has several Autism and motion studies that include IQ tests and diagnostic stuff. They?re free and a few pay for participation. They also provide alot of resource referrals and insights into how your kid learns. For spectrum or neurotypical.?
?Dual enrollment isn?t free but all state universities are semi-subsidized and most community colleges are inexpensive.?
?IUniversity is an online charter high school that I think is affiliated with the Grapevine ISD. Testing I believe but also some brick and mortar services. Also Texas Tech ISD online is not free but affordable you can take just one class without opting in to schooling or enroll.?
Utah:
?Canyon Grove Distance Education-no reimbursement but they have a resource library where you can check out unlimited, non religious curriculum. The kids have an option to attend one day of ?school? and/or a half day of fun like rock climbing, ice-skating, bowling etc.?
?For My Tech High it depends on the grade level when it comes to reimbursement. Canyon Grove ? once a month ?goals? for for an education specialist and about a 10 minute conversation per child. All state and local testing can be opted out. 40 hours a year requested parental volunteer timeMy Tech High ? Once a week report 1?2 sentences (or more) per subject. Kids can also do a video log. All state and local testing available to opt out.?
Vermont:
None.
Virginia:
None.
Washington:
?Oasis: $200/mo for curriculum or classes + use of materials from their library (e.g. they have microscopes or curriculum or? that they will loan you for the year and ship to you). Students are officially enrolled in the alternative school and are no longer considered homeschoolers by the state. Requirements:Weekly student check in with their teacher (Skype for 30 min) to show off what they?ve done that week. Monthly parent written report documenting progress in the 6 required subjects. Yearly testing or portfolio evaluation.?
?PEARL ? K-8This is a parent partnership program and children are technically not homeschooled but are a part of the public school system. Funding depends on if yo sign up for full time or part time. Full time students get 1,700 and year for curriculum and activities. You can pretty much pick whatever curriculum you want to use but the school will only pay for secular items.Requirements:Weekly email check in with the teacher where the student says what they learned that week. Monthly report from the parent saying what actual lessons were finished.Annual Smarter Balance test ?required? yearly starting in 3rd grade for students enrolled full time. It helps them keep their funding without a bunch of restrictions on what we can use the funds on so I don?t mind having the kids take it. There is no pressure from the school to ?pass?.
?Parent partnership programs with the local school districts. It depends on the district what is offered and WA state is evaluating whether PEARL and OASIS and similar programs will be able to continue. When we lived there my son participated in a local parent partnership in Seattle where we had a small amount of money ~$200/semester to use towards curriculum. Anything not consumable became property of the school curriculum library when we were done with it. We had to report monthly on progress but it was very loose (my son?s advisor also homeschooled her kids) and he had to take one core academic class there or otherwise have contact with a certificated teacher (eg the art teacher). He had access to a lot of enrichment classes for ?free? (paid by tax dollars), making homeschooling more accessible to a wider range of incomes.?
?There are Parent Partnership Programs in many districts. Some of them offer funds, they all vary. If you join, you?re considered a public school student. We go to Cascade in Seattle, for us, we get access to a lot of really interesting extracurricular classes for free and $200 a year to use on books. You have to take at least one class with a certificated teacher each semester, but some PE and art classes count. You also have to meet with a teacher once a month to go over what you?ve been doing at home, and they want you to take the standardized testing. PPPs can vary fairly significantly by district in how many hoops they make you go through, ours is pretty chill and the teacher meetings are pretty informal. I figure that I?m getting about $800 a semester worth of free classes that are fun and engaging for my son. He?s in swimming, lego robotics, cooking and PE. So while we?re only getting $200/year, I figure it?s really adding up to about 2k a year total.?
?WA also offers Running Start, a program that pays for any junior or senior in the state (not just homeschoolers) to take community college classes. If you take the right courses, it is possible to get both a high school diploma and an AA degree by the time you finish high school. You are responsible for paying for textbooks. I?m not sure if you have to pay for any student fees.?
West Virginia:
None.
Wisconcin:
None.
Wyoming:
?Connections Academy Jackson Hole?
Canada. British Columbia:
?British Columbia, you can enrol with aDistributed Learning school, which require you attempt to meet the Provincial Learning Outcomes for each grade, regular reports to a supervising teacher, and offer $600 for curriculum, lessons, and consumables, and some offer $300 reimbursementfor internet usage.?
