Homeschool benefits: Alaska Gateway School District

Alaska REACH Academy, a statewide K-12 correspondence school run by Alaska Gateway School District, gives each full-time student a $2,700 allotment for 2026-27 to spend on curriculum, tutoring, technology, and internet in the student's learning plan. Any Alaska student who enrolls in four approved courses before October 31, 2026 qualifies for full funding.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Alaska

   REACH enrolls students from anywhere in Alaska. Students who live or move outside Alaska cannot enroll, though limited leave for military or medical reasons can be approved in advance.

2. Is in grades K-12

   Your child must be 5 on or before September 1 for kindergarten and cannot be over 20 before September 21 unless they qualify for special education services.

3. Takes four approved courses

   Full-time status means four courses through REACH, with at least half of them core classes. Part-time students get a smaller allotment.

4. Has an approved learning plan

   You write an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) with the REACH contact teacher, and it must be approved before you can spend any allotment money.

What it is worth

The REACH Student/Parent Handbook for 2026-2027 sets the allotment by the number of classes a K-12 student takes.

Full time (4 or more courses)

$2,700

3 classes (75%)

$2,025

2 classes (50%)

$1,350

1 class (25%)

$675

Preschool child with a full-time sibling

Up to $250

The handbook says the amount can change with state funding, and each hour (K-8) or course (9-12) your child also takes at a public school cuts the allotment by 25%.

From enrolling to spending it

1. Before October 31, 2026

   Enroll online

   Complete online enrollment, the Home Teacher Agreement, and copies of the birth certificate and immunization record. Enrolling during the October count period can mean a prorated allotment.

2. At enrollment

   Build the ILP

   Meet with the REACH Principal/Teacher to plan courses. Curriculum not on the district's approved list costs a $50 review fee, taken from the allotment.

3. After approval

   Order or get reimbursed

   Turn in an order form and the office buys the items, or buy them yourself with pre-approval and submit receipts. Reimbursement requests are due on the last day of each month.

4. January 5 and May 14, 2027

   Meet reimbursement deadlines

   January 5 is the deadline for semester 1 receipts and May 14 for semester 2. Receipts from earlier school years are not accepted.

5. Each quarter

   Report progress

   Meet with the contact teacher each quarter with grades and work samples, and keep monthly contact. Leftover allotment rolls over to the next year if your child stays enrolled.

What it pays for

Covered

• Curriculum on the approved list
• Tutors and lesson instructors approved by the district
• Computers and tablets, on a three-year rent-to-own basis
• Monthly internet service
• Consumable school supplies

Not covered

• Religious or doctrinal materials
• Services from a family member
• Annual passes or family memberships
• Family travel
• Clothing, uniforms, and PE equipment

At least half of the allotment has to go to core subjects (English, math, science, social studies, technology, or world languages) before the rest goes to supplements, activities, tutoring, a computer, or internet.

Good to know

• Your child enrolls to get the allotment

  REACH is a public correspondence school, so your child enrolls as a REACH student while you teach at home as the home teacher. The allotment comes with enrollment and an approved ILP.

• Families anywhere in Alaska can enroll

  The state lists REACH as a statewide program, and its handbook says it serves K-12 students from anywhere in Alaska.

• Unspent money rolls over if your child re-enrolls

  Money you do not spend rolls over to the next school year if your child re-enrolls. The allotment can be spent from July 1 through May 25.

Who to contact

The REACH office in the Tok School handles enrollment, learning plans, and questions about what the allotment can buy, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

reach@agsd.us 907-883-2591 REACH Academy page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Alaska

You do not have to file a homeschool notice.

Alaska sets these rules:

• Subjects: Alaska does not require specific subjects or a particular curriculum.
• Testing: Alaska does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: Alaska does not require homeschool records.
• Teachers: Alaska does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.

Read the Alaska homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Alaska

Find benefits for your ZIP code