Homeschool benefits: Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary School District

Arete Charter Academy, a TK-12 school in the Pleasant Ridge Union School District in Grass Valley, gives each enrolled student $4,500 in instructional funds for 2026-27, including $2,500 you direct toward field trips, materials, tutoring, and enrichment classes. Your child joins Arete as an enrolled student, and families who start after the first day get a prorated amount until enrollment closes March 13, 2027.

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

Who qualifies

1. Enrolls at Arete

   Funds go to Arete students in TK through grade 12. You apply for the 2026-27 year, register with the Pleasant Ridge Union School District, and attend an intake appointment.

2. Shows birth date and residency

   Bring proof of birth date, an immunization record or waiver, and one proof of residency from each listed category. TK children must turn 4 before September 1, 2026.

3. Keeps good academic standing

   The $500 expanded learning share requires turning in all work samples and logs on time for 20 Day Meeting Sessions 1-7 and testing at grade level.

4. Buys through Arete

   Purchases are ordered through Arete from a current vendor and approved by the Director on a Student Budget Planning Sheet.

What it is worth

Arete's 2026-27 instructional funding page divides each student's $4,500 into four parts.

Curriculum or academic instruction, bought by Arete

$700

Targeted tutoring or intervention, groups of 5 or fewer

$800

Expanded learning, for students in good standing

$500

Parent's choice, $1,250 a semester

$2,500

Printer ink, if curriculum needs it

Up to $75

If your student already meets grade-level standards, the $800 tutoring share becomes unrestricted enrichment money.

From enrolling to spending it

1. Before you enroll

   Apply and register

   Complete the Apply Now form for 2026-27 and the Enroll Now forms with the Pleasant Ridge Union School District, then wait for an email to book an intake appointment.

2. Before each purchase

   Fill out the budget sheet

   List what you want on a Student Budget Planning Sheet. Ask the office for the current vendor list, which changes often.

3. Three times a year

   Funds are deposited

   Students enrolled at the start of the year receive their allotment each semester, and family members at Arete can share the budget.

4. By the end of July

   Finish spending

   Funds do not roll over to the next school year, and only expanded learning funds can be spent in summer.

5. When your child leaves

   Return non-consumables

   Items bought with state funds belong to the school. Return non-consumable items to the office when your child withdraws.

What it pays for

Covered

• Textbooks, workbooks, curriculum, and learning software
• Tutoring and enrichment classes from approved vendors
• Field trips and supplemental materials
• Educational games and activity kits
• Non-consumable PE and sports gear

Not covered

• Religious products
• Furniture, storage, and household items
• Personal items such as uniforms and shoes
• Competition entry and travel fees
• Your own laptop or printer

Arete pays approved vendors directly; the only parent purchases it reimburses are monthly subscriptions, with a receipt showing the item, cost, and date.

Good to know

• Your child must enroll at Arete

  You can get Arete's $4,500 only by enrolling your child at Arete Charter Academy, a public school in the Pleasant Ridge Union School District. The funds belong to Arete students, and purchases go through the school.

Who to contact

The Arete office answers enrollment questions, sends the current vendor list, and processes budget and reimbursement requests.

530-268-2805 Contact page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in California

For the home-based private-school pathway, file the Private School Affidavit during the October 1–15 annual filing period. New schools may use the online filing system during its separate August 1–June 30 opening window. Other legal pathways have their own rules.

California sets these rules:

• Subjects: The private-school pathway must provide instruction in English in the branches of study required for public schools; the parent chooses the materials and course sequence.
• Testing: California does not impose a statewide standardized-testing requirement on private-school students.
• Records: Private schools must keep the records required by California law, including attendance and faculty information.
• Teachers: Private-school instructors must be capable of teaching; California does not issue a separate homeschool-parent credential.

Read the California homeschooling guide See statewide programs in California

Find benefits for your ZIP code