Homeschool benefits: Western Placer Unified School District

Horizon Charter Schools, a tuition-free public TK-12 homeschool charter, gives each enrolled student $3,000 a year in instructional funds for approved materials, services, and classes, chosen with a Supervising Teacher. Students who live in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, or Yuba County can apply; Horizon is taking 2026-27 applications for its waitlists.

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

Who qualifies

1. Lives in a service county

   Your student must live in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, or Yuba County, and you send proof of residency with the application.

2. Enrolls as a Horizon student

   Your child becomes a public charter student. Enrollment is complete only after you and your student attend a meeting and sign the Master Agreement.

3. Gets a seat

   Horizon is accepting 2026-27 applications for waitlists, and it schedules the Master Agreement meeting only if space is available.

4. Meets the TK age rule

   For transitional kindergarten (TK) in 2026-27, your child must turn 4 by September 1, 2026.

What it is worth

Horizon's FAQ lists $3,000 per student per year in instructional funds for approved educational uses.

One student

$3,000

Two students

$6,000

Three students

$9,000

Four students

$12,000

Horizon does not publish proration, carryover, or deadline rules on its public pages, so ask admissions how a mid-year start changes the amount.

From applying to spending it

1. Before you apply

   Join an info session

   Attend a Zoom information session or contact a Family Mentor Teacher with questions about the learning options.

2. To apply

   Create an account

   Click Apply Now, set a password from the emailed link, and upload proof of birth and proof of residency in a service county.

3. After review

   Sign the Master Agreement

   If space is available, the Enrollment Team schedules a Master Agreement meeting. Enrollment is final once you and your student attend and sign.

4. During the year

   Spend with your teacher

   Your Supervising Teacher guides how the instructional funds are used for approved materials, services, and classes.

What it pays for

Covered

• Approved instructional materials
• Approved services
• Approved classes

Instructional funds are for educational purposes only, and your Supervising Teacher guides each request.

Good to know

• A teacher guides what you buy

  Your Supervising Teacher guides purchase decisions. In Alternative Home Study, approved materials are chosen with your family and ordered by the Horizon teacher.

Who to contact

The admissions team answers questions about applications, waitlists, and documents; Vendor Services handles vendor questions at contractprograms@hcs.k12.ca.us.

admissions@hcs.k12.ca.us 916-408-5210 Enrollment 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

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