Homeschool benefits and savings in the Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District
Cajon Valley Homeschool is a tuition-free K-8 public program in the Cajon Valley Union School District: you teach at home with district curriculum, a credentialed teacher, a Chromebook, tutoring, and weekly on-campus Explorations in robotics, art, and music. Families in the district or in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, or San Bernardino County can enroll year-round, which makes your child a public school student.
Who qualifies
Lives in a served county
Students living inside Cajon Valley Union School District boundaries or in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, or San Bernardino County can enroll.
Is in grades K-8
Design Learning Academy serves grades K-8. The live online Virtual Learning Program is for grades 5-8, and younger students are steered to Design Learning Academy.
Enrolls as a public school student
Your child becomes a Cajon Valley Union School District student, with the academic expectations and accountability of a public school program.
Has a parent as learning coach
Expect to spend 3-5 hours a day guiding lessons while your child spends 3-5 hours a day on coursework and homework.
What the program gives you
The terms come from Cajon Valley Homeschool's About Our School and Learning Paths pages.
- Tuition
- Free
- Curriculum (Design Learning Academy)
- District-provided
- Chromebook
- Every student
- On-campus Explorations at Jamacha Elementary
- Weekly
- Tutoring and small-group help in ELA and math
- Included
- Park meetups (Virtual Learning Program)
- Monthly
The program's pages list no cash allotment or curriculum budget, so ask whether you can choose your own materials or must use the district's.
How to enroll
- Before you enroll
Pick a learning path
Choose parent-led Design Learning Academy for grades K-8 or the live, teacher-led Virtual Learning Program for grades 5-8.
- Any time of year
Reach out to enroll
Submit the program's online interest form or call 619-588-3630 to start enrollment.
- After enrolling
Get set up
Your child receives a Chromebook, and your credentialed teacher helps you plan with the district curriculum.
- Each week
Join Explorations
Design Learning Academy students can attend on-campus sessions in robotics, art, music, video production, and making at Jamacha Elementary.
What it includes
Included
- District curriculum
- A credentialed teacher
- A Chromebook
- 1:1 tutoring and small-group interventions
- Field trips, assemblies, and Explorations
Not included
- Independent private homeschool status
- Cash allotments for outside purchases
- High school grades
Cajon Valley provides services and materials directly; the pages describe no reimbursement or spending account.
Good to know
Your child enrolls in a public program
Cajon Valley Homeschool is a public education program, so your child is no longer a private homeschooler: your child enrolls in the Cajon Valley Union School District instead of filing a private school affidavit. You still lead daily instruction in Design Learning Academy.
Who to contact about enrolling
The program office at 2962 Jamul Drive, El Cajon, answers enrollment, learning path, and field trip questions.
dunphyj@cajonvalley.net 619-588-3630 Interest form
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
Questions parents ask
- Can my child learn online with a Cajon Valley teacher instead of with me?
- Yes, in grades 5-8. The Virtual Learning Program has students log in daily for live lessons in all subjects on a traditional school-day schedule.
- Will my child see other kids?
- Yes. Design Learning Academy offers weekly on-campus Explorations, and Virtual Learning families get monthly in-person park meetups, plus field trips and virtual assemblies for both.
- How much time will this take me each day?
- 3-5 hours a day. The program tells learning coaches to expect that much time supporting their child's lessons.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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