Homeschool benefits and savings in the Sierra Joint Community College District
Sierra College Two Years Free pays the $46-per-unit tuition for two consecutive years of fall and spring terms, $2,760 at the recommended 15 units a term, for first-time college students who are California residents and enroll in 12 or more units. Homeschool graduates qualify by sending a copy of their graduation certificate, the family's private school affidavit, and a utility bill from the month they graduated. Other options include library educator cards and resources.
Sierra College Two Years Free
Who qualifies
First-time college student
Your student comes straight from high school, finished high school through adult school, or has never attempted college units. College credit earned during high school does not disqualify them, but a college certificate or degree earned in high school does.
Sends homeschool documents
Email a copy of the graduation certificate, the affidavit certified by the California Department of Education (the Private School Affidavit), and a utility bill for the month your student graduated to financialaidquestion@sierracollege.edu.
California resident who files aid
File the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) with Sierra College school code 001290. There is no income limit, but the form is required.
Lives in district for priority
In-district means Placer and Nevada Counties plus a few Sacramento and El Dorado County high school areas. Out-of-district students can apply in a later tier because awards are tiered and first come, first served.
What the tuition waiver saves
Sierra College tuition is $46 per unit, and Two Years Free covers it for fall and spring terms at 12 or more units.
- Full-time term (12 units)
- $552
- Recommended term (15 units)
- $690
- One year at 15 units a term
- $1,380
- Two years at 12 units a term
- $2,208
- Two years at 15 units a term
- $2,760
The Health Center and Student Center fees still show as a balance on your mySierra account, so pay those even after the tuition is waived.
From applying to keeping it
- By March 2, 2027
File the FAFSA or CADAA
Use the 2027-28 form and school code 001290. March 2 is the date Sierra College recommends for the most aid; the requirement is August 1.
- By August 1, 2027
Apply as a first-time student
Submit the first-time college student admissions application for fall 2027 or spring 2028; dual enrollment applications do not count. Email your homeschool documents at the same time.
- By census each term
Enroll in 12 or more units
Stay at 12 units through the add/drop deadline. Dropping below 12 before census means you pay all tuition and fees.
- June to September
Watch for the award
Fall awards start June 1. Any tuition you paid is refunded starting two weeks after the add/drop deadline once you are confirmed eligible.
- Year two
Keep your standing
File the next FAFSA or CADAA by August 1, stay in Satisfactory Academic Progress, and enroll in 12 or more units to be awarded year two.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition at $46 per unit
- Fall and spring terms
- Two consecutive years
Not covered
- Health Center fee
- Student Center fee
- Books
- Transportation and living expenses
- Summer terms
Because of state funding cuts, Sierra College awards Two Years Free in tiers, first come, first served, with in-district students first.
Who to contact
Sierra College Financial Aid reviews homeschool documents and answers questions about Two Years Free eligibility and deadlines.
financialaidquestion@sierracollege.edu Two Years Free page
Nevada County Library homeschool educator card
Who qualifies
Teaches in Nevada County
The card is for educators at institutions in Nevada County, and the library names certified home-schools alongside public and private schools, licensed child-care providers, and recreation leaders.
Teaches Pre-K through grade 12
The library asks what grade level you teach so its Youth Services Department can track how well it serves local educators.
Applies through youth services
Apply by email or phone with the Grass Valley youth services librarian for western Nevada County, or the Truckee librarian. The page does not list which homeschool record to bring, so ask when you apply.
What the card gives you
Nevada County Library's Educator Card page and borrowing policies set these terms.
- Items checked out at once
- No limit
- Loan period
- 60 days
- Requests at one time
- Up to 50
- Late fees
- None
- Card cost
- Free
- Renewal
- Every June 30
Lost or damaged items can still be charged to the account, so ask the youth services librarian before a missing book becomes a fee.
How to get the card
- Before you apply
Get a personal card
Library cards are free for Nevada County residents with photo ID and proof of address. The Educator Card is a separate account for teaching materials.
- When you apply
Contact youth services
Email or call 530-265-1541 in western Nevada County, or 530-582-7846 in Truckee, to request the Educator Card.
- During the school year
Borrow for teaching
Check out as many items as you need for up to 60 days, and place holds through the catalog for pickup at any branch.
- Each year by June 30
Renew and reconfirm
The card expires June 30 of the school year it was issued. Renew it and confirm your eligibility again each year.
What it includes
Included
- Books and other library materials with no item limit
- Up to 50 holds
- Many of the library's digital resources
- Loans with no late fees
Not included
- Link+ materials
- Discover & Go museum passes
- Telescopes, hotspots, and other equipment
- Some streaming formats
- Personal-use borrowing
Use the Educator Card for teaching materials and your personal card for your own reading, since the library intends the Educator Card to support your students.
Good to know
You keep your regular card
The Educator Card is an extra account, and the library asks you to borrow personal materials on your general card.
Some items are off limits on the Educator Card
Link+ items, Discover & Go museum passes, telescopes, hotspots, and other equipment are off limits, and some streaming formats may be excluded. Borrow those on a personal card where its rules allow.
Who to contact about the card
The youth services librarians process Educator Card applications and answer questions about lost items on an Educator account.
emily.phillips@nevadacountyca.gov 530-265-1541 Educators 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
Questions parents ask
- My student took dual enrollment classes. Do they still count as a first-time student for Two Years Free?
- Yes, as long as they did not earn a college certificate or degree in high school. College credit alone does not disqualify them.
- Does the Two Years Free clock pause if my student takes a semester off?
- No. The clock starts when your student first enrolls in college units and runs for two consecutive years.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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