7 Easy Ways to Spend Your Homeschool Charter Funds in California

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Are you looking for ways to spend your homeschool charter funds quickly? Maybe the end of the year is coming, and you have a lot of funds left in your kid’s account? How is shopping this hard?!

If you are a homeschool mom in California and need some spending ideas, you’re in luck! This guide will walk you through some of the best ways to use your money. 

Whether you’re looking to buy a curriculum or cover educational field trips, I’ve got you covered. So read on and learn how to make the most of your charter funds!

The Advantage of Homeschool Charters in California

The major appeal of enrolling in a charter homeschool in California is those funds! Did you join because of the appeal of not having to worry about what a drain purchasing school stuff can be? 

The beginning of the semester year is like Christmas in August! You see that four-digit number pop up, and then the race begins to get all the educational things.

If you are reading this, the end of the school year is likely approaching, and the “use it or lose it” deadline is right behind you.

 Here are some ways to use your funds.

1.Use Homeschool Charter Funds for Technology!

Are you sitting there thinking, “my kid could really use their own computer or tablet!”?

I work on my computer, and a few years ago, I quickly realized that sharing my laptop with my oldest child would not work. She’s pretty responsible, but we both wanted “computer time” while my youngest was napping. 

I was off to the virtual tech store to shop. 

If you haven’t purchased tech with your funds, you might think about doing so. 

I think it’s great to get the kids up to speed on how to use Zoom (the future of job interviews?), learn how to type, and get creative with drawing software. Sooner than later, your kids will know more than you if they don’t already!

Are you homeschooling on the go? You may get a tablet to make things easier for homeschooling the car or your final destination. Load it up with apps, find secure wi-fi, download audiobooks, and your homeschool is mobile. 

You are essentially running a school from your home and need a printer. Depending on how many worksheets you print each day, you may want a different one solely dedicated to homeschooling. How is your printer holding up? 

Consider a computer, tablet, or printer if you haven’t already. I’ve had great luck with Brother printers in the past and presently. This is the printer we are currently using and it has been reliable.

If you feel guilty about such a big purchase, look at it this way. You run a school from your house and should not be putting the wear and tear of schooling on the items that you use to run your household. 

Make schooling your children more manageable and have the equipment you need on hand. 

Approximate Spending ~$150-$1,500

2. Spend Your Charter School Funds with Curriculum 

I know what you’re thinking? I already have my curriculum! 

Take a look closely at your current curriculum.

Is a kid close to completing the curriculum for a subject? It might be a good idea to order more curricula.

Take a look at each subject and order any workbooks or helpful accessories. 

Have you ever ordered a learning kit? KiwiCo is one of the many companies that provide learning in a box. They have science, cooking, geography kits, and more. If your kid loves hands-on learning (who doesn’t), kits are awesome. You can get a subscription or visit the store tab to buy a box individually. These kits could easily be used for science or social studies curriculum.

You can ask your kids about their curriculum. I ask my kids, “Do you like this book we are working on?” They give their opinion, and I decide to modify or possibly discontinue a curriculum.

Sometimes I have to skip ahead because they know the material and are bored, or I find a way to supplement dry worksheets with videos.

Are you pulling your hair out trying to make a curriculum choice work? So and so said that curriculum worked for her child. 

Well, it doesn’t work for you and your kid, and that is ok!

You have learned a lot with the curriculum you tried. Try something new and don’t want to wait for the new school year. 

With the funds you have left, you may want to consider if you need a new curriculum.

(Don’t forget Online Curriculum or Apps)

When asked if homeschooling is hard with a toddler, I respond that it’s a piece of cake—just kidding. I have new grays in my head. 

Homeschooling is a challenge, but the little one gets older each day, and managing homeschool will look different. 

PRO TIP: If you have a toddler while homeschooling,  let me recommend learning apps such as Reading Eggs and Math Seeds that make homeschooling multiple kids a lot easier. I wrote of my love of Math Seeds HERE. I wish there were a Social Studies Eggs out there!

If you have days that feel wild, let your kids work online while you tend to the toddler’s latest demands. 

Yes, my toddler, we will find your rocket that is hidden somewhere in the house, even though you have a rocket in your hand right now. 

My youngest kid didn’t sleep well, and I had no idea. He is napping on me as I type this. 

I recommend you have an independent activity for your older ones. 

For my family, Reading Eggs and Math Seeds is our choice. It helps things feel less wacky. 

Approximate Spending ~$15-$200 

3. Get Support from a Tutor with Your Charter Funds 

Math was never my favorite subject. Looking back, I just needed to take my time, ask questions and get a little support. 

Has Algebra or some other least-liked subject finally made its way to your student’s lineup of classes? 

Even worse, your kid is having difficulty. 

Order a tutor. 

Ask around or look in an online group for recommendations. 

A tutor might be a significant part of your child’s learning support system and an ongoing way to get those funds to zero. 

Approximate Spending ~$100/month

4. Enroll in Classes or Services to Spend Your Charter School Funds

Enrolling in in-person classes is a win-win if you can manage to get all your kids out of the house on time. 

Classes help develop a remarkable new skill, and you can take a breather (hopefully) while your children learn from another teacher. 

If you have room in your schedule, find a local vendor. 

Here are some ideas:

• Music Lessons
• Swimming 
• Sports 
• Learning Center Courses
• Voice Lessons
• Ballet
• SAT Prep
• Sewing 
• Cooking
• STEM Classes
• Theater 
• Photography

The list is endless. If you prefer an online option, the same rules apply. A lot of in-person vendors also offer online classes. If not, you can ask. 

Approximate Spending ~ $100-$200month

5. Take an Educational Field Trip with Your Family

Remember at the beginning of the school year when you said you wanted to do a lot of fun field trips with your kids?

 Now is the time to get some tickets to the zoo or whatever is in your local area. 

We remember so much more through experiences. I still recall a field trip when I was 8 to someplace where we looked at worms in a cup. 

Find your “worms in a cup” place and make a memory. 

There may be charter school-sponsored field trips where you explore with other families. 

Here are some ideas for places to check out:

• Zoos (San Diego, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, etc.)
• Aquariums (Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Monterey Bay Aquarium, etc.)
• Museums (California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles)
• Arboretums (Fullerton Arboretum, LA County Arboretum)
• Farms (Moonwater Farm in Compton)
• Theater Productions (Local Community playhouses, College productions)

6. Use those Charter School Funds for Products

If you have been homeschooling for a while, you might already have major tech purchases. What else might you need? If you still haven’t used all your funds with the above list, you can think about projects and activities your kids may enjoy with the ideas below. 

Pro-tip: YouTube has free bite-sized art lessons and kid-friendly projects if you need ideas for supplies. Micheal’s also has free tutorials online.

Warning: You may need some space for storage. I recently had to splurge for a craft cart. No regrets. I direct my kids over to the cart whenever the feel the need to create. Ideally, it all goes back to the cart when they are finished.

Subscription boxes – I mentioned subscriptions before, but I’m a big fan. Curriculum in a box! You pop open a box, and fun activities are ready.

You may order boxes individually if a subscription is not possible late in the school year. 

We enjoy Ivy Kit. The activities do a great job of mixing up science, social studies, art, and even games. 

Kiwi Co is also a great option. They have subscriptions for all age groups and interests.

Arts and Crafts – Have you ever left your kids with markers and paper? If you give kids a chance, their imagination takes care of the activity. 

Don’t forget the letter-sized paper, easel paper, canvas, and all the possibilities when it comes to art. 

Teacher (you) Supplies – The pens in my house grow legs and walk away. I wonder if that counts for science? 

Don’t forget all those fun (just me?) school supplies like sticky notes and sticky tabs for organization.

7. Expand Your Knowledge with Charter Funds 

You’re a teacher. Congrats. Now what? 

It’s helpful to read up on the way kids learn, psychology, parenting methods. 

Consider the way you learn best or what is most convenient and purchase: 

• Audio Books
• Video Courses
• In-person Events
• Online Events

See if your charter school will pay for your enrichment as a teacher. 

Approximate Spending ~$20-$200

What to Do Next to Spend Your Funds?

What next? 

Choose your adventure.

Plan. I wrote a blog post about tools that might help in the future.

I’m old school, so I would grab a piece of paper and at the top put how much your kid has left. 

Remember checkbooks and keeping track of your checking account balance? 

Well, it’s kind of like that. 

You can guesstimate how much you are going to spend and on what. 

I’ve never been a fan of math (and had to correct a mistake with this example just now); however, seeing things written down will help ease the stress of getting the funds to zero.

Wow! Swimming classes are expensive, aren’t they? You can predict what classes and items will benefit your child’s education and get to order before your deadline. 

Are you a parent that found this article at the beginning of the year? The same rules apply. 

You can make your best guesses on what you will spend.  

Planning will make you feel a bit more in control. 

Did I Miss Anything Other Ways to Spend Your Funds?

With so many options for spending your charter school funds, it can be hard to know where to start. 

That’s why I put together this comprehensive guide on spending your homeschool charter funds. I hope you find it helpful to make decisions about your child’s education. 

Don’t forget to sign up for my 7 Homeschool Charter Secrets to help make homeschooling easier.