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How charter funds work in San Diego

A plain-language guide for parents, based only on what charters publish. Every rule below links to the school document it came from. Rules differ by school and change each year, so your teacher has the final word.

Short version: you don’t get cash. Your child gets a yearly budget. Your teacher approves a class from an approved vendor, the school sends the vendor a certificate or purchase order (PO), and the vendor bills the school. Don’t start or pay before the paperwork is done.

1. What the money is

California homeschool charters are free public schools. Many give each enrolled child a yearly instructional budget for curriculum, supplies and classes from approved vendors. See the comparison for each school’s published amount and how confident we are in it. A few examples from school documents:

Cabrillo Point and Mission Vista: $4,000 (TK-8) and $4,200 (9-12) for 2026-27. CPA handbook, MVA handbook
Excel Academy: $3,400 (TK-8) and $3,900 (9-12) on the Personalized Path for 2026-27. Excel ordering guidelines
Springs: $1,250 for a full year, prorated by start date. Springs funding calendar
Dimensions doesn’t give a set amount per child. Funds go to the teacher’s (EF’s) budget. Dimensions FAQ
Julian counts vendor classes in “Educational Units”, not dollars. Julian EF handbook copy

Funds are usually prorated if you enroll late. Some schools pay them out in parts: PCA deposits funds twice a year (PCA ordering system), and Elite’s 2025-26 handbook describes August and December distributions (Elite handbook).

2. How ordering a class works (the PO model)

Check the vendor is approved for your charter. Use this site, your school’s list or portal, or ask your teacher. PCA says a vendor must be approved before any services start. PCA handbook
Ask your teacher (HST, ES or EF) to approve the class for your child, usually through an online request or ordering system.
The school sends the vendor a certificate or PO. Cabrillo Point calls it an Enrichment Certificate. CPA vendor page
Your child takes the class. The vendor invoices the school afterwards. Cabrillo Point pays vendors on NET 30 terms. CPA vendor page

3. PO vs. reimbursement

Most San Diego charters we looked at pay vendors directly (PO/certificate) instead of paying parents back. Cabrillo Point says vendors may not charge families extra fees or require parents to volunteer as a condition of service. CPA vendor page PCA says families can’t split one bill with the school (partial payments). PCA handbook Some schools allow reimbursement for certain purchases. Check your school’s handbook before you pay anything yourself.

4. Common rules that trip families up

Monthly caps per vendor. PCA: no more than $500 per calendar month per vendor. PCA handbook
No summer or holiday use at some schools (PCA). PCA handbook
Limits on vendor hours. Springs’ 2024-25 guidelines capped vendor classes at 50% of school hours; confirm the current limit with Springs. Springs PCA limits core academic vendor hours. PCA handbook
No transportation. Excel says funds can’t pay for transportation. Excel ordering guidelines
Vouchers first. Julian requires a vendor voucher before your child attends. Julian EF handbook copy
No religious instruction or private-school tuition. These are public funds. A pod or microschool can only be funded if it’s set up as an approved enrichment vendor.

5. If a vendor isn’t approved yet

Ask your teacher whether the school accepts new vendor applications. Many do, but approval takes time, and the vendor usually has to send insurance and paperwork. Vendors can use claim your listing to tell us once they’re approved.

Sources checked 2026-10-23. This guide is not legal or school advice. If a rule here conflicts with your school’s current handbook, the handbook wins.