Homeschooling Just Got Easier: How to Get $1,900 Per Child in These 5 States

Homeschooling for Free? If You Live in One of These 5 States, You Might Be Eligible

Okay, homeschooling friend. Let’s talk about something that sounds like a Pinterest myth—but is actually real.

If you live in Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, or Wyoming, you could be homeschooling your kids for free. Like, actual free. Not “free with a catch” or “free if you sell your soul to the curriculum gods.” Just… free.

Enter: Braintree, a public charter program that’s quietly changing the homeschooling game.

And if you’re wondering what it’s really like to homeschool in North Dakota, I wrote about that too: Why I Love Living in North Dakota—What You Should Know Before Moving Here.

What Is Braintree?

Braintree is a public charter program that partners with homeschooling families to offer:

• Online classes (à la carte or full schedules)
• Local enrichment (yes, even that cozy pottery class down the street)
• $1,900 per student, per year to spend on curriculum, supplies, and extracurriculars

It’s like someone handed you a homeschool debit card and said, “Go make magic.”
But with one important note: funds can’t be used for anything religious—no faith-based curriculum, no devotional books, no religious classes. Totally secular, totally flexible.

If you’re trying to choose curriculum that supports neurodivergent brains (without breaking them), here’s How to Choose Curriculum That Supports Neurodivergent Brains.

What’s the Catch?

Honestly? It’s refreshingly simple.

Each week during the homeschooling year, you submit one piece of work for each core subject:

• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Language Arts

That’s it. No endless paperwork. No soul-crushing busywork. Just one meaningful artifact per subject, per week.

And yes—some states require testing, but it’s just twice a year, for math and language arts, and it takes about an hour total. That’s it. No stress, no prep, no drama.

If you’re burned out and still homeschooling, here’s What Actually Helped Me Heal. And if your day starts in meltdown mode, How to Recover When the Day Starts in Meltdown Mode might be your lifeline.

Awesome Amazon Finds You Can Buy with Braintree Funds

If you’ve got $1,900 per student to spend, Amazon becomes a homeschooling treasure chest. Here are some secular, Braintree-friendly picks that make learning feel magical, hands-on, and emotionally safe:

Core Subject Boosters

• Math manipulatives (place value blocks, fraction tiles, number lines)
• Science kits (microscopes, circuit boards, rock and mineral sets)
• Social studies maps & globes (plus cozy geography puzzles)
• Language arts tools (dry-erase sentence strips, grammar games, handwriting paper)

Want to see what we actually use and love? Here’s 11 Hands-On Homeschool Materials We Actually Use.

Creative & Sensory Supplies

• Watercolor sets, sketchbooks, and oil pastels
• Modeling clay, kinetic sand, and sensory bins
• Noise-canceling headphones and visual timers

If you’re building a sensory-friendly homeschooling workspace, Here’s How to Honor Your Brilliance. And if your child’s sensory behavior feels “weird,” Why It’s Actually Totally Normal might help you breathe easier.

Secular Curriculum Add-Ons

• Workbooks from Scholastic, Evan-Moor, and DK
• STEM challenge cards and logic puzzles
• Graphic novels and leveled readers
• Nonfiction bundles on space, history, and nature

Curious what homeschooling really looks like? This Is What Learning Really Looks Like (And Why It’s Enough).

Enrichment & Executive Function

• Board games that build strategy and collaboration
• Mindfulness cards and breathing boards

If your nervous system is fried from homeschooling chaos, You’re Not Lazy—You’re Overstimulated might be the post you didn’t know you needed.

What Classes Are Available?

Braintree offers à la carte online classes in:

• Creative Writing
• Algebra & Geometry
• Earth Science
• U.S. History
• Art & Music
• Coding
• Spanish
• And more—updated each semester

You can enroll in just one or build a full homeschooling schedule. It’s flexible, family-friendly, and designed to support your vision.

If you’re trying to build a gentle homeschool rhythm this fall, Here’s What Actually Works. And if you’re teaching through tears, These Calming Tools might help.

Why Homeschooling Moms Love It

Because it’s:

• Flexible (you choose what works)
• Empowering (you control the budget)
• Low-pressure (one assignment per subject per week)
• Legitimately helpful (no hoops, no guilt, no overwhelm)

If you’re the emotional anchor in a room full of homeschooling chaos, Here’s What to Say. And if you’re trying to feel human again in five minutes (even if someone’s screaming about socks), This Might Help.

Want In?

If you live in one of those five states, it’s worth checking out. Enrollment opens seasonally, and spots fill fast. Whether you’re full-time homeschooling or just dipping a toe into the waters, Braintree might be the gentle nudge you’ve been waiting for.

And if you’re also trying to make money from home while homeschooling—without losing your sanity, soul, or softness—Here’s How. Because yes, you can homeschool, earn, and still feel like you.