Cottonwood FAQ

Fast Facts

The Cottonwood School is an independent, publicly funded charter school offering programs for students in TK-12. We are required by state law to follow the same rules as traditional California public schools when it comes to state testing, grade-level standards, and attendance but offer flexible education options not found in traditional schools.
Because we are a public school, our educational programs are free of charge. We do not charge tuition.
The Cottonwood School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Our educational offerings include home-based independent study for grades TK-12 and Cottonwood College Prep Academy: A Hybrid High School Pathway. CCPA is a Montessori-inspired pathway where students follow their natural curiosity to learn.
Every student enrolled in the Homestudy Pathway is assigned an HST (homeschool teacher), a credentialed teacher who partners with the parent to oversee the student’s education. The parent/guardian serves as the student’s primary teacher. HSTs meet with their students/families at least once every 20 school days.
The Cottonwood School does not have a single specific curriculum; students and families work with their assigned HST to develop individualized learning plans that fit the student’s learning style and educational needs.
Students receive an instructional funds budget each year to request educational materials, curriculum, and classes, approved by their HST. Funds may not be used for sectarian materials. (There are two funding periods in a school year. Funds are pro-rated for students who enroll after the first day of school.)
Enrollment is not guaranteed. We have an open enrollment period each spring. At the end of that period, if we have more interest than we have space, a lottery will be held for available spaces.
Counties served: Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento

FAQ's Enrollment

How do I apply?

You can apply by visiting the enrollment page of our website.

Please do not disenroll your child from their current school until your acceptance is confirmed. Submitting an application does not guarantee admission or constitute enrollment with The Cottonwood School. Students are not considered enrolled until they have completed the enrollment packet and have signed the Independent Study Agreement.

What documents do I need to submit with my enrollment application?

Required Enrollment Document checklist:

Student Enrollment Application (A full application or link will be sent to you with the offer email)
Copy of minimum age requirement verification (Birth certificate, passport, etc.)
Proof of Residency within the counties we serve (El Dorado, Placer, Alpine, Amador, Sacramento) – Please provide one of the following in its entirety :
– Utility bill – full and complete, missing pages will not be accepted (Gas, electricity, home phone, cable)
– Property Tax receipt from current year
– Current Mortgage/rental agreement (must include all signature pages)
– Current home or rental insurance agreement. Contracts must have the signature page. Contracts older than 90 days must be accompanied by documentation from the landlord stating the agreement is still in effect.
– Correspondence from a government agency (CalWorks, Social Security, Medi-Cal)**If you are unable to provide these documents due to your living situation, you may still be eligible under federal and state law to enroll your child in school. Please see the following flyers for more

English

Spanish

Russian

Immunization Records (Vaccinations are NOT a requirement of enrollment in a non-classroom-based charter school. However, all students are required to have a copy of immunization records on file. A signed blank form is acceptable.)
Academic Records for students in 8-12th grades (report card and/or transcripts)
Copy of 504 and/or IEP (if applicable)
Caregiver Affidavit/Court Orders (If applicable)

When can I enroll my child in kindergarten?

Do you offer Transitional Kindergarten?

Yes, we offer a TK program based on the following policies:

TK will be offered for students who turn 5 before the state-determined deadline. For details, please see the enrollment page.
TK students are required to submit an immunization record if one exists, in accordance with Senate Bill 277. Records will be accepted whether complete or incomplete.
TK students are required to have a completed health exam and oral health exam for school entry.

What is your immunization policy?

Under California state law, all students attending a public school must be vaccinated, but students enrolled in a non-classroom based charter school are exempt from vaccination requirements. However, non-classroom based charter schools, including The Cottonwood School, are not exempt from continuing to collect, maintain, and report immunizations every year. Parents of students in our Homestudy Pathway are required to submit immunization information to school, even if the records are incomplete.

Students who attend our site-based high school must show proof of vaccination in order to attend the program.

Does your school have a Special Education program?

Can my child be enrolled in another school while attending?

No. California law prohibits dual enrollment. However, you can apply to The Cottonwood School while enrolled in or applying for other schools. Once your child is officially enrolled, you must unenroll with any other school(s), whether they are public or private.

High school students may attend The Cottonwood School while taking classes at a community college under a concurrent enrollment agreement. This is not dual enrollment.

If my child is accepted and attends The Cottonwood School, will they be eligible to attend a traditional school again at a later date?

What happens after I submit my enrollment forms?

In spring The Cottonwood School has an open enrollment period. During this time students may apply to enroll. Once submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation. We will keep your form submission on file until the open enrollment period ends. Once the open enrollment period ends, we will confirm if space is available for your students(s).

If the number of applications we receive exceeds the number of spaces available, we will hold a lottery. In-person attendance is not required to participate in the lottery. If you receive a space, the enrollment team will email you a link to complete the registration process.

New enrollment applications submitted after the open enrollment period will be placed on a waitlist. Oftentimes there are immediate openings. Our enrollment team will reach out to waitlisted applicants ASAP.

Once we receive a complete enrollment packet with ALL required documents, the application will be processed, and you will receive a notification.

You will be assigned an HST and will be asked to sign an independent study agreement. Your student is not officially enrolled until you sign the independent study agreement.

I have enrollment questions that aren’t answered here and would like to talk to a real person. Who should I contact?

Learning Records

What type of reporting/documentation are homeschool parents required to maintain?

Parents will keep track of attendance and daily engagement is tracked and marked by the parent and is verified by the HST.
Parents will also keep track of concepts and activities covered during each learning period and will report these to their HST.
A sample of the student’s work must be submitted during each learning period. Samples may include written work, demonstrations or images with a description.
Your HST must interact with the student and/or view the full body of student work at each meeting.

Why do I have to submit samples of my child’s work?

Can my student earn college credits while in high school?

How many units are required to graduate?

Working with a Homeschool Teacher (HST)

Can I request a specific HST?

When can I meet with my HST?

Where will I meet with my HST?

I want to have a long-term partnership with an HST. Can we keep the same HST for the entire time my student is at The Cottonwood School?

How long/often are the meetings with our HST?

Field Trips & Events

Do you offer any field trips or other events, and will they be in my area?

Do you offer any field trips or other events, and will they be in my area?

Yes! Field trips and activities are planned by HSTs, Community Coordinators, and other school leaders. We offer dozens of events and activities each month. We try to schedule our events in a variety of locations and on different days of the week to allow as many students to participate as possible. You can get an example of the field trips and other events we offer by looking at our event calendar. Enrolled families can access details for these events on our parent intranet, known as the Hawks’ Nest.

Instructional Funding

How does school funding work?

The state of CA funds charter schools based on average daily student attendance (ADA), and fund rates are subject to change each year based on the state budget.

All non-consumable materials purchased with instructional funds are the property of the school and must be returned upon leaving our school. Parents will be responsible to pay for materials lost, stolen, damaged, or not returned to the school.

What are consumables and non-consumables?

Products or services that a student uses completely so they are not usable by another student is a “consumable.” Examples of consumables might be paper, subscriptions, field trips, etc. Items that can be used by another student are non-consumable. Examples of non-consumable items are books, computers, or microscopes. Consumable items must be returned if a student leaves the school before the end of the school year.