Tacoma Youth Chorus

Raise Your Voice | Fuel Your Passion | Join in Song

For Homeschool Families

Looking for options to assist with the cost of participation in Tacoma Youth Chorus? 

TYC participates in the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) program that helps pay for participation in qualifying programs outside of a regular public classroom that meet state standards and criteria.  This program allows participants to select from approved Community-Based Instructors (CBI) to provide for instructional programs during the school year that are substantially similar to public-school curriculum offerings.  

How it works:

  • Families enroll with a participating school district and work with their district instructor to select Tacoma Youth Chorus as a CBI.
  • Our TYC directors regularly communicate lesson objectives and student progress with the coordinating district teacher.
  • The school district typically provides for part or all of the cost of tuition for the CBI program (exceptions and limits apply – contact the district for specifics), usually on a monthly basis during the time that district is in session for the school year, provided requirements are met.  
  • Any TYC tuition not covered by the district is the responsibility of the family (for example, if the district’s school year ends before the TYC season in mid-June, families may have to pay the June tuition installment themselves). ALE programs usually do not pay for additional costs – annual registration fees, uniforms, etc.  
  • In order to support as many families as possible with our limited resources, families receiving ALE support for TYC participation are not eligible for a sibling discount, and the individual singer receiving ALE support is not eligible for a need-based scholarship (siblings not receiving ALE support for TYC are, however, eligible to apply for need-based scholarship support).

Our current partnerships:

Tacoma Youth Chorus is currently an approved community-based instructor (CBI) with the Orcas Island School District’s OASIS program.  Students must be Washington State Residents and meet all other program eligibility, but do not have to reside within the Orcas Island School District.

We have also participated as a CBI in the Quilcene School District’s PEARL program (grade K-8 only).

Contact these or other school district programs directly to learn more about processes and qualifications – please note: many partnerships have to be established months in advance of the new school year.  Contact us if you are considering an ALE that we are not currently partnered with.



Tacoma Youth Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tacoma Youth Chorus does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression or identity, age*, national origin, citizenship, disability, or sexual orientation in any of its activities, educational policies, or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

*Ages of program participants are based on organizational and educational criteria. Currently, TYC serves students Kindergarten through high school graduation. TYC does not discriminate based on age as to employment or volunteer opportunities.