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Assessment Requirements in California

Most California homeschoolers do not need this page

If you are homeschooling through a Private School Affidavit (PSA), a Private School Satellite Program (PSP), or a private tutor, California does not require state testing.

This page mainly matters if you choose public school or charter independent study. In that pathway, your child participates in the school’s regular CAASPP schedule, and the school handles the logistics.

What’s required

If you choose Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School, your child participates in California’s public-school testing system rather than a separate homeschool test. This is typically CAASPP, and it applies at grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11.

California note: families in PSA or PSP homeschool programs do not choose from an approved test list and do not schedule CAASPP themselves. If your child is in independent study or a charter homeschool, the school tells you when and how testing happens.

What happens if your child doesn’t meet the minimum

California hasn’t defined a specific remediation process for students who score below the minimum. If your child’s scores fall short, we recommend reaching out to your local school district to understand what steps, if any, they expect. In most cases, this is a conversation, not a confrontation.

Approved tests

California does not give independent-study families a parent-selected list of approved homeschool tests here. If your child is enrolled in a public school or charter independent study program, the school administers the required CAASPP assessments on its own schedule.

Alternatives to standardized testing

In California independent study and charter programs, this is usually not a choose-your-own-test situation. The school handles CAASPP participation as part of public-school enrollment. If testing is a major concern for your family, compare that pathway with a PSA or PSP pathway, where state testing is generally not required.

Multiple pathways, different requirements

California offers 4 legal pathways, but only one commonly used pathway has state testing attached to it. Here’s the quick comparison:

  • Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit): no assessment required
  • Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: assessment required (standardized test, at specific grade levels)
  • Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): no assessment required
  • Private Tutor: no assessment required

For most California families, this comes down to one question: do you want private-home education flexibility, or do you want public-school support with public-school testing?

Get your personalized plan

Every family’s situation is a little different. Our free wizard builds a step-by-step compliance plan tailored to your family, including exactly which assessments you need and when they’re due.

Get Your Personalized Plan

Source: EC Section 60640 (CAASPP participation required for public school students including independent study)