California Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in California, based on EC Section 48222 (Private School Exemption). California is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit), the most common of California's 4 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to California Department of Education (CDE). Deadline: October 1 through October 15 annually.
Deadline: October 1 through October 15 annually
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to child's current school.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Required subjects (varies by grade)
Grades 1–6: English (speaking, reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, composition, literature), mathematics, social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology), science (biological and physical sciences, scientific investigation, ecology), visual and performing arts (dance, music, theatre, visual arts), health (individual, family, and community health), physical education. Grades 7–12: English (literature, language, composition), social sciences (history, geography, civics/government, economics), world language or languages (beginning not later than grade 7), physical education, science (biological and physical sciences), mathematics, visual and performing arts (dance, music, theatre, visual arts), applied arts (consumer/homemaking education, industrial arts, general business, general agriculture), career technical education, automobile driver education
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by October 1-15.
Good news
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- California Department of Education (CDE)
- Deadline
- October 1 through October 15 annually
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
EC Section 33190 (annual Private School Affidavit filing); EC Section 48222 (private school exemption from compulsory attendance)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects (varies by grade)
Grades 1–6
- ✓English (speaking, reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, composition, literature)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology)
- ✓science (biological and physical sciences, scientific investigation, ecology)
- ✓visual and performing arts (dance, music, theatre, visual arts)
- ✓health (individual, family, and community health)
- ✓physical education
Grades 7–12
- ✓English (literature, language, composition)
- ✓social sciences (history, geography, civics/government, economics)
- ✓world language or languages (beginning not later than grade 7)
- ✓physical education
- ✓science (biological and physical sciences)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓visual and performing arts (dance, music, theatre, visual arts)
- ✓applied arts (consumer/homemaking education, industrial arts, general business, general agriculture)
- ✓career technical education
- ✓automobile driver education
EC Section 51210 (elementary courses of study, grades 1-6); EC Section 51220 (secondary courses of study, grades 7-12)
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit): null; Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): null; Private Tutor: null; Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: [3,4,5,6,7,8,11]
- Accepted types
See our full assessment guide for California for details.
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit): true; Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): false; Private Tutor: true; Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: false
- ✓Attendance records
EC Section 48222 (attendance register); EC Section 33190 (enrollment records: names, addresses, birth dates)
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit): "October 1-15"; Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): null; Private Tutor: null; Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: null
- Annual renewal
- Required by October 1-15
EC Section 33190 (annual PSA filing between October 1 and October 15)
What you don't need to worry about
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Other ways to homeschool in California
This checklist covers Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit), the most common pathway. California offers 4 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit)(this checklist) : You file a one-page Private School Affidavit with the CDE each October, keep an attendance register, and teach required subjects. No testing, no curriculum approval, no reporting beyond the annual PSA. Most California homeschoolers choose this pathway.
- •Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School : Your child enrolls in a public school or charter school independent study program and learns at home under a credentialed teacher's supervision. The school provides curriculum, handles all reporting, and your child retains full IEP and special education rights. Less parent autonomy but more support and services.
- •Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School) : You enroll in a Private School Satellite Program (umbrella school) that handles all state paperwork on your behalf. The PSP files the PSA, maintains records, and keeps your home address out of the public CDE directory. You teach at home with PSP guidance. Good for families who want administrative support or privacy.
- •Private Tutor : A credentialed California teacher tutors your child for at least 3 hours per day, 175 days per year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. No state notification required, but the tutor must hold a valid credential for the grade taught. This pathway is costly and impractical for most families.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for California
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your California checklistRequirements sourced from EC Section 48222 (Private School Exemption). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026