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California Homeschool Documents & Templates

Every document you need to homeschool legally in California, based on EC Section 48222 (Private School Exemption).

These are general templates for Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit), the most common of California's 4 pathways. Our free wizard helps you prepare for the PSA and generates the supporting letters around it, with your name, address, and district filled in.

How California documents work

California's main filing is the Private School Affidavit (PSA), and that filing happens through the CDE's online portal. HomeschoolLeap helps you prepare for that filing. The documents we generate are the letters around it, especially if you are leaving a current school.

1. Prepare your PSA filing

Use the wizard to gather the exact school, address, grade, and administrator details you'll enter in the CDE portal.

2. Generate your withdrawal letter

If your child is currently enrolled, we generate the withdrawal letter that tells the school your child is transferring to a private school.

3. Generate a records request letter

We also generate a FERPA records request letter so you can collect transcripts, attendance, immunization records, and IEP paperwork if needed.

What documents do you need?

Private School Affidavit (PSA)

Required. File with California Department of Education (CDE) by October 1 through October 15 annually

This is an online filing, not a letter template.

Records Request Letter

Recommended if your child is currently enrolled. Use it to request transcripts, attendance, immunization records, and IEP paperwork.

Annual Renewal

Required by October 1 through October 15 annually

Private School Affidavit (PSA)

What to file
Private School Affidavit (PSA)
File with
California Department of Education (CDE)
Deadline
October 1 through October 15 annually
  • The statutory filing period is October 1 through 15. CDE keeps the online filing system open from August 1 through June 30 so new schools and home schools can file when they start.
How often
annual
Official filing portal
Download / access form
Practical tip: The statutory filing period is October 1 through 15. The CDE's online filing system is open from August 1 through June 30 so new schools and home schools can file when they start; schools established in July wait until the system opens in August. Your child's exemption is valid only after the district's attendance supervisor verifies that the affidavit was filed, and that verification is not an evaluation or approval of your school (EC Section 48222). The CDE's FAQ says to provide a copy of your affidavit to the attendance supervisor.

EC Section 33190 (annual Private School Affidavit filing); EC Section 48222 (private school exemption from compulsory attendance)

What HomeschoolLeap does here: we help you prepare the PSA details and direct you to the official CDE filing portal. The generated letters for California are the withdrawal and records-request letters around that filing.

Annual Renewal

Deadline
October 1 through October 15 annually
Practical tip: Your annual filing is the Private School Affidavit, due October 1 through 15 each year (EC Section 33190). The state does not require testing of private schools.

EC Section 33190 (annual PSA filing between October 1 and October 15)

Recordkeeping requirements

Varies by pathway. Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit): true; Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: false; Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): true; Private Tutor: false

  • ✓Attendance records
Practical tip: Keep an attendance register that clearly shows every absence of a half day or more (EC Section 48222). The CDE says a copy of the affidavit should be kept at the school, along with the attendance register, courses of study, and faculty names, addresses, and qualifications.

EC Section 48222 (attendance register); EC Section 33190(f) (records kept at the school)

Other ways to homeschool in California

This page covers Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit). California offers 4 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

  • •
    Home-Based Private School (Private School Affidavit)(this page): You establish a home-based private school. Each year you file a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education (EC Section 33190). Instruction is given by persons capable of teaching, in English, in the several branches of study required in the public schools, and you keep attendance in a register (EC Section 48222). The state does not require testing of private schools and sets no minimum days or hours for them.
  • •
    Independent Study Through Public School or Charter School: Your child enrolls in a public charter school or public school district independent study program and learns at home. Your child remains a public school student, so the school sets the program's requirements, and state law requires its students to take the state CAASPP tests (EC 60640). A student with an IEP may take part only if the IEP specifically provides for independent study (EC 51745(c)). Ask the school about its rules on curriculum and meetings before you enroll.
  • •
    Private School Satellite Program (PSP / Umbrella School): You enroll your child in a private school satellite program (PSP), an existing private school that offers independent study. The PSP files its own Private School Affidavit as a private school (EC Section 33190). Ask the PSP what records and paperwork it needs from you.
  • •
    Private Tutor: Your child is taught by a tutor who holds a valid state credential for the grade taught, for at least 3 hours a day for 175 days each calendar year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., in English, in the several branches of study required in the public schools (EC Section 48224).

Our wizard helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for California

Get your personalized documents

These are general templates. The wizard generates documents with your name, address, and district already filled in, ready to download and send.

Get your California documents

Requirements sourced from EC Section 48222 (Private School Exemption). Last reviewed October 2026