How to Start Homeschooling in California

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in California. The story of how it got that way helps you understand your rights.

In 1953, the case of People v. Turner said parents could not keep kids home without meeting private school rules. For decades, homeschool families operated in a gray zone.

Then in February 2008, a court ruled in Jonathan L. v. Superior Court that parents needed credentials to homeschool in California. For about six months, families worried they might be breaking the law. Then in August 2008, the court reheard the case and reversed its ruling. In the rehearing, the court held that "California statutes permit home schooling as a species of private school education" under EC Section 48222. The phrase "persons capable of teaching" does not mean you need a teaching credential. The law has been settled since.

California is a moderate-regulation state. You file a PSA once a year under EC Section 33190. EC Section 48222 says you keep an attendance register, but nobody checks it. The CDE has no authority to inspect private schools. You cover the required subjects under EC Sections 51210 and 51220. That is it. The state does not check your curriculum. It does not require testing.

California requires education for children from age 6 through age 18. That is one of the wider age ranges in the country. This comes from EC Section 48200.

Your child must be getting some form of education from age 6 until they turn 18, finish 12th grade, or pass the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).

Here is something that trips up new parents: kindergarten is not required. Neither is transitional kindergarten (TK). If your child is 4 or 5 years old, they do not need to be enrolled in anything. You have time to plan.

For older students, the CHSPE is worth knowing about. It is available at age 16 or after finishing 10th grade. Passing it legally ends the school requirement under EC Section 48412. California employers and community colleges treat it as equal to a high school diploma. If your teenager is ready to move on before 18, this is a real path.

Most California homeschool families pick the Home-Based Private School pathway under EC Section 48222. It has the most freedom and the least paperwork. If that is the path you want, here is how to start homeschooling in California, step by step:

Step 1: Decide. You do not need anyone's permission. The PSA filing is a notice, not an application. The state does not approve or deny it. You are telling them, not asking.

Step 2: Pick a school name. Your home school needs a name for the PSA. It can be anything you like.

Step 3: File the PSA. Go to the CDE portal (cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/affidavit.asp) and file. The system is open from August 1 through June 30, so you can file as soon as you start. The form asks for your school name and address, your name, each child's name and birth date, teacher info, grades, and a few checkboxes. After your first year, renew by October 15 each year.

Step 4: Withdraw from school. If your child is enrolled, send a letter to the school saying they are transferring to a private school. Use certified mail or get a receipt. The school should code this as CALPADS code T180. File your PSA first so the school sees your child is accounted for. This keeps you off the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) radar.

Step 5: Start an attendance register. Keep a simple log of which days you did school. A calendar or spreadsheet works. You will not submit it to anyone, but it is good insurance if your homeschool is ever questioned.

Step 6: Start teaching. Pick your curriculum, set your schedule, and go.

The Private School Affidavit (EC Section 33190) is your one required filing each year. The CDE's online system is open from August 1 through June 30. If you are just starting, file when you start. If you are renewing from the prior year, file by October 15. Here is what the form asks:

• Your school name and address (your home address)
• Your name as school owner and administrator
• Whether the school is for profit, nonprofit, or a corporation
• Each student's name, address, and birth date
• Each teacher's name, address, and qualifications
• How many students are in each grade
• A checkbox saying you teach the required subjects
• Whether background checks have been done

One thing that catches families off guard: your school address does go on the PSA. But most home-based private schools have fewer than 6 students, and those schools are not listed in the public CDE Private School Directory. If you have elevated privacy concerns, like a custody dispute or domestic violence situation, you still have options. You can join a Private School Satellite Program (PSP). A PSP adds an extra layer of separation because it files under the PSP's address instead of yours.

The PSA filing is free. No fee. And remember: the CDE does not approve or deny it. Once you submit, you are done for the year.

Among California homeschool requirements, testing is where you get the best news. Under the home-based private school pathway (EC Section 48222), there is no testing at all. No standardized tests. No portfolio reviews. No yearly evaluations. No minimum scores.

You decide how to check your child's progress. Some families give tests on their own to see where their kids stand. That is your choice. It is not a California homeschool requirement.

The only exception is Pathway 4. If your child is in a public school or charter independent study program under EC Sections 51745-51749.6, they must take CAASPP state tests. That includes Smarter Balanced tests in English and Math at grades 3-8 and 11, plus the California Science Test and Physical Fitness Test. But under the home-based private school pathway, there is no testing.

California gives you four legal ways to homeschool in California. Each has different trade-offs.

Home-Based Private School (EC Section 48222). The most popular path. One PSA filing a year. An attendance register (never submitted, good insurance to have). Full freedom over what and how you teach.

Private School Satellite Program (PSP). An umbrella school handles your PSA filing and adds an extra layer of privacy because it files under the PSP's address instead of yours. It may offer curriculum help and transcripts. California has many PSPs, but quality varies a lot. Make sure any PSP you consider actually files its own PSA and appears in the CDE directory.

Private Tutor (EC Section 48224). The tutor needs a valid California teaching credential for each subject. At least 3 hours a day, 175 days a year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Costly and rigid. Very few families use this.

Independent Study (EC Sections 51745-51749.6). Your child stays enrolled in a public school or charter but learns at home. Free. Preserves IEP services. The school provides curriculum and a credentialed teacher. Less freedom for you, but some charters offer spending money for approved curriculum. A word of caution: some California homeschool charters have faced closures and money scandals. Check the charter's status before enrolling.

A few things every family should know when learning how to start homeschooling in California:

Privacy is better than many families think. Your school address goes on the PSA, but home-based private schools with fewer than 6 students are not listed in the public CDE directory. If you have elevated privacy concerns, a PSP still gives you extra separation because it files under the PSP's address.

You do not need a teaching credential. Per Jonathan L. v. Superior Court (2008, on rehearing), parents can homeschool under the private school pathway without a credential. If a school official tells you otherwise, they are wrong. This is the most common piece of bad advice new California homeschool families hear.

IEP services stop under Pathways 1, 2, and 3. When you leave public school for a home-based private school, the IEP does not follow your child. If your child needs special education, Pathway 4 is the only choice that keeps full IEP rights. Also worth knowing: California Regional Centers help children with developmental disabilities no matter where they go to school. Many families do not know this resource exists.

Immunizations. Home-based private schools are exempt from school immunization requirements per HSC 120335(f). SB 277 (2015) eliminated personal belief exemptions for schools that are subject to the requirements, but home-based private schools are carved out. Brick-and-mortar private schools, including PSPs with physical campuses, are subject to immunization requirements under HSC 120325.

Watch out with co-ops. If your co-op provides full-time instruction, it may need its own PSA under EC Sections 48222 and 33190. A co-op that adds to your own teaching is on safer ground.

Core teaching must be in English. EC Section 48222 says instruction must be "in the English language." You can teach other languages too. Many bilingual families do. But the main teaching must be in English.

Mark October 15 for renewals. If you are continuing from the prior year, renew your PSA by October 15. If you are starting fresh, file as soon as you begin. The CDE system is open from August 1 through June 30.