The Short Answer
To withdraw your child from public school in California, file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) to establish your home as a private school, then notify your child's public school in writing that the child is now enrolled in a private school. The standard PSA filing window is October 1 to 15, but if you are withdrawing mid-year you file the affidavit at the time you withdraw rather than waiting. Keep your PSA confirmation and a copy of your written notice. California does not require district approval to withdraw. Compulsory attendance applies from age 6. Confirm current PSA dates at cde.ca.gov.
Verified June 2026 against California Education Code Sections 33190 and 48222 and the California Department of Education. Confirm current Private School Affidavit dates at cde.ca.gov before relying on this for legal decisions.
California Withdrawal at a Glance
| Step 1: Establish your school | File a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the California Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Step 2: Timing | October 1 to 15 normally; at the time of withdrawal if mid-year |
| Step 3: Notify the school | Send written notice that your child is now enrolled in a private school |
| Step 4: Keep records | Save your PSA confirmation and your written notice |
| Approval needed | None; the district does not approve the withdrawal |
| Compulsory age | From age 6 |
How Withdrawal Works in California
California does not have a homeschool withdrawal form. Instead, you make your home a private school by filing a Private School Affidavit, and once your child is enrolled in that private school, they are lawfully withdrawn from the public school. There is no district approval step. The two actions that matter are filing the affidavit and notifying the public school, in that order.
The legal basis is straightforward: California Education Code 48222 allows parents to satisfy the state's compulsory attendance requirement by operating a home-based private school. California Education Code 33190 requires that school to file an annual PSA with the California Department of Education. Once the affidavit is on file, your child's enrollment shifts from the public school to your private school. The public school's attendance records no longer apply.
You do not need a lawyer to complete this process. You do not need to explain your reasons for withdrawing. You do not need the district's blessing. The affidavit and the written notice are the whole process.
Step 1: File the Private School Affidavit
The Private School Affidavit, or PSA, is the one-page form you file with the California Department of Education to register your home as a private school. It records basic information about your school: its name (you choose this), your address, the grades you serve, the number of students enrolled, and your name as teacher. Filing it is what gives your home school legal standing, and it is the action that converts your child from a public school student into a private school student.
The standard filing window is October 1 to 15 each year. The system opens August 1 to accommodate families starting mid-year or at the start of a school year. If you are beginning in a typical school year, file in the October window. The form is available at www3.cde.ca.gov/psa. After submitting, you receive a confirmation; save that confirmation for your records.
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Step 2: Withdrawing Mid-Year
If you are pulling your child out partway through the year, you do not wait for the October window. You file the Private School Affidavit at the time you withdraw, which establishes your private school right away, and then you notify the public school. Filing first and notifying second is the sequence that keeps your child continuously enrolled in a school and avoids a truancy gap.
This is the point families most often get wrong. Stopping attendance before the affidavit is on file can trigger truancy outreach, because on paper the child is still a public school student who is absent. File the affidavit, then send your notice, and the gap never opens. The PSA system is open from August 1 through June 30 for exactly this reason.
The day your affidavit is submitted, your private school exists. From that point forward, your child attends your private school, not the public one. The written notice to the public school is the communication that lets the district update its records. Both steps matter, but the affidavit comes first.
Step 3: Notify the Public School
Once your affidavit is filed, send a written notice to your child's public school stating that the child is now enrolled in a private school and is being withdrawn. You do not have to name your school's affidavit number, though including it can smooth the process. Keep the notice short and factual: the child's name, the date of withdrawal, and a statement that the child is enrolled in a private school.
You can deliver this notice by email, mail, or in person. If you mail it, send it with delivery confirmation so you have a record of when it arrived. If you email it, keep a copy of the sent message. The school is required to update its enrollment records once it receives notice.
Request that the school provide any documents you want while the records are being pulled. Immunization records and transcripts are the most useful ones to have on hand. You may need them for future enrollment decisions or medical visits, and getting them at withdrawal is simpler than requesting them later. Once you have the documents and your written notice is delivered, plan out the curriculum you will use; the Guide covers building a structured teaching plan from scratch.
Records, Special Education, and Common Snags
Keep three things: your PSA confirmation, a copy of your written withdrawal notice, and any records you request from the school. Together they document that your child moved cleanly from public to private enrollment. California does not require you to submit curriculum or seek approval, so these records are your proof if a question ever arises later. A simple folder, paper or digital, is enough.
California also requires that you maintain an attendance register, a list of courses of study, and a record of your name and qualifications as teacher once your home school is operating. These stay in your possession; you do not submit them to the district. The PSA confirmation shows the state you filed. Your withdrawal notice shows the public school you left. Your internal records show you are running a real school.
If your child has an Individualized Education Program, the special education services provided through the public school end when you withdraw to a private home school. California districts may offer limited services to private school students, but the public school IEP entitlement does not carry over. Contact the district's special education office before withdrawing if services are in place. The most common snag families run into is timing, so the rule to remember is affidavit first, notice second.
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A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You
California makes withdrawal cleaner than it looks once you see that the Private School Affidavit is the whole key. You are not asking permission and you are not just keeping your child home; you are opening a private school and moving your child into it. The one thing we would never get backward is the order. File the affidavit first, then send the school your written notice, especially mid-year, because that order is what keeps your child continuously enrolled and the truancy letters away.
Keep your affidavit confirmation and your notice in one folder, request your child's records while you are at it, and you are done. For the full picture of running your California home school after the withdrawal, lean on our California homeschooling guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Withdraw My Child From Public School in California?
File a Private School Affidavit to establish your home as a private school, then send the public school a written notice that your child is now enrolled in a private school. The district does not need to approve it.
Can I Withdraw Mid-Year in California?
Yes. File the Private School Affidavit at the time you withdraw rather than waiting for the October window, then notify the school. Filing first keeps your child continuously enrolled and avoids a truancy gap.
Do I Need the District's Permission to Withdraw?
No. California does not require district approval to withdraw. Filing the affidavit and notifying the school is all that is required.
What Records Should I Keep?
Your Private School Affidavit confirmation, a dated copy of your written withdrawal notice, and any records you request from the school, such as immunization records or transcripts.
What Happens to My Child's IEP?
Public school special education services end when you withdraw to a private home school. Districts may offer limited services to private school students, but the IEP entitlement does not carry over. Contact the special education office before withdrawing.