The Short Answer
California Education Code Sections 33190 and 48222 let parents operate a home-based private school by filing an annual Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the California Department of Education. File between October 1 and 15 each year. Teach in English. Cover the subjects California public schools cover. Keep an attendance register and a list of courses. No standardized testing, no annual evaluations, no required hours or days, no reporting to your local school district.
Verified June 2026 against California Education Code Sections 33190 and 48222 and the California Department of Education. Confirm current PSA filing dates at cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/affidavit.asp before filing.
California Homeschooling at a Glance
| Registration | Annual Private School Affidavit (PSA) filed with CDE at www3.cde.ca.gov/psa |
|---|---|
| Filing window | October 1-15 each year (system open August 1 - June 30) |
| Required subjects | Must cover subjects taught in California public schools (EC 51210 / 51220) |
| Daily or yearly hours | Not specified in private school law |
| Testing | Not required |
| Annual evaluation | Not required |
| Record keeping | Attendance register; courses of study; your name and qualifications as teacher |
| High school diploma | Parent-issued; no state form or approval needed |
| State funding | No ESA or voucher program in California |
| Withdrawing from public school | Written notice to the school; file PSA by the next October 15 window |
Why California Has No Homeschool Law
California does not have a statute that says "here is how to homeschool." What it has is a compulsory education law (EC 48200) that requires children ages 6 through 18 to attend full-time school, and a private school exemption (EC 48222) that parents can use to satisfy that requirement at home. The mechanism for using that exemption is filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) under EC 33190, which registers your home operation as a private school in the state's database. Once registered, the compulsory attendance requirement is satisfied. No further approval from the state is needed.
This legal structure has existed for decades. It gives California homeschool families more independence from oversight than families in states that have explicit homeschool statutes with inspection or portfolio requirements. Your local school district is not your regulator. The California Department of Education receives your PSA and adds your school to its database. That is the extent of the state's involvement.
In 2008, a California appellate court ruling in In re Rachel L. initially suggested that parents needed a teaching credential to homeschool under the PSA method. The ruling created alarm in the homeschool community and prompted a large legal and political response. The Court of Appeal subsequently reversed course and reaffirmed the PSA route as valid for parents without a teaching credential. The case resolved in favor of homeschool families, and the PSA method remains the standard legal path for California parents today.
How the Private School Affidavit Works
The PSA is a web form filed at www3.cde.ca.gov/psa. The standard filing window runs October 1 through 15 each year. The system opens earlier (August 1) to accommodate new families starting mid-year, and stays open through June 30. Schools established in July must wait until August to file. You file once per school year, not once per child. If you have three children enrolled in your home school, one PSA covers all of them.
You are not filing with your local school district. You are filing with the California Department of Education, which maintains a statewide private school database. Your district can verify that you have filed, but you are not required to report to your district superintendent and you do not need prior approval from anyone before beginning instruction.
The form asks for basic information: the name of your school (you choose this name), your address, the grade levels you serve, the number of students enrolled, your name as the teacher, and a statement that the school meets the requirements of California law. It takes under 15 minutes to complete. After submitting, keep a copy of the confirmation screen or email for your records. If you move to a different county, file a new PSA with your updated address during the next open window.
Before choosing curriculum, take the free reading assessment to get a concrete picture of where your child stands. Knowing your child's actual reading level lets you choose starting materials that fit from day one, rather than guessing based on what grade they were last assigned in public school.
What You Are Required to Teach
EC 48222 requires home-based private schools to teach in English and to offer instruction in the same branches of study required in California public schools. For grades 1 through 6, the subject list under EC 51210 includes English language development (reading, writing, spelling, and oral communication), mathematics, social sciences, science, visual and performing arts, health, and physical education. For grades 7 through 12, EC 51220 adds foreign language, applied arts, and career or vocational education to those core areas.
California law does not specify which textbooks to use, how many hours to spend on each subject, or what level of mastery your child must demonstrate. The subject list is the requirement; everything else is your decision as the teacher. You choose the curriculum, set the schedule, and determine the pace. A family using an eclectic mix of materials, a boxed curriculum, or a structured online program all satisfy the law equally, as long as the broad subject areas are covered and instruction happens in English.
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Records You Are Required to Keep
EC 33190 specifies three categories of records that a home-based private school must maintain. First, an attendance register that records every absence of half a day or more during each day school is in session. The register does not need to show a specific number of days; it documents attendance when school is held. Second, a list of the courses of study the school offers. Third, the name and address of each teacher (in most cases, that is you) along with a record of your educational qualifications. The law does not require a teaching credential.
In addition to those three required items, the California Department of Education recommends keeping copies of each year's filed PSA and individual pupil records. Most families maintain a simple folder or digital document for each school year that includes the PSA confirmation, a brief course list, attendance notes, and a summary of completed work. You do not submit these records to anyone unless a request is made. The school district has the authority to verify your PSA filing, but it does not inspect your records or evaluate your child's work.
Good record keeping is a low-effort habit if you build it from the start of the year. A dated log entry at the end of each school day, noting which subjects were covered, satisfies the attendance register requirement and gives you a running record of instruction. Families who try to reconstruct this at year-end find it far more work than keeping it current.
Other Ways to Homeschool in California
The PSA route gives the most independence but is not the only option. California parents can also homeschool through a private school satellite program (PSP), which is a private school that enrolls your child and provides support services, curriculum guidance, and record-keeping under its own PSA. The PSP files on your behalf; you teach at home. The trade-off is some reduction in autonomy in exchange for structure and legal coverage. PSPs vary widely in how hands-on they are. Some are loose affiliations; others provide detailed curriculum plans and scheduled check-ins.
A third option is public charter school independent study. Many California charter schools serve home-based learners, providing a credentialed teacher of record, curriculum materials, and in some cases a per-pupil education fund. Independent study programs come with more oversight: lesson plans, regular check-ins with the teacher of record, and standardized assessments may be required depending on the charter. Families who want curriculum support and are comfortable with that level of structure often prefer this path. Families who want to design their own curriculum and avoid oversight choose the PSA route.
Pulling Your Child Out of a California Public School
Send written notice to the school stating that you are withdrawing your child. The school updates its enrollment records. Then file your PSA during the next open window, or immediately if the August-June system is currently active. Keep a copy of your withdrawal notice in case the district follows up. Districts are required by law to verify that children not in public school are either enrolled in a private school or exempt through another legal path. Filing the PSA satisfies that verification requirement for your child.
If your child has an IEP, understand that special education services through the public school end at withdrawal. California does allow home education students with disabilities to access certain services voluntarily after leaving the public school, but the mandatory school-based services tied to an IEP end when the child is no longer enrolled. Consult with your district's special education coordinator before withdrawing if your child has an active IEP, so you know what the voluntary access options look like.
High School, Transcripts, and Diplomas in California
No California law establishes graduation or diploma requirements for private schools, which means you set your own requirements as the operator of a home-based private school. Issue the diploma when your student completes your graduation criteria. Create transcripts in whatever format serves your student's goals after high school.
California public universities have their own admissions standards. The University of California and California State University systems each publish their a-g course requirements for freshman applicants. Home school graduates applying to those schools should build a four-year course plan that meets those requirements and document them clearly in transcripts. Most California public universities are experienced reviewing home school applications and have established processes. Private colleges vary widely; check each school's admissions page for its requirements before the senior year.
For students who want a state-recognized credential rather than a parent-issued diploma, the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) and the GED are both available. The CHSPE certifies that a student has demonstrated academic skill equivalent to a high school graduate and is administered by the California Department of Education. The Guide covers building a four-year high school plan, assigning credit hours, and creating a transcript that holds up to college admissions review.
No State Funding for California Homeschool Families
California has not passed school choice legislation of the type that exists in states like Florida or Arizona. There is no education savings account program, no voucher program, and no state stipend for families who choose to homeschool through the PSA route. Families enrolled in a public charter school independent study program may receive curriculum materials or a learning fund through that program, since it operates under public school funding rules. But families operating a home-based private school under the PSA receive no state financial support for their education expenses.
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A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You
California's legal structure for homeschooling is unusual but the day-to-day reality is one of the least restricted in the country. You file a form in October, keep basic records, teach in English, and cover the broad subject areas the law mentions. No one checks on your progress. No evaluator calls. No testing mandate. The PSA name sounds official, but the form itself takes 15 minutes once you know what to put in it.
The subject requirement sounds broad, but it gives you a framework without locking in any curriculum or publisher. English, math, science, social studies, arts, health, and PE cover the grades 1-6 list. That is a reasonable scope for any year of instruction. The biggest decision California families face is not compliance (the bar is low) but curriculum: what to teach, in what order, from which materials. That is where most of the early work goes, and it is worth spending time on it before you buy anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we Need to File a Private School Affidavit to Homeschool in California?
Yes, if you are operating a home-based private school under EC 48222, you are required to file an annual Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education under EC 33190. File at www3.cde.ca.gov/psa. The standard window is October 1 through 15, but the system is open from August 1 through June 30 to accommodate families starting mid-year.
What Subjects Am we Required to Teach in California?
EC 48222 requires home-based private schools to teach in English and to cover the same branches of study required in public schools. For grades 1-6 that includes English, math, social sciences, science, visual and performing arts, health, and physical education (EC 51210). For grades 7-12, foreign language, applied arts, and career or vocational education are added (EC 51220). No specific curriculum or textbook is required by law.
Does California Require Standardized Testing for Homeschool Students?
No. California law does not require private school students, including those in home-based private schools, to take any standardized test. There is also no annual evaluation or portfolio review requirement under the PSA method.
Can we Issue a High School Diploma to My Homeschooled Child?
Yes. California does not establish graduation or diploma requirements for private schools, which means you set your own graduation standards and issue a diploma when your student meets them. You also create your own transcripts. For students who want a state-recognized alternative, the California High School Proficiency Exam certifies academic skills equivalent to a high school graduate.
Does California Offer Any Funding for Homeschool Families?
No. California does not have an education savings account program, voucher program, or any other state financial support for families operating a home-based private school under the PSA route. Families enrolled in a public charter school independent study program may receive curriculum support through that program, since it operates under public school rules, but that is a different legal arrangement.
Sources
This guide was verified in June 2026 against the following primary sources. Confirm current PSA filing dates and procedures at cde.ca.gov before filing.