October 2026 · Legal
How to Start Homeschooling in California: Your Legal Options, Explained
California has no separate homeschool law. Most families homeschool in one of two ways. Some set up a home-based private school by filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the California Department of Education. Others enroll in an existing private school that supports home study (often called a PSP). The PSA is filed every year (the official window is October 1–15). New homeschools can file any time from August 1 through June 30, and the online filing takes about 20 minutes.
California sounds intimidating because the word "homeschool" isn't in the statute. Once you see the options side by side, though, it's very doable. Here's the plain-language version.
Your Four Legal Options
1. File a Private School Affidavit
Most common for independent families
Law: Cal. Educ. Code §33190 and §48222
You establish your home as a private school, file the PSA online with CDE, teach the required branches of study in English, and keep the required records. No credential is required: teachers must be "capable of teaching."
2. Join a private school satellite program (PSP)
Enroll in an existing private school that supports home study
Who files: The PSP (the private school) files its own affidavit
You teach at home and the PSP keeps the records. Many offer record-keeping, transcripts and community. Fees and requirements vary by program.
3. Public charter or independent study
Home-based, but still public school
Trade-off: Funding and support, but public-school oversight
Many charters offer home-based learning with funds for materials. Because it's public school, you follow the charter's or district's requirements.
4. Credentialed private tutor
Least common
Law: Cal. Educ. Code §48224
Instruction by someone holding a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught, at least 3 hours a day for 175 days a year.
Step by Step: The PSA Route
1. Withdraw from your current school
Let your child's current school know in writing that they're enrolling in your private school. Have your PSA confirmation ready if the district asks. Districts verify exemptions by checking the affidavit filing, not by approving your homeschool.
2. File the Private School Affidavit
File online through the CDE's Private School Affidavit page. The official annual window is October 1–15, but the system is open August 1 through June 30 for new schools and homeschools. File only once your child is actually enrolled and being taught, because CDE says the affidavit should reflect at least one currently enrolled student. Save your confirmation number. Filing is a registration, not an approval.
3. Teach the required subjects, in English
Private schools must offer instruction in the branches of study taught in public schools (Cal. Educ. Code §51210 for grades 1–6 and §51220 for grades 7–12), such as English, math, science, social science, health, PE and the arts. You choose the curriculum and materials, and CDE doesn't review them. California's content standards are a useful optional guide. Our free style quiz can help you choose a curriculum approach.
4. Keep the three required records
- Attendance register: record every absence of a half day or more on each day school is held.
- Courses of study offered.
- Faculty names and addresses, with a record of each teacher's educational qualifications (yes, that's you).
CDE also recommends keeping copies of each year's affidavit and basic pupil records. Our printable workbook includes planning and progress-tracking pages that help.
Common California Questions, Answered
- What ages are covered? California's compulsory education law covers ages 6 to 18 (Cal. Educ. Code §48200).
- Do I need a teaching credential? Not for the PSA or PSP routes. Only the private-tutor option requires a credential.
- Is there state testing? Not for private (including home-based private) schools. CDE doesn't regulate or monitor private schools.
- Do I re-file every year? Yes. The affidavit is an annual filing, due each October 1–15 for continuing schools.
Make Your First Month Feel Calm
The Homeschool Starter Guide walks you through choosing an approach, planning your year, selecting curriculum, scheduling and record-keeping, and includes a state-by-state legal reference and template letters of intent you can customize.
Sources We Used
- California Department of Education: Schooling at Home
- California Department of Education: Private Schools FAQ (PSA filing window, exemptions, records)
- California Department of Education: Private School Affidavit filing
- California Education Code §33190 (and related §48200, §48222, §48224, §51210, §51220)
- HSLDA: California Homeschool Law
This is general information, not legal advice. We last checked these rules against the sources below in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the official sources before you file anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Next steps for your homeschool
Ready to go deeper? Get The Homeschool Starter Guidefor the complete step-by-step roadmap, or book a 1-on-1 consultationand we'll build a plan together for your family.
