California Homeschool Requirements

Under Ed Code §33190, every person conducting private school instruction must annually file an affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The CDE online PSA system is open August 1 through June 30. Under §48222, the local district must verify the PSA has been filed before the compulsory education exemption is valid. Alternative options (credentialed tutor §48224, public independent study, private school satellite program) do not require a PSA from the parent.

Ed Code §48222 requires a private school to offer instruction in the branches of study required in public schools. These are defined in §51210 (grades 1-6) and §51220 (grades 7-12). Instruction must be in English (§48222). Parents select all curriculum and materials; the state does not prescribe specific textbooks.

Ed Code §48222 exempts children attending a 'private full-time day school' but does not define specific hours for PSA-based home schools. The credentialed-tutor option (§48224) requires 3 hours/day, 175 days/year, 8am-4pm. PSA schools must maintain attendance registers noting absences of a half day or more (§48222, §33190(f)(1)).

The CAASPP is administered only to public school students. The CDE states: 'While state testing is not required of private schools, parents can test their students either by trying to participate in local testing or finding assessment material from a curriculum or online resource.'

Ed Code §33190(f) requires records: (1) attendance per §48222, (2) courses of study, (3) faculty names/addresses/qualifications. CDE recommends maintaining copies of PSAs and pupil records per CCR Title 5, §430-437. Verification is done by local districts solely to confirm compulsory education exemption.

Ed Code §48222 uses the phrase 'persons capable of teaching,' which has not been interpreted to require formal credentials. The California Supreme Court in In re Rachel L. (on rehearing) confirmed parents may operate a home-based private school without a teaching credential. Ed Code §48224 requires a credential for the tutor option.

Health and Safety Code §120335(f): 'This section does not apply to a pupil in a home-based private school.' Because home-based private schools are carved out, immunization requirements do not apply. If a child later enrolls in a conventional school, standard requirements apply.

Under IDEA and Ed Code §56000 et seq., the LEA must provide FAPE to eligible children. When parents withdraw to a private home school, the LEA is no longer obligated to implement the IEP but retains child find. IDEA §300.130-144 requires proportionate share services. HSC §120335(h) ensures immunization rules cannot bar IEP-entitled students from accessing special education.

CDE instructs families to withdraw students from public school as part of PSA startup. Ed Code §49068 governs record transfers: the former school must transfer permanent records within 10 schooldays of receiving the request. Parents may re-enroll at any time per CDE FAQ. Districts set their own placement policies.

Ed Code §48200: each person between ages 6 and 18 not exempted is subject to compulsory full-time education. Exemptions include: attendance at a PSA-filing private school (§48222), credentialed tutor (§48224), or public charter/independent study program. Failure to comply can result in truancy citations and criminal liability.

CDE states: 'Because there is no law or regulation that establishes graduation or diploma requirements for California private schools, any such requirements set for an individual home school may not be generally recognized.' Parents create their own diplomas. Alternative credentials: GED and CHSPE (California Proficiency Program).

Ed Code §35179 grants district boards control over interscholastic athletic policies including eligibility. CIF bylaws require full-time enrollment. California has no Tim Tebow law. Some districts may permit part-time enrollment at their discretion. A PSA home school treated as a private school may become a CIF member.