Homeschool Requirements in California

California doesn't have a single "homeschool law." Instead, you pick one of several legal paths, and each one has its own paperwork. Here's every path, in plain English, with exactly what you need to file and keep.

Natalie Riggs

Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day

✓ Last verified October 2026 against cde.ca.gov

The official affidavit filing window is October 1 to 15, and the system is open August 1 through June 30.

The short answer ⚡

Yes, you file paperwork. Most California homeschoolers file a Private School Affidavit with the state each year between October 1 and 15. You do not report to your local school district, you don't need a teaching credential, and there's no state testing requirement.

California at a glance 📋

Notify the state: Yes; File a Private School Affidavit yearly (Oct 1 to 15)
Notify your school district: No; Parents are not required to report to the district
Teaching credential: Not required; No credential needed for parents
State testing: Not required; No CAASPP or state tests for private schoolers
Attendance records: Yes; Kept in a register, marking every half-day absence
Subjects: Yes; English instruction; branches of study per Ed Code 51210 / 51220

Pick your path 🛤️

California law doesn't define "homeschooling" as its own category. Instead, the state lays out several ways to legally educate your children at home. Pick the one that fits your family:

How the California homeschool paths compare
Path	Who files paperwork	Cost	Oversight and testing
Private School Affidavit	Who files paperworkYou, once a year	CostFree	Oversight and testingNone from the state
Private school satellite program (PSP)	Who files paperworkThe PSP	CostTuition (varies by program)	Oversight and testingThe PSP's own rules
Charter school home study	Who files paperworkYou enroll your child	CostFree	Oversight and testingTeacher advisor and state testing
Public school independent study	Who files paperworkYou enroll with your district	CostFree	Oversight and testingDistrict check ins and public school testing
Credentialed tutor	Who files paperworkNo affidavit if the tutor meets Ed Code 48224	CostTutor's fees	Oversight and testingNone from the state

1. File a Private School Affidavit (home-based private school)

You establish your own tiny private school and file an affidavit with the California Department of Education each year. The statutory filing window is October 1 through 15, though the online system opens August 1 and stays open through June 30 for new schools. If you start mid year, file as soon as you begin. (Starting in July? Wait until the system opens August 1.) Filing doesn't mean the state approves or endorses your school. It simply registers you.

Hands-off option

2. Join a private school satellite program (PSP)

An existing private school handles the affidavit and record keeping while you teach at home. You get the structure without the paperwork. PSPs charge tuition, which varies by program.

Public option

3. Enroll in a public charter school

Charter schools with home study programs give you public school enrollment and a credentialed teacher advisor. The tradeoff: more oversight and state testing requirements apply.

Public option

4. Public school independent study

Your local district's independent study program. Your child stays a public school student learning at home, with district curriculum and check ins.

Least common

5. Hire a credentialed tutor

A California credentialed teacher provides instruction. Rare for full time homeschooling, but it's a legal path the state recognizes. If the tutor holds a valid California credential for the grade they teach and teaches at least 3 hours a day, 175 days a year, between 8am and 4pm, you don't file an affidavit at all (Ed Code 48224).

How to file the affidavit, step by step 📝

It all happens online on the CDE filing site. One catch: you can't save and come back later, so gather everything before you start.

Have these ready

A name for your school. It can be anything you like. CDE asks you to leave "School" and "The" off the start or end.
Your home address. That's your school's physical address, so no P.O. box here (your mailing address can be one).
Your county and your local public school district
The lowest and highest grades you teach
How many kids you have in each grade, plus their ages
Your phone number and email

Go to the CDE Private School Affidavit filing site. Filed last year? You can start from last year's answers using your confirmation code.
Fill in your school info: name, county, district, grades offered, and a few quick multiple choice questions about your school.
Add your address and contact info.
Report enrollment by grade, your students' ages, and your staff count. For most families, the staff is you.
Name your custodian of records and where the records are kept. For most homeschoolers, that's you, at home. Check the box confirming they're accurate.
Tax status: if your school isn't a registered nonprofit, pick "None of the above."
Read the statutory notices, check the box, and sign electronically. You're signing under penalty of perjury, so double check everything.
Review and submit. Save the confirmation page and the confirmation email. The code in that email is how you update your affidavit later.

Source: CDE: Private School Affidavit Instructions

Want this as a printable? Get the free California checklist.

Records to keep 🗂️

If you file the affidavit, California requires you to maintain three things. The state also strongly recommends two more. Here's your checklist:

Attendance register showing every half-day absence, for each day school is maintained
Courses of study offered by your school (your curriculum list counts)
Faculty names, addresses, and qualifications (that's you; list yourself)
Copies of every Private School Affidavit you've filedRecommended
Individual pupil records for each childRecommended

Keep it simple: a binder or a folder on your computer with these five things covers you.

Testing: what California actually requires 🧪

Nothing. California does not require home-based private schools to administer state standardized tests. The CAASPP tests you hear about are for public school students only.

Many families still test yearly with a private assessment (like the Iowa Assessments or MAP Growth) just to track progress. That's optional, and the results stay with you. Nobody at the state sees them.

What to teach 📚

Instruction must be in English, and your child must be offered the branches of study required in public schools. In practice, that means:

Grades 1 to 6: English, math, social sciences, science, visual and performing arts, health, and physical education (Ed Code 51210)
Grades 7 to 12: English, social sciences, foreign language, physical education, science, math, visual and performing arts, applied arts, career tech ed, and auto driver education (Ed Code 51220)

You choose the curriculum for all of it. The state doesn't approve or review your materials.

5 mistakes new California homeschoolers make ⚠️

1. Missing the affidavit window.
October 1 to 15 comes fast, especially your first fall. Set a phone reminder for October 1. If you miss it, file anyway; the system stays open through June 30.
2. Thinking you have to notify your school district.
You don't file anything with your district. Districts are required to verify that home schools have filed, so if yours asks, send them a copy of your affidavit. That's it.
3. Reporting the grade instead of the head count.
CDE says this is a common slip. If you have one sixth grader, enter 1 in the sixth grade box, not 6.
4. Skipping attendance records.
It's the single most commonly required document if questions ever come up. A simple daily log takes thirty seconds.
5. Chasing immunization paperwork the state doesn't require.
Students in a home-based private school are not subject to California's school immunization requirements, as long as all your students are your own kids or live in your home. Keeping shot records in the binder is optional, not required.

California homeschool FAQ 💬

Do I need to notify the state to homeschool in California?

If you homeschool as a home-based private school, yes. File a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education each year between October 1 and 15. You do not notify your local school district.

Do I need a teaching credential to homeschool in California?

No. California doesn't require parents to hold a teaching credential under the private school affidavit option. The affidavit asks you to list faculty qualifications, but there's no credential mandate for private school teachers.

Does California require standardized testing for homeschoolers?

No. Home-based private schools aren't required to give state standardized tests. Many families use a private assessment yearly to track progress, but results stay with you.

What records do I have to keep?

An attendance register (marking every half-day absence), your courses of study, and faculty names, addresses, and qualifications. The state also recommends keeping filed affidavit copies and individual pupil records.

What subjects do I have to teach?

Instruction in English covering the branches of study required in public schools: Ed Code 51210 for grades 1 to 6, 51220 for grades 7 to 12. You pick the curriculum.

When is the Private School Affidavit due?

October 1 through 15 each year. The online system opens August 1 and stays open through June 30, so mid year starters file when they begin. July starters wait until August 1.

Can I homeschool temporarily, like for one semester?

Yes. File the affidavit when you start, keep your attendance records, and you're covered. If your child returns to public school, bring your records for placement.

Do I have to give my school district a copy of my affidavit?

You don't have to send it on your own. Districts are required to verify that home schools have filed, and that usually means sharing a copy of your affidavit if they ask. Keep a copy handy and it takes two minutes.

Get your free California checklist ✅

We turned this whole page into a 1 page printable checklist: every filing step, every record to keep, every deadline. Stick it in your homeschool binder and you're covered.

Plus, make your first learning packet free. 11 to 17 pages, generated around your kiddo in a minute or two.

Sources 📖

California Dept. of Education: Schooling at Home (checked October 2026)
CDE: Private School Affidavit Information (checked October 2026)
CDE: Private School Affidavit FAQ (checked October 2026)
CDE: Private School Affidavit Instructions (checked October 2026)
Ed Code 33190: Private school affidavit requirement (checked October 2026)
Ed Code 48222: Exemption from compulsory attendance (checked October 2026)
Ed Code 48224: Exemption for credentialed tutors (checked October 2026)
Ed Code 51210: Course of study, grades 1 to 6 (checked October 2026)
Ed Code 51220: Course of study, grades 7 to 12 (checked October 2026)
Health and Safety Code 120335: School immunization requirements (checked October 2026)

Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.

This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with the California Department of Education or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.

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