How to Homeschool in California

If you are contemplating homeschooling in the state of California, there are certain laws that you must abide by. Find an overview of those laws here.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Affadavit, if filing as a private school

1. California allows homeschooling if you operate as a private school. The parents have to prove their competence as teachers in order to file for homeschooling under this option. You can also use the services of a private tutor to homeschool your children. The private tutor must have a teaching certificate to qualify under this option.
2. Another option for homeschooling can be to enroll your child in a private school distance learning program. This would be considered an independent study program, which is acceptable under California homeschool laws.
3. You can use your local public school system as an independent study program. With this option, your home school would be considered a public school, and you would follow the same guidelines for school days and holidays as the regular school system.
4. Home schools that file as private schools (not the independent study program) must sign an affidavit every year for submission to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is due between October 1 and 15 of each year that you are using this option.
5. When enrolling in an independent study program, with a private or public school, parents must submit the same paperwork that is required of children attending those schools. With either of these two options, you are required to keep attendance records. If working with a private tutor, there is no required paperwork.
6. Children under 6 years of age do not require any special testing. Yearly affidavits start when a child enters the first grade.
7. Children are required to be tested when enrolled in a private or public independent study program. They will take the same standardized tests required by their specific program. Otherwise, no other options require testing to be turned into the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
8. Children in grades 1 through 6 who are homeschooled are expected to be taught the following subjects: math, social studies, fine arts, health, language arts, science and physical ed.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with state homeschool organizations for more details regarding these laws.