California has no specific 'homeschool law.' Instead, families operate under the state's private school exemption (California Education Code §48222) and tutorial exemption (§48224). The Private School Affidavit (PSA) pathway is the most common, allowing parents to establish a home-based private school. Despite the paperwork involved, California is functionally a low-regulation state — the CDE does not approve, evaluate, or endorse any private school, and there is no curriculum review, no testing, and no inspections.
Legal framework at a glance
Legal options: Four pathways — Private School Affidavit (most common), Private School Satellite Program (PSP umbrella), Public Charter / Independent Study Program, or Credentialed Private Tutor.
Notification: PSA pathway: file the Private School Affidavit annually with the California Department of Education between October 1 and October 15. PSP families file under the umbrella school. Charter/ISP families enroll directly. Tutor exemption requires no filing..
Instructional time: 175 days per year (under the private school exemption used by homeschoolers); roughly 4 hours per day for grades 1-3 and longer for upper grades.
Required subjects: The same several branches of study taught in public schools, including English, mathematics, social studies, science, fine arts, health, and physical education. Instruction must be in English..
Testing and evaluation: No state-mandated standardized testing for PSA/PSP homeschoolers. Charter/ISP students follow their charter's testing schedule..
What California families need to know
Private School Affidavit (PSA): file annually with the CDE between October 1 and October 15. The online filing system is open August 1 through June 30 to accommodate new schools starting mid-year. The PSA is a registration, not an approval — the CDE explicitly does not license or endorse private schools.
Private School Satellite Program (PSP): enroll your child in an existing private school that runs an extension program for homeschool families. The PSP files the affidavit and handles compliance. Annual fees range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on services.
Public charter / Independent Study Program (ISP): enroll in a public charter school that offers home-based or independent study programs. Students remain public school enrollees and may receive funding stipends ($2,000-$4,000 typical) for educational expenses, but a credentialed teacher monitors progress and oversees curriculum.
Credentialed private tutor exemption (§48224): a parent or hired tutor with a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught may instruct without filing a PSA. The tutor must instruct three hours per day for 175 days, in English.
Compulsory attendance: ages 6 through 18 (children turning 6 by September 1 are subject to the law). Children younger than 6 are not required to be enrolled.
Records to maintain (PSA path): attendance records, courses of study, list of teachers and their qualifications, immunization records. These are private records — the state generally does not request them.
Fingerprinting exemption: per §44237(b)(4), parents working exclusively with their own children are exempt from the fingerprinting requirement that applies to private school personnel.
No state ESA program: California does not currently offer an Education Savings Account or voucher program for homeschool families. Charter ISP funding is the only public funding pathway, and it requires charter enrollment with associated oversight.
Always verify current requirements with the California Department of Education before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.
Diploma recognition
California recognizes parent-issued homeschool diplomas under the private school exemption. UC, CSU, and California Community College systems all admit homeschool graduates with established processes. UC requires either completion of the 'a-g' subject pattern with grades C or better, or qualifying SAT/ACT scores. PSP and charter ISP graduates may receive school-issued diplomas.
Getting started in California
If you are new to homeschooling in California, here is the practical sequence to follow:
- Read the statute. Visit the California Department of Education website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
- Choose your legal pathway. California offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
- Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
- File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
- Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
- Connect with a local homeschool organization. California has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.
California homeschool organizations
The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for California homeschool families:
- California Homeschool Network (CHN) — Inclusive statewide homeschool organization — californiahomeschool.net
- Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA) — Statewide Christian organization with the California Homeschool Manual — cheaofca.org
- Homeschool Association of California (HSC) — Inclusive statewide group with PSA filing support — hsc.org
- Family Protection Ministries (FPM) — Christian legal advocacy organization for California homeschoolers
Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "California homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.
Beyond the legal requirements
Meeting California's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:
Legal Compliance Dashboard
Attendance tracker, instructional day goal, and state selector to confirm your requirements any time.
Curriculum Finder Quiz
Five questions to match your family to the homeschool method most likely to fit — Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, and more.
Building Your First Curriculum
How to assemble a full year of lessons for $200-400 without buying a boxed curriculum.
Transcript Builder
Weighted grades, GPA, and Carnegie Unit credit hour converter for building college-ready homeschool transcripts.