Homeschool laws in California

Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 13 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your California to-do

For “Home-based private school (file the Private School Affidavit)”. 2 other legal ways below.

File the Private School Affidavit Every year
Every year between October 1 and October 15.
File the affidavit when you start home schooling mid-year If leaving a school
If you withdraw from public school outside the October filing period, file soon after withdrawing (the filing system is open August 1 to June 30); the district verifies the filing before the exemption is valid.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What California asks

Most California home schools run as a home-based private school: the parent files the Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education every year (filing period October 1-15), teaches the subjects public schools teach in English, and keeps an attendance register, the courses of study and teacher qualifications on file. Families can instead enroll in a private school satellite program (PSP) that sets its own rules, or use a credentialed tutor for at least 3 hours a day on 175 days a year.

School age: Ages 6–17. The law covers children "between the ages of 6 and 18 years"; the rules for 16- and 17-year-olds say "under 18 years of age", so the duty ends at the 18th birthday.

California has 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home-based private school (file the Private School Affidavit)

Cal. Educ. Code §§ 48222, 33190 · Level 3: Moderate

Notice: Private School Affidavit each year, Oct 1-15
Time: no set days or hours
Subjects: the public school subjects, taught in English
Assessment: none required
Records: attendance register, courses of study, teacher info

All the details, deadlines

Notice

Every year: Every year between October 1 and October 15 (the statutory filing period). The online filing system is open August 1 to June 30 for new schools and home schools, and closed in July.
The state's form

Time

No set number of days or hours

Subjects

all instruction in English
English (reading, writing, speaking, listening, literature)
mathematics
social sciences (history, geography, government, economics)
science
visual and performing arts
health (grades 1-6)
physical education
world language (grades 7-12)
applied arts (grades 7-12)
career technical education (grades 7-12)
driver education (grades 7-12)

Assessment

No assessment required

Portfolio

Not required

Reports

No reports to send

Records to keep

attendance register showing every absence of a half day or more on each school day
courses of study offered
names and addresses of the teachers (faculty) with a record of each one's educational qualifications

Teacher

Instruction by persons capable of teaching (Ed. Code 48222); the school keeps a record of each teacher's educational qualifications.

Deadlines

File the Private School Affidavit: Every year between October 1 and October 15.
File the affidavit when you start home schooling mid-year: If you withdraw from public school outside the October filing period, file soon after withdrawing (the filing system is open August 1 to June 30); the district verifies the filing before the exemption is valid.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Course descriptions, High-school transcript.

Another option: Private school satellite program (PSP)

Cal. Educ. Code §§ 48222, 33190 · Level 1: Very light

Notice: none from you; the PSP files the affidavit
Time: set by your PSP
Subjects: the public school subjects, taught in English
Assessment: set by your PSP
Records: set by your PSP

All the details

Notice

No notice to file

Time