California homeschool requirements

Homeschooling is legal in California, but families need to choose one of the state’s legal pathways and follow the rules for that option.

Medium: California offers several legal ways to homeschool, including filing as a home-based private school, using a private school satellite program, or hiring a credentialed private tutor. The most common independent route is the private school affidavit option, which brings annual filing and basic private-school recordkeeping.

6-18

Yes, in most common homeschool setups. Families using the home-based private school route file a Private School Affidavit each year, while other legal options have different paperwork. Notify: Usually the California Department of Education for the private school affidavit route; families withdrawing from public school may also need to notify the local school.. Deadline: For the private school affidavit route, file annually between October 1 and October 15. If starting later, families should review the current CDE instructions for late filing.

English, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, Other branches of study commonly taught in public school

California does not set a simple homeschool hourly minimum for every pathway, but private schools are generally expected to offer instruction comparable in scope to public school branches of study.

No statewide testing is required for families homeschooling independently through the private school or private tutor routes. Frequency: Not required for independent homeschooling.

For the private school affidavit route, keep attendance records, course information, and the basic records required of private schools. Many families also keep work samples and transcripts.

No teaching credential is required for a parent running a home-based private school, but the private tutor option requires a California teaching credential.

Broad overall, though families should provide real instruction and cover the branches of study expected for students of similar ages in public school.