How to start homeschooling in California
The legal steps, in order, checked against California law.
Short answer: California has no separate homeschool statute. The most common route is for a parent to establish a home-based private school by filing a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education each year, teaching in English the branches of study required in public schools, and keeping attendance and course records. Families may also use a credentialed tutor, an existing private school's independent study program, or a public charter school or public independent study program.
Checked against Cal. Educ. Code 48222 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 18. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
California gives you 4 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Option 1: Home-based private school
Parents who want to run their own private school at home and teach their own children.
Steps
- Review the courses of study in Education Code 51210 (grades 1 to 6) and 51220 (grades 7 to 12) and choose your curriculum and materials.
- File a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education using the online system. The statutory filing period is October 1 to 15 each year, and the system is open from August 1 to June 30 for new schools and home schools.
- If your child is enrolled in public school, ask the district to withdraw your child. Districts may not require proof of a filed affidavit before withdrawal, but the exemption from public school attendance takes effect only after the district's attendance supervisor verifies the affidavit was filed.
- Teach in English, offer the branches of study required in public schools, and keep the required records at your school.
- File a new affidavit every school year.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The California Department of Education, through the Private School Affidavit filed by the owner or head of the private school When: Annually, October 1 to 15 (the online system accepts filings from August 1 to June 30) Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The several branches of study required to be taught in California public schools, taught in English. The department points to Education Code 51210 and 51220 for those courses of study. |
| Time | The law refers to a private full-time day school but sets no specific day or hour count for private schools. |
| Parent qualifications | Instruction must be by persons capable of teaching. No credential is required for this route. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | An attendance register showing every absence of a half day or more, the courses of study offered, the names and addresses of faculty with a record of each person's educational qualifications, and a copy of the affidavit. |
The law: Cal. Educ. Code 48222 Cal. Educ. Code 33190 Cal. Educ. Code 48200 CDE Schooling at Home CDE Schooling at Home FAQ
Option 2: Existing private school with an independent study or online program
Families who want their child enrolled in an established private school that offers home-based, online, or independent study options.
Steps
- Find a private school that offers online learning, independent study, or home-based study. The California School Directory lists private schools that have filed affidavits.
- Enroll your child and follow the school's requirements.
- The private school, not the parent, files the annual Private School Affidavit and keeps the required records.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The school must offer the branches of study required in public schools, taught in English. |
| Time | The law refers to a private full-time day school but sets no specific day or hour count for private schools. |
| Parent qualifications | Instruction must be by persons capable of teaching. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | The private school keeps the attendance register, courses of study, and faculty records required by law. |
The law: Cal. Educ. Code 48222 Cal. Educ. Code 33190 CDE Homeschooling and Education Alternatives
Option 3: Credentialed private tutor
Families where the child is taught by a person holding a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught, including a credentialed parent.
Steps
- Arrange instruction by a tutor or other person who holds a valid state credential for the grade taught.
- Provide instruction in English in the branches of study required in public schools, at least three hours a day for 175 days each calendar year, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The several branches of study required to be taught in California public schools, taught in English. |
| Time | At least three hours a day for 175 days each calendar year, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. |
| Parent qualifications | The tutor must hold a valid state credential for the grade taught. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | None required by law |
The law: Cal. Educ. Code 48224
Other legal routes
California law also allows these. We have not confirmed their full rules, so ask the state education department before you choose one.
- Public charter school or public independent study program: Families who want home-based learning while the child stays enrolled in a public school program.
Leaving public school mid-year
The Department of Education tells districts to follow local procedures when a parent asks to withdraw a child to attend a private or home school, and says districts may not require proof of a filed Private School Affidavit before withdrawal. The child is not exempt from compulsory attendance until the district verifies the affidavit was filed. The Private School Affidavit system is closed in July, and parents may withdraw and begin homeschooling during July before filing once it reopens August 1.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
The Department of Education says no law or regulation sets graduation or diploma requirements for California private schools. Parents running a home-based private school create their own diplomas and transcripts. The department notes that requirements set by an individual home school may not be generally recognized, and points to the GED test and the California Proficiency Program as alternatives. A public school district sets its own policy on placement and on accepting credits when a homeschooled child enrolls.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in California?
Yes, under the home-based private school route, you notify the California Department of Education, through the Private School Affidavit filed by the owner or head of the private school annually, October 1 to 15 (the online system accepts filings from August 1 to June 30).
Is testing required for homeschoolers in California?
No. California law does not require testing under the home-based private school route.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in California?
The several branches of study required to be taught in California public schools, taught in English. The department points to Education Code 51210 and 51220 for those courses of study.
What ages must be schooled in California?
Ages 6 to 18, per state law.
Sources
- Cal. Educ. Code 48222
- Cal. Educ. Code 33190
- Cal. Educ. Code 48200
- CDE Schooling at Home
- CDE Schooling at Home FAQ
- CDE Homeschooling and Education Alternatives
- Cal. Educ. Code 48224
- CDE Education Code for Private Schools (statute excerpts)
- Schooling at Home, California Department of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.