California homeschool requirements
Overview
California has no 'homeschool' statute as such. Parents who teach at home usually operate a small private school: file an annual Private School Affidavit, offer instruction in English in the branches of study required in public schools, and keep an attendance register and other records.
Legal pathway: Most families either enroll in a public charter / independent-study program, a private-school satellite program, or establish a home-based private school by filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the CDE.
Notification and registration
File the Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education. The statutory filing period is October 1-15 each year; the online system is open from August 1 through June 30 so new home schools can file, and is closed during July. During July a parent may withdraw a child and begin homeschooling before filing (CDE guidance to districts).
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Annual Private School Affidavit (statutory period) | October 1-15 |
| CDE online PSA system open for new filers | August 1 through June 30 (closed in July) |
Who may teach: Instruction must be by 'persons capable of teaching' (Ed. Code 48222). The statute does not define specific credentials for a home-based private school.
Ages: Not verified in the sources reviewed; see Ed. Code compulsory education provisions.
Required subjects
- English (taught in English): Including reading, spelling, composition; handwriting incl. cursive or joined italics in appropriate grade levels (grades 1-6).
- Mathematics
- Social sciences: Including history, government and economics; California and U.S. history foundation.
- Science: Biological and physical, including causes and effects of climate change.
- Visual and performing arts
- Health
- Physical education: Grades 1-6 list: public schools provide at least 200 minutes per 10 school days (Ed. Code 51210(a)(7)).
- Grades 7-12 add: World language (beginning by grade 7), applied arts, career technical education, driver education (Ed. Code 51220).
How our subjects line up
MathematicsRequired
Mathematics is required (Ed. Code 51210, 51220).
English Language Arts (Reading & Writing)Required
English is among the branches of study required in public schools (Ed. Code 51210, 51220).
ScienceRequired
Science is required (Ed. Code 51210, 51220).
History & Social StudiesRequired
Social sciences are required, with California and U.S. history foundations (Ed. Code 51210, 51220).
Spanish (world language)Not listed
The required subjects this guide lists for California do not include a world language. Spanish is an elective here; it can still count toward a broad, balanced program.
English as a Second LanguageRelated
Supports California's English / language-arts requirement for children still learning English. It does not replace a full grade-level language arts course; use it alongside one.
Also required (outside the subjects we offer): Visual and performing arts; Health; Physical education; Grades 7-8: world language, applied arts, career technical education.
Instruction time: The statute requires a 'full-time day school'; no specific day or hour count appears in sections 33190 or 48222.
Testing and assessment
No state testing requirement found in Ed. Code 33190 or 48222.
- Check with any charter, independent-study or private-school program you enroll in, since they set their own assessment rules.
Record-keeping
Keep an attendance register and course/faculty records at the address stated on the affidavit.
- Attendance register: the record of attendance must indicate clearly every absence of a half day or more for each day school is maintained (Ed. Code 48222).
- Records the affidavit says are maintained: courses of study offered, and names/addresses of faculty with their educational qualifications (Ed. Code 33190(f)).
- The affidavit statute also lists a criminal record summary item (33190(g)); see CDE's PSA instructions for how it applies to a home-based school.
California homeschool checklist
Guidance only. Last verified 2026-10-26. Verify each step with the official sources below.
Notes and limits of this guide
- The CDE web pages blocked automated retrieval; filing-window facts come from CDE page excerpts returned by search and the statute text from the California Legislature.
Official sources
Last verified 2026-10-26. Always check these pages for the current rules.