Homeschool requirements · California
Homeschooling in California
Moderate paperwork · A notice and a yearly assessment or records check.
Most independent homeschoolers establish a home-based private school by filing the Private School Affidavit each October, keeping an attendance register and course list.
What California asks
| Notice | Private School Affidavit filed online with the state between October 1 and 15 each year (or when the school opens). |
|---|---|
| Days and hours | 180 days |
| Subjects | English, Math, Social Sciences, Science, Fine Arts, Health, Physical Education |
| Assessment | None required for private-school-affidavit families. |
| Records to keep | Attendance register, courses of study, and a list of teachers with their qualifications. |
| Parent qualification | None under the affidavit option (must be 'capable of teaching'). |
| Worth knowing | Other options include a private-school satellite program (PSP), a public charter, or a credentialed tutor. |
What HomeSchool Scribe does in California
- Marks attendance and logs hours as you check off lessons, so the day and hour counts are always current.
- Prints the attendance and hours report, report cards, a transcript with GPA, the portfolio, and the course of study whenever someone asks.
- Keeps a reading log and the curriculum list by course.
- A deadline calendar for California is planned; the app already carries the summary above.
Read the law yourself
Not legal advicePlanning summaries in plain language, reviewed 2026-09-02. Deadlines and recipients vary by district; confirm with California’s current law or a homeschool legal organization before you file anything. If something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it for every family in California.