Private & Home Educators of California
Roy Hanson, Jr. - Director
PO Box 730 • Lincoln, CA 95648-0730 • (916) 786-3523 • FAX (916) 415-9470

Home Schooling In California
LEGAL FACT SHEET
Important Note: Before transferring your child out of their current school, please read Withdrawing Your Child From School.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

1.	There are no statutes in California that specifically and exclusively deal with private "home education" as distinct from private schools.	
2.	Compulsory attendance at public schools is required for all pupils from the age of 6 years until they reach the age of 18 years [E.C. §§48200, 48400, et al.], with special provisions for 16 and 17 year olds [E.C. §48410]. Exemption from attendance in a public school is provided by the first three of the following four alternatives.	
FOUR LEGAL ALTERNATIVES FOR HOME EDUCATORS
(1) California is one of twelve states in which "home schooling" is accomplished under a private school exemption. Home educators may establish a private school, based in their home, and must file a private school affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California (normally between October 1st and 15th every school year). On August 8, 2008, the California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District confirmed in their In re Jonathan L. ruling (formerly In re Rachel L.) that “California statutes permit homeschooling as a species of private school education.” Children enrolled in a private school are exempt from attendance in a public school. Under this provision [E.C. §§48222 and 33190], the following requirements apply to all private schools:

1.	The instructors must be capable of teaching (determined by the private school administrator)	
2.	The instruction must be in English (see the reverse side of this paper for non-English speaking families).	
3.	The instruction must be in the several branches of study required in public schools.	
4.	Certain pupil and school records must be on file.	
5.	Health Department forms must be on file. [H.S.C. §§124085 and 120375]	
(2) Home schooling parents may enroll their children in a private school PSP (private school satellite program) that has filed a private school affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California[same legal exemption and requirements as #1 above]. A private school satellite program (PSP) may be composed entirely of home educators or may be an extension program of a campus-based private school.
There is technically no more or no less legal protection or covering in our current Education Codes [E.C. §§33190 & 48222] for either options (1) or (2) above. Based upon past experience, every homeschooling family would be very wise to join and secure the protection of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). For both options (1) and (2), parents should properly state that their children are enrolled in a private school when communicating with school and other officials.
Families enrolled in Out-of-State schools/programs are required by state law to be enrolled in a California private school (single home-based or PSP) with a California address for its location. It is unnecessary and unwise to voluntarily mention enrollment in out-of-state schools/programs. It is not illegal in California to be enrolled in an out-of-state program, as long as it is represented as a source of curriculum and/or services and not as a means of legal compliance. Public school pupil records (called cum files) should be sent for but not by an out-of-state program. (See Withdrawing Your Child From School.)
(3) A child being taught by a home-schooling parent, who has a valid California teacher's credential for the grades and subjects taught, is exempted from attendance in a public school under the tutorial exemption. [E.C. §48224]
(4) The home-schooled pupil may enroll in a public school independent study program (ISP) [E.C. §§51745-51747] or a charter school offering home study [E.C. §47600 et al.] if available in your school district or county. In these two programs, the home-schooling family is totally under the authority of the public schools. We do not recommend these two public school options. For more details on the problems with these options, visit our website atwww.pheofca.org/CharterSchools.html.

Homeschool Information

Charter Schools - There are many!
Charter Schools are public schools and all of the curriculum and laws pertaining to public school exist in all charter schools. Charter schools are small in student population, and, in many cases, homeschooling parents have found their advisor teachers to be flexible and understanding. But this is the exception not the rule. All required work would not be from parent selected curriculum, but many of the social problems associated with public schools seem to be more manageable in a charter school. Charter schools are free, but they do not allow for the Bible to be the center of your child’s education. Before selecting a charter school, you may want to read the following article: 

Private School Satellite Programs (PSP) 
These are organized private schools, but the teaching is done at home by the parents. All PSP’s usually can provide services or connect you with services like field trips, classes, testing, graduation ceremonies, etc.

1. Revival Christian Academy is a full support PSP group. All instruction is done at home, but families receive a variety of support and activities through this group and attend mandatory monthly meetings. Classes are also offered for some subjects but not required. HSLDA membership and tuition plus registration fees required. (Tuition is $30 per month + $5 for each sibling, but doesn’t exceed $45/month.) For more information about Revival Christian Academy, please call the school office at 951-246-5657 
or visit their website: 

What is HSLDA? 
 (roughly $100/year per family)
2. Murrieta Valley Christian School is a paper keeping PSP with a small yearly registration fee (It’s around $60 per family for the whole year.) and no required meetings, but HSLDA membership is required. All paperwork (attendance, progress reports, report cards, etc) is processed through email. It is a good option for families who want complete autonomy for their homeschool experience and do not require a lot of help and support. This PSP is a ministry through Murrieta Valley Christian Church. Contact Sandra Raye through the church office for more information. She can be contacted through the church office. 
Phone: 951-677-9275
Church office location: 41685 Date St. Suite B 
Murrieta, CA 92562 

3. File Your Own Affidavit With the State of CA is another homeschooling option in our state. Parents can file their own private school status online, but many parents do not choose this option since a school with a student population of 2 or 3 looks like homeschooling and not a private Christian school. Whereas a PSP looks like a private Christian school and not a small homeschooling family. Go to 
 for directions on how to file with the state. We STRONGLY suggest joining HSLDA if you choose this option.
Curriculum - Where do I start?
Companies like Abeka and Bob Jones University have representatives regularly display curriculum in the area throughout the year so you can look through materials before you buy them. They are good products for families who are used to the traditional classroom system and ALL of the curriculum K-12 is Bible centered. 
Check out Abeka online at 
or BJU at: 

You might like Sonlight materials if you favor a more whole learning approach to education over traditional classroom style education. They’re more expensive, but suitable for families with children in grades close together. 
Check their stuff out at: 

Also, Beautiful Feet Books offers study guides and lessons directed for the whole learning approach too. 
Click: 
 to check out their materials.
If you are new to homeschooling, you might enjoy checking out some of these resources:
*Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson (available on amazon)
*The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer (
)