The California rules in plain English - notice, testing, records, and the dates families actually miss. Verified against the official sources below on 2026-10-18.
Before anything else: this is orientation, not legal advice. Requirements change and local offices have their own habits. The sources at the bottom are the authority - check them before you file.
Most home educators file the Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the CA Dept of Education each year. Statutory window Oct 1-15; the online system runs Aug 1-Jun 30 for new schools.
Where it goes: California Department of Education (online PSA)
No state testing requirement for home-based private schools filing the PSA.
Subjects: Private-school course list offered in English (EC 51210/51220 areas) - you keep your own course of study
Records: PSA filers keep attendance records; faculty and course records are your own. Colleges lean on the parent transcript.
California's route is the online Private School Affidavit, not a letter to your district. You file it once a year with the CDE (window October 1-15; system open August 1-June 30), and keep your confirmation. We walk founding families through it line by line each fall.
Want this handled? The Records Office drafts your California notice or filing every year, keeps the deadline calendar, and builds the transcript and course descriptions colleges expect. Founding families: $99/year.
VERIFIED 2026-10-18 AGAINST THE SOURCES ABOVE · HOMESCHOOL RECORDS OFFICE · YOU ARE THE SCHOOL OF RECORD · THIS GUIDE IS ORIENTATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE