Homeschool Laws in California
What is Required of Homeschoolers in the State of California
Dec 8, 2007
Home School Parent Education Requirements
There are three different home schooling options that are acceptable in California. First, you could qualify your home school as a private school. Utilizing a private tutor is another viable option.
You could also enroll your home school in a private school satellite program. Your child would then be considered being involved in an independent study program.
Finally, you could involve your child in an independent study program through your local public school. This form of at home schooling is officially still considered a public school option.
In the private school and the satellite school options, a parent needs to simply be "capable of teaching" to be considered as qualified to teach. If a private tutor is used, then the tutor must have teacher certification.
Forms and Paperwork Required
When the private school home school option is chosen, an affidavit must be filed every year with the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This affidavit must be filed between October 1st and October 15th. Independent study only requires whatever paperwork your local school requires to be involved in the program. The other two options do not require any specialized paperwork at all. A private school satellite program may require record keeping depending on the particular program, and a private school is required to keep accurate attendance records, but a private tutor has no such requirements.
Kindergarten Home School Requirements
In California, a child is not required to start attending school until he is 6 years old, so any Kindergarten home schooling does not need any special attention. The yearly affidavits would start to be required in 1st grade.
Testing Requirements
The only required testing is when a private school satellite program or an independent study program is involved. The required testing would then be whatever is required by each individualized program.
Other Useful Information
The majority of home schools in California utilize the private school satellite program. This allows a parent to simply become a member of that satellite program, and then schooling is entirely taken care of at home.
The same subjects that are taught in the public schools are expected to be taught in a home school and must be taught in English. In grades 1-6 those subjects specifically include math, social studies, English, science, fine arts, physical education, and health. The Christian Home Educators Association of California may be of interest to you. Also check out more information about California home school laws at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).
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