California homeschool laws
Low regulation State Rank 29 of 56 (1 = easiest)
Confidence: Medium · Last verified:
Current regulations
Notification & registration Requirement exists
File a private school affidavit with the California Superintendent of Public Instruction each year between Oct 1-15 (new schools may file earlier). Tutor option: no filing.
Parent / instructor qualifications Requirement exists
Instructors must be 'capable of teaching' (no diploma/credential required for private school). Tutor option requires a CA teaching credential for the grade taught.
Required subjects Requirement exists
Courses commonly taught in public schools (e.g., language arts, math, science, social studies, health, driver training); instruction in English.
Testing & assessment None in scored pathway
None required.
Records, days & reporting Requirement exists
Attendance register; list of courses of study; list of instructors with addresses and qualifications; immunization records maintained (home-based private schools need not immunize students). Tutor option: 3 hrs/day, 8am-4pm, 175 days.
Oversight Requirement exists
CDE receives affidavit (public listing); no review of curriculum.
Immunization & other requirements Requirement exists
Records kept; home-based private school students need not be immunized (per HSLDA citing CDPH).
Legal pathways
- Home-based private school (file private school affidavit)
- Private school satellite program (PSP) / umbrella
- Private tutor holding a California credential
Scored pathway: Home-based private school (annual affidavit). The score uses the least-burdensome parent-led pathway defined in law (see methodology).
Who to notify & where to start
File a private school affidavit with the California Superintendent of Public Instruction each year between Oct 1-15 (new schools may file earlier). Tutor option: no filing.
Official agency / statute links:
Recent changes
HSLDA page updated 2026-10-07: PSPs must determine whether they must comply with the Safe Learning Environments Act (effective July 1, 2026).
Also see Law watch.
How the score breaks down
Regulation burden 18.8 / 100 → freedom score 81.3. Bars show burden points per criterion (longer = more burdensome). HSLDA's own map tier for comparison: Low (summary dated 2026-10-07).
Data notes
- CDE pages blocked my fetch (WAF); verify affidavit window on CDE site.
Sources
Primary / official
- California Dept. of Education - private school affidavit (home) (linked by HSLDA) — Linked by HSLDA; not independently fetched
Last verified . Spot an error or an update? See how to report a correction or email support@homeschoollawmap.com.
Helpful resources for California families
Types of services families in this jurisdiction commonly look for, based on the requirements above. These are categories, not endorsements.
Curriculum and course providers
Complete curricula, single-subject courses, and online programs, including options organized around required subjects.
Why shown: California lists required subjects or curriculum expectations.
Partner links coming soon.
Record-keeping and planning tools
Attendance logs, lesson planners, transcript and portfolio organizers for keeping the records your jurisdiction may ask for.
Why shown: California asks for notices, records, attendance, or instruction time in the scored pathway.
Partner links coming soon.
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