Homeschooling in California can feel confusing at first — especially when you start hearing about charter programs, public homeschool options, private school satellite programs, and conflicting advice online.
What many parents don’t realize is that California law already provides a clear, legal path for homeschooling with maximum freedom: filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) and operating your homeschool as a private, home-based school.
This option is simple, legal, and often the best fit for families who want flexibility, faith integration, and full control over their child’s education.
What Is a Private School Affidavit (PSA)?
In California, parents may homeschool by establishing their own private school in the home. This is done by filing a Private School Affidavit (PSA) each school year with the California Department of Education.
Filing a PSA is not accreditation and not approval-based. It is simply a legal notification that you are providing full-time instruction to your child as a private school.
Once filed, your child is considered lawfully enrolled in a private school, satisfying California’s compulsory education requirements.
When and How to File a PSA
When to File
- The standard filing window is October 1–15 each school year.
- If you begin homeschooling after October 15, you may file as soon as you start.
- The PSA must be filed every school year (it does not automatically renew).
How to File
- File online through the California Department of Education’s PSA system.
- You will choose a school name (many families use a simple family name, such as “Sullivan Homeschool”).
- You will list your home address as the school address.
- You will list yourself as the administrator and teacher.
- No teaching credential is required.
Once submitted, save your confirmation email and affidavit number for your records.
Withdrawing from Public or Private School
If your child was previously enrolled in a public or private school, you should send a written withdrawal notice stating that your child is being enrolled in a private home-based school.
You do not need permission, approval, or curriculum review from the school district.
What Records Are Required for PSA Homeschooling?
California law requires private schools — including home-based private schools — to maintain records, but you do not submit them unless requested.
Required Records to Keep on File
- Attendance register (days of instruction)
- Course of study (subjects taught)
- Teacher and administrator information
- PSA confirmation
- Health or immunization records or exemptions
These records may be kept on paper or digitally and stored in a simple binder system.
There are no state testing requirements, no home visits, and no curriculum approval process under the PSA option.
What Subjects Do You Have to Teach?
Instruction must be:
- Full-time
- Primarily in English
- Comparable to subjects commonly taught in public schools
This includes core subjects such as:
- Language arts
- Math
- Science
- Social studies
But here’s where PSA homeschooling truly shines.
Why Filing a PSA Gives Families More Freedom
One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling under a Private School Affidavit is educational freedom.
Unlike public homeschool programs or charter schools, you are not restricted by state-approved curricula, testing mandates, or ideological limitations.
Families filing a PSA may:
- Use any curriculum they choose
- Mix and match programs
- Create their own curriculum entirely
- Teach at their child’s pace
- Adjust learning to real life and real interests
Freedom to Teach Faith and Life Skills
Under the PSA option, parents may freely teach:
- Religious and faith-based materials
- Bible study and theology
- Character development and discipleship
You also have the freedom to teach practical life skills alongside academics, such as:
- Financial literacy and budgeting
- Grocery shopping and meal planning
- Cooking and baking
- Sewing and homemaking skills
- Farming, gardening, and animal care
- Welding, woodworking, and trade skills
- Entrepreneurship and small business basics
Education becomes holistic, not boxed into a desk or test schedule.
PSA Homeschooling vs. Public Homeschool Programs
Many families start with public homeschool programs or charter options because they seem easier at first. However, those programs often come with trade-offs.
Public or Charter Homeschool Programs Often Include:
- Required curriculum or vendor lists
- State testing
- Assigned teachers or oversight
- Limits on religious instruction
- Restrictions on how funds may be used
PSA Homeschooling Offers:
- Full parental authority
- No curriculum restrictions
- Freedom to teach faith openly
- No testing mandates
- No reporting to school districts
- Education tailored to your family’s values and lifestyle
For families seeking intentional, faith-centered education, the PSA option is often the most peaceful and empowering path.
Is PSA Homeschooling Right for Every Family?
Not every family will choose this route — and that’s okay.
But PSA homeschooling is an excellent option for parents who:
- Want long-term flexibility
- Desire faith integration without limits
- Prefer simplicity over bureaucracy
- Value real-life learning
- Want to protect family autonomy
It places responsibility where it belongs: with the parent.
Final Encouragement
Homeschooling under a Private School Affidavit may sound intimidating at first, but in practice, it is straightforward, legal, and deeply freeing.
When parents understand the law and keep simple records, homeschooling becomes less about compliance — and more about cultivating wisdom, skill, faith, and confidence in the next generation.
If you’re considering homeschooling in California, filing a PSA may be the path that gives your family the most room to breathe, grow, and learn together.
