How to Start Homeschooling in California: PSAs, Affidavits, and Real Talk

California is one of the more confusing states to homeschool, not because the rules are strict, but because there are four different legal paths and people on the internet argue about which one is "right." There is no right one. There are trade-offs. This guide walks through each path and tells you who picks which.

The four legal options

1. File a Private School Affidavit (PSA) — you become your own private school.
2. Enroll in a Private School Satellite Program (PSP) — you join an umbrella private school that handles paperwork for you.
3. Enroll in a public-school Independent Study Program (ISP) / charter school — you get state funding for curriculum but answer to a charter administrator.
4. Use a credentialed tutor — rare; only relevant if you're hiring a private tutor.

The first three are what families actually choose. The fourth is a footnote.

Option 1: File a Private School Affidavit

This is the DIY path. You file an annual form with the California Department of Education declaring that your home is a private school. You then operate under California Education Code 33190.

How to file: Go to the CDE Private School Affidavit website between October 1 and October 15 each year (the official annual window). The form is short — you give school name, enrollment count, your name as administrator. Submission is online and free.

What you must do once filed:

• Keep an attendance register (date by date, who was present)
• Keep records of courses offered and a list of faculty (you)
• Teach in English
• Teach the standard branches of study at the level your child is in
• Maintain immunization records

What you do NOT have to do: file curriculum, submit test scores, have a teaching credential, or send anything to the local school district. The state doesn't approve your curriculum.

Best for: families who want maximum autonomy and are comfortable owning the paperwork.

Option 2: Join a Private School Satellite Program (PSP)

A PSP is a private school whose campus is the homes of its enrolled families. You enroll your child as a student of the PSP. The PSP files the affidavit, handles attendance records, and may offer support services, classes, or community events. You typically pay $100–$500 per year per child.

Best for: families who want the legal cover and community of a school but want to teach at home. Also useful for families who don't want their own name in the state's affidavit database.

Option 3: Public charter Independent Study Program (ISP)

You enroll your child in a public charter school designed for at-home learners. The charter gives you a state-funded budget — often $1,800–$3,200 per child per year — to spend on curriculum, classes, music lessons, sports programs, and educational materials from an approved vendor list.

The trade-off: you are now legally a public-school student. That means:

• Monthly check-ins with an assigned credentialed teacher
• Required state testing (SBAC) in grade-appropriate years
• Curriculum and materials must come from the charter's approved vendors
• Religious curriculum is generally not allowed (public-school funds)

Best for: families who want the funding and don't mind the administrative overhead. Popular options include Inspire, Sky Mountain, Sage Oak, and the Visions in Education family of charters.

How to pick

Ask yourself three questions:

1. How much state oversight am I willing to accept in exchange for funding? Charter ISPs give you money but require check-ins and state tests. PSAs and PSPs give you total curriculum freedom but no funding.
2. Do I want the paperwork on my plate? PSA = on you. PSP = handled by the umbrella. Charter = handled by the charter, but with more rules.
3. Will I use religious curriculum? Yes → PSA or PSP. No → all three are open.

What to do this week if you're switching from public school

1. Decide which of the three paths fits your family.
2. If PSP or charter: contact the program and start their enrollment. They'll handle the withdrawal from your current school.
3. If PSA: send a withdrawal letter to your current school's principal, then file your affidavit during the next October window. Between now and then, you operate under a PSP or charter, OR you start your own affidavit immediately if you're outside the window — you can file at any time, but October is the official annual update.

What gets confusing

Truancy officers, district staff, and even some teachers don't always know the four-option framework. If anyone asks for proof you're allowed to homeschool, your answer is: "We're enrolled in [PSP name] / We've filed a PSA / We're enrolled in [charter name]." Carry a copy of your affidavit receipt or PSP enrollment letter.

Curriculum, once you've picked a legal path

California parents on the PSA or PSP track have total freedom in what they teach. The most common stumble is picking too much curriculum at once. Start with math and reading, add science and history once the rhythm is working, layer in life skills and electives last.

If you want a year-long plan you don't have to build yourself, Hearthslate's curriculum covers all the core subjects plus real-world life skills (personal finance, cooking, civics, time management). The whiteboard tutor demo shows what a typical lesson looks like — runs in your browser, no signup.

Real costs

PSA: $0 in fees, plus curriculum you choose ($200–$1,500/year).

PSP: $100–$500/year per child, plus curriculum.

Charter ISP: free, plus $1,800–$3,200/child in funded materials.

For a deeper breakdown by family size and approach, read how much does homeschooling actually cost.

Next step

Pick a path this week. The PSA and PSP routes can be active within a day; charter enrollment usually takes 2–4 weeks. Don't let the choice paralyze you — every California homeschool family makes this call, and almost no one regrets the one they made.