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California homeschool requirements for a home-based private school

Most California families homeschool by running a home-based private school. That means filing the Private School Affidavit each October, keeping an attendance register, offering the subjects public schools teach, and keeping a record of what each child studied. Homeschool Hero keeps those records as you teach.

What California asks for

• File the Private School Affidavit with the state between October 1 and 15 each year.
• Keep an attendance register that shows every absence of a half day or more.
• Offer instruction, in English, in the subjects public schools teach for each grade (listed below).
• Keep a course of study, and a record of the subjects each child took each year and any grades.
• No reports go to the state, and no number of days or hours is set.
• Homeschooling through a charter school or a private school satellite program (PSP)? Follow its requirements instead.

Required subjects in California

How Homeschool Hero helps in California

• Each child starts with the subjects California lists for their grade.
• Days of instruction are recorded as you log, for your attendance register.
• The yearly report records each child's subjects, books and grades for their file.
• Import your course of study as a PDF to set up subjects and books.

Free for one child, with every feature. Use it in any browser or the Android app.

California homeschool questions

Source: Cal. Educ. Code §§33190, 48222, 51210, 51220 (official page). Reviewed November 2, 2026. This is a summary to help with record keeping, not legal advice; check the current rules with your state or district.

Other state guides