Four Options For Legally
Homeschooling Your Children In California

Compiled by Lisa Vaca
Updated 22 September 2008

OPTION 1 - Independently File a Private School Affidavit Home schooling parents may establish a private school, based in their home, and must file a private school affidavit (the R-4 Form) with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California each year that they home-school. You may file this form at any time during the school year, but normally it is filed between October 1st and 15th (see Filing A Private School Affidavit at www.pheofca.org). Children enrolled in any private school are exempt from attendance in a California public school. Under this provision [E.C. §§48222 & 33190], the following requirements apply to all private schools: The instructors must be capable of teaching. The instruction must be in English (see www.pheofca.org for non-English speaking families). The instruction must be in the several branches of study as required in public schools (curriculum framework and content standards can be found at www.cde.ca.gov). Certain pupil and school records must be maintained and available for viewing (attendance, grades, course of study, school administrative details, etc.). e. Certain Health Department forms (PM 171A and PM 286B) must be kept on file. [H.S.C. §§124085 and 120375]

OPTION 2 - Enroll in a Private School Satellite Program Home schooling parents may enroll their children in a Satellite Program (known as a private ISP or PSP) with a private home school that has filed the private school affidavit [see Option 1 above] with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California. An ISP or PSP may be composed entirely of home educators or it may be an extension program of a campus-based private school. A few local homeschool PSPs/ISPs are listed below:     www.GraceChristianSchools.com     www.HCSSD.org     www.Christian-Liberty-Academy.com     www.ReginaCaeliAcademyISP.org     www.ArborAcademy.com     www.CTC-Academy.org There is technically no more or no less legal protection with either option 1 or 2 in our current Education Codes [E.C. §§33190 & 48222]. You are not less likely to be contacted or legally challenged if you are enrolled in a satellite program. However, based upon past experience, every homeschooling family would be very wise to join and secure the protection of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

For both options 1 and 2, parents should properly state that their children are enrolled in a private school when communicating with education officials. All California families enrolled in out-of-state home school programs are still required by state law to be enrolled in a California school with a California address for its location (either of the options listed above will satisfy this requirement). It is unnecessary and unwise to mention enrollment in out-of-state schools/programs. It is not illegal in California to be enrolled in an out-of-state program, as long as it is represented as ONLY a source of curriculum and/or services, not as a means of legal compliance with state education requirements. For more information please see Withdrawing Your Child From School at www.pheofca.org.

OPTION 3 - Parent/Tutor Holds California Teaching Credential A child being taught by a home-schooling parent, who has a valid California teacher's credential for the grades and subjects taught, is exempted from attendance in a public school under the tutorial exemption. [E.C. §48224] A tutor or studio teacher (that is not a parent) who is hired to educate the child must also hold a valid California teaching credential.

OPTION 4 - Enroll in a Public Charter or Public ISP Program The home-schooled pupil may enroll in a public school independent study program (public ISP) [E.C. §§51745-51747] or a public charter school offering home study [E.C. §47600 et al.] if available in your school district or county. In either of these programs the homeschool family is under the authority of the public school and the state of California.

Excerpted from Home Schooling In California, A LEGAL FACT SHEET, found at www.pheofca.org, a division of Family Protection Ministries.

San Diego Christian Homeschools (SDCH), which operates in the manner of a non-profit organization, is a support group for homeschooling families in the San Diego County area. For information about our field trips, classes, social opportunities, park days and other events for homeschoolers please visit us at www.sdChristianHomeschools.com or contact us at SDCHgroup@yahoo.com or by calling (858) 353-1439.

Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA). For detailed information on the legal alternatives to public schools and how to fulfill their requirements, order CHEA's manual, An Introduction To Home Education, and, for older students, CHEA's High School Handbook. For ordering these and other resources, and for other homeschool information, as well as referrals to support groups, contact CHEA at (562) 864-2432; P.O. Box 2009, Norwalk, CA 90651-2009; www.cheaofca.org.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Join HSLDA for only $115/12 months. Discount memberships are available through San Diego Christian Homeschools. Contact HSLDA at (540) 338-5600; P.O. Box 3000, Purcellville, VA 20134; www.hslda.org. Although not necessary, it is suggested that you join HSLDA before starting your home school and before withdrawing your child from school.

Private and Home Educators of California (PHE of CA). P.H.E. of California features a LEGAL-LEGISLATIVE UPDATE newsletter, which provides firsthand reports of any changes in the law and legal threats to home education in our state. They are affiliated with Family Protection Ministries (FPM), the only full-time organization based in the Sacramento area, monitoring and advocating in regard to all legislative and administrative actions that directly affect California private home educators. FPM and PHE of California are Christian ministries that are totally funded by donations from supporters of private home education and parental rights. www.pheofca.org