FILING A PRIVATE SCHOOL AFFIDAVIT [PSA] IN CALIFORNIA

Children (between the ages of 6 and 18 years) are required by law to attend full-time public school or continuation school unless they are exempted. Exemptions include attending a full-time private school. Homeschooling is not specifically mentioned as an exemption in California, but many people homeschool by establishing a private school in their own home or enrolling in a private school satellite program. Children are exempt from compulsory attendance if they "are being instructed in a private full-time day school by persons capable of teaching." 

Families who choose to home school in CA must file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) and register as a private school annually. Any individual may establish a private school in any location without a teaching credential or a business motive as long as he or she follows these statutory requirements.

All California private schools, those home-based and those not, are required to keep the following records:

  • Attendance records 

  • Courses of study offered

  • Faculty qualifications/resume

  • Immunization records or waivers

  • The private school affidavit

Additionally, it is prudent for families who intend to return to public schools in the future to keep samples of work or assessments to indicate progress in learning. You should notify the old school in writing that you are withdrawing your child and indicate the exact date of last attendance. The school may ask you to fill out a withdrawal form and you should ask for a copy of that form, as well.

THE PSA FILING PERIOD FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR IS OCTOBER 1-15th of each year. 

The PSA statutory filing period is October 1 through 15; however, the PSA filing system is open throughout the school year beginning August 1 and ending June 30, to accommodate new schools and home schools. Schools established in the month of July, shall wait to file an affidavit until the PSA filing period begins in August.

Visit http://www3.cde.ca.gov/psa to complete the form in October. 

Instructions on how to complete the form are available here: 

https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/psainstructions.asp

You can always schedule a quick check-in with Soulful Studies if you need help with filing a PSA in CA.

WITHDRAWING FROM CURRENT SCHOOL

Below is a template of the withdrawal letter to edit and send to each school for each of your children if they are currently enrolled in a public or private school, before you begin homeschooling them. Remember to copy the secretary or registrar of the school along with the principal. Please edit as needed.

The date you send the email,

School name

School address

Dear Principal’s name,

This is to inform you that we will be withdrawing our child, (add full name) and date of birth, from xxxx school starting (add the date you send the letter). 

Our child’s educational needs will be privately met. Please send us copies of his final progress report and any relevant test reports you may have on file. 

Should you have any questions, please reach out to us in writing at our address. 

Sincerely yours,

Both your full names and home address. 

Relationship to child.