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Homeschooling in California
A year-round California homeschool marketplace — curriculum, tutoring, therapy, STEM, arts and enrichment providers, plus a plain-English guide to California's homeschool options and how charter school instructional funds work.
California homeschooling by topic
- California Homeschool Laws & Requirements
- How to Start Homeschooling in California
- California School Choice, ESAs & Scholarships
- Homeschool Sports & Activities in California
- Dual Enrollment & College for California Homeschoolers
- Special Needs & Special Education Homeschooling in California
California Homeschool Options at a glance
- Overseen by: The California Department of Education (CDE) collects Private School Affidavits and publishes guidance on schooling at home and independent study. Local school districts verify that a homeschool has filed before treating the child as exempt from public school (Education Code 33190, 48222). Charter schools answer to the district or county board that authorized them.
- Administered by: There is no state program office or spending portal. Home-based private schools file the affidavit online with CDE. Each charter school or district runs its own independent study program, decides what instructional funds it offers, and approves and contracts with its own vendors.
- Amount per student, 2026–27: None from the state for private homeschooling, and no state-set figure for charter families. Any instructional or enrichment budget is set by each charter school from its own public funding and varies by school. Charters may not give independent study families money or other things of value that classroom students don't get (EC 51747.3).
- Who is eligible: Any family may homeschool a child of compulsory school age (6 to 18) by filing the affidavit, using a PSP or using a credentialed tutor. Charter and district independent study is voluntary and open to students the program enrolls. A charter can claim state funding for independent study only for students who live in the county where it reports attendance or an adjacent county (EC 51747.3(c)).
- Application window / next dates: The affidavit's legal filing period is October 1–15 each year. The 2026 period closed October 15, 2026, but CDE's online system stays open from August 1 to June 30 for new schools and new homeschools, so a family starting now can still file for 2026–27. Charter enrollment dates are set by each school. Contractor policies under AB 126 are due July 1, 2027.
- Homeschool status: A home-based private school is a private school: no state funds, no state testing and no reporting to the district beyond verification of the affidavit. A charter or district independent study student is a public school student, with a supervising credentialed teacher, state testing and secular coursework.
Coming up in California
- Thu, Nov 5, 2026 – Sun, Nov 8, 2026 · California Science Education Conference
Sacramento · SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
Annual conference of the California Association of Science Educators: pre-conference Nov. 5, main conference Nov. 6–8 with sessions and exhibits for K-12 science teachers. - Fri, Nov 6, 2026 – Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · CMC-South Mathematics Conference
Palm Springs · Palm Springs Convention Center
California Mathematics Council's southern section conference; 2026 theme "Designing Mathematical Futures." - Fri, Nov 6, 2026 – Sun, Nov 8, 2026 · California Science Education Conference 2026
Sacramento · Safe Credit Union Convention Center
The 2026 California Science Education Conference, the premier event for science educators across California, with keynotes by Beth Pratt (November 6) and John Muir Laws (November 8). Registration is open at full price from 10/1 through the… - Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · SAT Weekend Test Date (November 2026)
Statewide · SAT test centers across California · SAT registration fee; late registration costs extra; fee waivers for eligible students
National SAT weekend administration; registration deadline Oct. 23, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). - Fri, Nov 13, 2026 · AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B
Statewide · Registered AMC competition sites
Mathematical Association of America's AMC 10/12 B contest day, the second 2026 date for the AMC 10 and 12. - Fri, Nov 13, 2026 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 · CTA New Educator Weekend – North
Burlingame · SFO Marriott Waterfront
California Teachers Association weekend for educators in their first years in the classroom. - Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · CLT (Classic Learning Test) Remote Test Date (November 2026)
Online · Remotely proctored (at home) · CLT registration fee (see cltexam.com)
Remotely proctored CLT administration; registration deadline Nov. 5, 2026. - Sun, Nov 15, 2026 · Intent to Enroll deadline for Spring 2027 transfer students
San Jose · San José State University
Spring 2027 transfer applicants must submit their Intent to Enroll by this date. A nonrefundable enrollment deposit is also due. - Mon, Nov 16, 2026 · Mondays at Master's Preview Day
Santa Clarita · The Master's University
One-day visit for prospective students and families: sit in on classes, campus tour, chapel, financial aid information and time with current students. - Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · Sac Zoo Academy Day
Sacramento · Sacramento Zoo · $45/student for attendance with Animal Ambassador Meet and Greet; Academy Day participation requires the $50 virtual curriculum materials, one purchase per homeschool group or family
A 45-minute guided zoo tour that follows the Sac Zoo Academy curriculum, followed by an ambassador animal meet and greet, starting at 10 am.
See all 101 upcoming California events
California homeschool & school choice news
- Costco order exposes $300K scheme at California charter school — Christian Post
- Oakland Unified at "high" risk of financial insolvency, independent analysis says — KALW
- New Law Affecting Schools — HSLDA
- 2026 California Legislative Bills — Real Impact
- California dad of 5 says charter school rejected books that even mentioned God, 'Publisher blacklist' — Fox News (via WFMD)
Co-ops, groups and vendors
574 homeschool co-ops, support groups, microschools and hybrid schools across California — browse the list. Homeschool vendors serving California.
Homeschooling by city
San Diego · san jose · Sacramento · Riverside · Rocklin · Anaheim · Bakersfield · Fremont · Los Angeles · Murrieta · Temecula · Auburn · Brea · Clovis · Corona · Folsom · Fresno · Kansas City · La Mesa · Rancho Cucamonga · Redlands · Santa Ana · Santa Clarita · Santa Maria · Visalia · Walnut Creek · Benicia · Bishop · Burbank · Carlsbad · Crescent City · Fallbrook · Grass Valley · Hollister · Huntington Beach · Lancaster · Livermore · Long Beach · Mission Viejo · Ojai · all cities
Articles for California families
- How to Build a Reading Routine Your Homeschooler Looks Forward To
- A Week with the Robins: Inside Our Youngest Class at Roseville Community School
- Filing California's Private School Affidavit, Step by Step: Dates, Questions and What It Doesn't Do
- Fun Hands On Tiling Math
- Tutoring vs. Homework Help:
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