Homeschooling Privately Under the State
Homeschooling is currently an option available to every child in all 50 states, although, the regulations and requirements vary in each. In The Coop’s home state of California, there are a few options:
PRIVATELY HOMESCHOOL:
Homeschooling as a home-based private school - must file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) and unenroll from the public school if necessary.
Homeschooling with a private school satellite program - a group of homeschooling families that file one PSA with the state and operate under it.
Homeschool using a private tutor - this option requires that the student learns under a credentialed teacher whether that be a parent or a private tutor.
HOMESCHOOL THROUGH A PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION:
Homeschool Public Charter School (HPCS) - this is a popular option in California with many HPCS types including full-time home education or a hybrid of classroom and home time.
Traditional Public School Homeschool Track - also commonly referred to as an independent study option through the public school.
For more in depth information on homeschool options in California - check out our Homeschool Hub or our California Homeschooling Quick Guide. This post is about the first option: private homeschooling by submitting a private school affidavit (PSA) to the state.
For more information on homeschooling in your state, download our state requirements spreadsheet.
How to get started
The focus of this post is to understand homeschooling under a Private School Affidavit (PSA) or similar as required by the state you reside in. There are two primary steps necessary to homeschool legally:
File with your state - in whatever way your state requires
(if applicable) Unenroll from the public school your child is leaving - this step is critical to be sure that absences aren’t documented, which can lead to truancy and penalties (anywhere from notices to fines and imprisonment).
In most states, you will need to continue to file annually. Many families who privately homeschool choose to become members of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) for support and assistance in any legal matter regarding homeschooling.
Requirements
In addition to filing annually, most states also have requirements for ages of compulsory attendance, mandated subjects, assessments, teacher qualifications and immunizations. In California, these are the requirements:
Ages of Compulsory Attendance: 6-18
Mandated Subjects: Yes
Assessments: No
Teacher Qualifications: No - except if you file with the state as “homeschooling using a private tutor.”
Immunizations: No
The requirements may be hard to track down on each state’s department of education website. To help with this, we have created a spreadsheet listing all 50 states, their requirements and a link to the department of education.
Record Keeping
Most states require you to maintain records for each year of homeschooling. In California, required records include: copies of annual PSA, attendance register, immunization or exemption records, and list of study. It is highly recommended by the HSLDA that you not only keep records of the state required documentation, but also:
Information on textbooks and curriculum used
School work samples
Correspondence with school officials
Portfolios and test results
Any other documentation that provides proof that you child is receiving an education in compliance with the state law
The HSLDA recommends maintaining these records for at least two years through 8th grade. Then, high school records should be kept indefinitely.
There are many resources available to help with record keeping and documentation organization ideas. We have a Pinterest board with many!
And with all the critical stuff handled, that’s It!
Now you are free to imagine your own version of education for your children. Of course there is the matter of choosing curriculum, lesson planning, setting up your homeschool space and more. But don’t be alarmed, we discuss these items in our How to Homeschool post!
“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”
William Butler Yeats