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Homeschooling Basics
Home Based Private Schools

REQUESTING AND FILING A PRIVATE SCHOOL AFFIDAVIT

You may choose to establish a private school in your home.  Any individual can start a private school.

Private schools are not required to employ credentialed teachers. A parent CAN be a private school teacher as long as the parent is "capable of teaching".

There is no minimum number of students required to start a private school, so if you have one child, you can start a school with one student.

Once you establish your private school, you must file an affidavit.  

Where do I get the form?
When do I file?
Are there rules for running a private school?
If I am not comfortable creating a private school of my own, what are my other choices?

WHERE TO GET IT:

The state provides a form online commonly referred to as the Private School Affidavit (PSA). It was once called form R-4. It is available online at the CDE web site beginning October 1st. We have a copy of the online form here with tips on filling it out here.

You may wish to create your own statement instead of using the online form. Your statement, sometimes referred to as a Statement In Lieu (SIL), is a simple letter including all of the information required by Education Code 33190. You can find more information on this option along with sample SILs at the California Homeschool Network website.

If you have questions or encounter problems, contact your local support group for advice or check with the California Homeschool Network or Homeschool Association of California.

WHEN TO FILE:

For schools that have filed the form in the past, the Private School Affidavit must be filed between October 1 & 15 each school year. Do NOT send the form in early. Your form should NOT be postmarked sooner than October 1st.

For new schools, you should file the form between October 1st and 15th, but if your school is created after that date, you should file the form as soon as possible.

REQUIREMENTS TO FULFILL WHEN ESTABLISHING A PRIVATE SCHOOL

Although private schools are not required to submit records to the state, they are required to keep certain records in their files.  For a complete list, see the California Education Code. The records a private school must keep on file include:

Copy of the completed Private School Affidavit

Attendance Records (Indicating every absence of a half day or more).

Faculty qualifications and addresses. Teachers need not hold credentials, but must be "capable of teaching".

Annual courses of study for each student. You may create your own, or use an existing one such as the state of California Content Standards.

Health Form PM286 OR sign the waiver on the back of the form. Or you could use Health Form PM 171A or sign the waiver for this form which is PM171B. Or you could use a personal record or form from another state. School health requirements and waivers are explained in this Department of Health flyer.

Fire and health inspections if required. Many fire and health departments interpret this as unnecessary for a private home. Check with your local support group.

Student Information including the following:

1) Legal name of student.
2) Date of birth, place of birth and verification of birth date.
3) Sex of pupil.
(A copy of the birth certificate should contain all information listed above)
4) Name and address of parent of minor pupil.
5) Entering and leaving date of each school year.
6) Subjects taken during each year. Subjects which must be offered are English, Math, Social Science, Science, Fine Arts, Health, PE, and for grades 7-12, foreign language, applied arts, vocational education, driver education. See CA education codes 51210, 51220, 51220.5, 51221, 51745, and 51745.3 or read the Required Branches of Study guide below.
7) Marks, grades or credits if given. Marks or credits toward high school graduation.
8) Date of high school graduation or CHSPE, GED equivalent.

You may also be told that you are required to have an FBI criminal background/fingerprint check, a TB test and a business license to operate your private school. Parents working exclusively with their own children are not required to undergo FBI criminal background checks. Whether or not you need a TB test or business license to work with your own children exclusively in your own home is subject to interpretation. You should talk with your local support group about these if you are concerned.

REQUIRED BRANCHES OF STUDY

Private schools must OFFER the following courses to their students. Students are not required to take all of these courses.

The adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6 shall include instruction, beginning in grade 1 and continuing through grade 6, in the following areas of study:

(a) English, including knowledge of, and appreciation for literature and the language, as well as the skills of speaking, reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, and composition.

(b) Mathematics, including concepts, operational skills, and problem solving.

(c) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils.  Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America; the development of the American economic system including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; man's relations to his human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; contemporary issues; and the wise use of natural resources.

(d) Science, including the biological and physical aspects, with emphasis on the processes of experimental inquiry and on man's place in ecological systems.

(e) Fine arts, including instruction in the subjects of art and music, aimed at the development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

(f) Health, including instruction in the principles and practices of individual, family, and community health

(g) Physical education, with emphasis upon the physical activities for the pupils that may be conducive to health and vigor of body and mind, for a total period of time of not less than 200 minutes each 10 school days, exclusive of recesses and the lunch period.

The adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer courses in the following areas of study:

(a) English, including knowledge of and appreciation for literature, language, and composition, and the skills of reading, listening, and speaking.

(b) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils. Instructions shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America; instruction in our American legal system, the operation of the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, and the rights and duties of citizens under the criminal and civil law and the State and Federal Constitutions; the development of the American economic system, including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, and contemporary issues.

(c) Foreign language or languages, beginning not later than grade 7, designed to develop a facility for understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the particular language.

(d) Physical education, with emphasis given to physical activities that are conducive to health and to vigor of body and mind.

(e) Science, including the physical and biological aspects, with emphasis on basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific investigation and on the place of humans in ecological systems, and with appropriate applications of the interrelation and interdependence of the sciences.

(f) Mathematics, including instruction designed to develop mathematical understandings, operational skills, and insight into problem-solving procedures.

(g) Fine arts, including art, music, or drama, with emphasis upon development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

(h) Applied arts, including instruction in the areas of consumer and homemaking education, industrial arts, general business education, or general agriculture.

(i) Vocational-technical education designed and conducted for the purpose of preparing youth for gainful employment in the occupations and in the numbers that are appropriate to the personnel needs of the state and the community served and relevant to the career desires and needs of the pupils.

(j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle Code and other laws of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles, a proper acceptance of personal responsibility in traffic, a true appreciation of the causes, seriousness and consequences of traffic accidents, and to develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles. A course in automobile driver education shall include education in the safe operation of motorcycles.

(k) Other studies as may be prescribed by the governing board.

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