What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is an option in which parents direct their children’s education rather than enrolling them full-time in a public or private school. Homeschooling parents take charge of their children’s education through learning at home, joining co-ops, participating in academic clubs, taking community college classes, and much more. Homeschooling is parent-directed education that allows for a personalized education plan.

How Do I Homeschool In California?

Homeschooling is legal and accepted in all fifty states in the United States and many countries worldwide. In the United States, homeschooling is regulated by the state, so homeschool laws are unique to each state.

There are four legal ways that you as a parent can homeschool your kids in the state of California:

1. You may file your own affidavit with the state through the California Department of Education.

• Affidavit Filing Period
  The statutory filing period is October 1 through 15; however, the filing system remains open throughout the school year to accommodate new schools. Schools established between July 1 and September 30 shall wait to file an affidavit until the PSA filing period begins in October. (CDE)You would name your school, for example, “Smith Family Academy,” and create letterhead and various forms that the state requires you to keep on each child. Also, you can choose whatever curriculum you want to teach your children, whether secular or Christian. You set your standards, and the cost of all books and supplies is your responsibility.

2. You can enroll your child in the public homeschool system called a charter school. Charter schools are common in California, and even though some teaching is done at home, you must remember that you are under the authority of the state of California in what you can and cannot teach. You must understand that you are not free to teach your kids according to God’s Word while enrolled in charter school:

• California State Constitution
  Article 9, section 8 – No public money shall ever be appropriated for the support of any sectarian [religious] or denominational school, or any school not under the exclusive control of the officers of the public schools; nor shall any sectarian or denominational doctrine be taught, or instruction thereon be permitted, directly or indirectly, in any of the common schools* of this state.
• Many administrators tell many Christian parents who enroll their children in charter schools that although they cannot purchase a Christian curriculum with state funds allotted by the charter school, they can teach a Christian curriculum as long as the parents provide it. In light of the California State Constitution, you can see that no “sectarian or denominational doctrine be taught… directly or indirectly… “. So the question is, “How is it that parents whose children enrolled in a charter school are able to teach religious curriculum when what you are teaching must be reported to the charter school regularly?” The answer is this because most charter schools inform parents that when it’s time to turn in samples of their kids’ school work, all they need to do is obtain secular examples of what they are doing, for instance, from the internet. You, as a parent, must know that doing this is illegal. The law is clear. However, parents all over California are being told by many charter schools that it is perfectly allowable to report in this manner falsely. For more detailed information on this, read these two links:
  • California Charter Schools – What the Law Says Pertaining to Religious Instruction (view PDF)

3. You can also legally homeschool if you hold a valid California teacher’s credential for the grades and subjects taught.

4. You may enroll in a PSP (private school satellite program), which files an affidavit with the state. All families enrolled in a PSP fall under the guidance and authority of that PSP. Revival Homeschool is a PSP in California.

We defer to the Home School Legal Defense Association and Family Protection Ministries, based in Sacramento, for more details on the above subjects. They are legal advocates for families who choose to homeschool.

Revival Homeschool is a PSP, but more than that, we are a ministry of Revival Christian Fellowship. We follow the California Department of Education and the church’s guidelines. Our comprehensive program encourages, supports, and holds parents accountable for their homeschooling and provides fellowship and fun for the kids! For more information and to speak with us, call 951-246-5657.