State Requirements
Homeschooling in California
California has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must homeschool at least 175 days per year, and you'll file notice with the state Department of Education.
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Homeschooling in California sits squarely in the middle of the country's regulatory spectrum. Families have real freedom to teach how they see fit, but the state does ask for paperwork and proof of progress along the way. Because the compulsory attendance age in California runs from 6-18, families plan their homeschool schedule around that window.
The California statute's focus is on consistency more than minute-tracking. Families teach for at least 175 school days a year and are trusted to define those days around their household's real schedule.
Before instruction begins, or promptly at the start of each school year, families in California submit a notice of intent to the state Department of Education. Filing at the state level keeps the process out of the district's hands, which is a welcome simplification for families who move between districts.
California expects instruction in math, language arts, social studies, science, visual/performing arts, health, and physical education. How those subjects show up day-to-day is entirely a family's call. In practice, California homeschool families use Homeschool Fox to log daily activities, keep portfolios in one place, and generate the compliance reports that the state's paperwork moments call for.
At a glance
175 days/year
School days
Ages 6-18
Compulsory attendance
Notice requirements
Notice is required
You must notify the state Department of Education of your intent to homeschool.
Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft a California-ready letter.
Deeper guides: how to write a notice of intent to homeschool covers the language admins look for, and when and where to file your notice of intent covers state-by-state deadlines and recipients.
Generate your notice of intentWithdrawing from public school
California handles the transition from public school at the state level: send a withdrawal letter to the child's current school, then file a notice of intent directly with the state Department of Education. Homeschool Fox generates a compliant withdrawal letter from your family's details in a few clicks.
For the play-by-play, how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the conversation, the timing, and the paperwork. What to send the district when you pull your child covers exactly what the letter should and shouldn't say.
Assessment requirements
Assessment not required
California does not require standardized testing or formal assessment.
Portfolio & records
Portfolio not required
While California doesn't mandate a portfolio, keeping records is still recommended.
Required subjects
California requires instruction in the following subjects.
Umbrella schools
California treats homeschoolers as private schools. Most California families pick one of four legal vehicles, and one of them — the Private School Satellite Program (PSP) — works exactly like an umbrella school. A PSP is an established private school that lets families enroll as satellite students; the PSP files the Private School Affidavit under § 33190 and keeps the attendance register required by § 48222 on your behalf.
Day to day you still teach your own child and pick your own curriculum. What changes is that the PSP carries the legal weight: the state-mandated attendance and recordkeeping requirements live with the school rather than with you, and a PSP director can issue a transcript or diploma at the end of high school. Most PSPs charge an annual fee (commonly $100–$500), and many require members to submit a withdrawal letter, an annual enrollment form, and sometimes work samples or testing. The alternatives — filing your own PSA, enrolling in a public charter independent-study program, or using a credentialed private tutor under § 48224 — each shift the paperwork and oversight differently.
Tax credits & deductions
California does not have a homeschool-specific tax credit or deduction — but California families using a 529 plan need to know about a recapture rule that catches many homeschoolers off guard. ScholarShare (California's 529 plan) does NOT conform to the federal expansion that allows tax-free 529 withdrawals for K-12 tuition. If you withdraw 529 funds for K-12 expenses, California treats the earnings portion as taxable income and adds a 2.5% additional state tax on top.
The practical impact: federal-level 529 K-12 use can still be tax-free, but the California-side benefit you accumulated while saving (deductions if any plus tax-deferred growth) gets recaptured at withdrawal time. Run the numbers with a CPA before pulling 529 money for homeschool curriculum, tuition, or supplemental classes. Saving for college only? No issue. Using the 529 as a homeschool sinking fund? Likely not the right vehicle in California. Note: this affects 529 K-12 withdrawals specifically; 529 college withdrawals remain tax-free under California rules.
Deeper guides: homeschool tax credits and deductions by state for 2026 covers every state with a credit, and are homeschool expenses tax-deductible — an honest breakdown covers the boundaries on what counts and which gimmicks to avoid.
Tax laws change. Check your California Department of Revenue page (or talk to a CPA) before filing — the figures above reflect our last verified review (May 2026).
Additional notes
File Private School Affidavit (PSA) annually between Oct 1-15.
Calculate your California hours
California tracks days, not hours. We suggest aiming for 900 hours/year as a personal target. Enter your end date to see the pace.
Leave at 0 if you haven't started tracking yet
Enter an end date to see your targets
Target
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hours per day
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hours per week
Prefer a full-page version? Open the standalone hours calculator.
Sources
Verified May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in California?
How many hours do I need to homeschool in California?
Does California require testing for homeschoolers?
Do I need to keep a portfolio in California?
What subjects must I teach in California?
Nearby states
View all statesWant the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.
What we track
Track your 175 California days automatically
Log activities by voice or text and Homeschool Fox rolls them up against California's requirements automatically. Free for 14 days.
- Instruction hours per student
- Attendance days toward 175-day goal
- Subject coverage (core & non-core)
- Activity log (text, voice, AI-parsed)
- Portfolios & PDF year-end reports
- Transcripts with GPA & credits
- Test scores & evaluations
- Notice of intent & withdrawal letters
14-day free trial. No credit card required.