Blog / California
CaliforniaCalifornia Homeschool Record Keeping Requirements (2026)
California homeschool record keeping requirements are simpler than most new parents expect. You do not mail your lesson plans to Sacramento. If you run your home as a private school by filing the Private School Affidavit, you need to keep attendance, a list of subjects taught, and immunization records in your own files. That is the core list. Everything else—grades, portfolios, detailed journals—is optional but wise. I have filed the affidavit myself, and the freedom comes from knowing the minimum so you can build from calm instead of panic.
What records do I actually need to keep?
Under California Education Code, a private school—which is what your home becomes when you file the PSA—must maintain several specific records. You do not need a filing cabinet in the dining room. A single drawer or a secure cloud folder is plenty. Here is the exact checklist.
| Record | Required? | Plain-English note |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance register | Yes | A simple log of school days, noting absences of a half day or more. Most families aim for about 180 days to stay aligned with standard academic calendars. |
| Course of study | Yes | A list of subjects taught each year, covering the branches taught in public schools. Instruction must be in English. |
| Immunization records | Yes | Keep copies of up-to-date records or a valid medical exemption on file. |
| Faculty list & qualifications | Yes | For most moms, this is simply a note stating you are capable of teaching your own children. No teaching credential is required. |
| Grades or progress reports | Optional* | Not mandated by state law, but essential if you plan on making a homeschool transcript. |
| Work samples / portfolio | Optional* | Helpful if you ever need to show progress to a college or school district, but never required. |
*Under the Private School Affidavit option. The Homeschool Association of California and HSLDA both keep plain-English breakdowns of these obligations for California families.
Do I have to file a Private School Affidavit every year?
Yes. The California Department of Education opens the Private School Affidavit (PSA) online from October 1 through October 15 each year, under Education Code section 33190. It is free, and it takes about ten minutes. You list your school name, your address, and the number of students. You do not submit your records, curriculum, or test scores with it.
Filing the affidavit creates the legal umbrella that lets you teach your children at home under the private school exemption. If you miss the October window, you can file late, though the state prefers you stay within the official dates. If you enroll in a Private School Satellite Program (PSP), the program files on your behalf and you skip this step entirely. The California Department of Education explains the PSA process on its site.
How many school days does California require?
California does not set a mandatory number of instructional days for private homeschools filing the PSA. You set your own calendar. The one place a day count appears in the law is the private-tutor path (more on that below), which requires 175 days a year. Most homeschool families still plan for roughly 180 days so transcripts look standard to colleges and scholarship committees.
When you are planning the year, build a rhythm that fits your family rather than a rigid district calendar. Some years we schooled four days a week and made up the difference with longer days in the spring. The law cares that you keep records, not that you copy the public school calendar exactly. If the day-to-day is the part that keeps slipping, our guide on a homeschool schedule for multiple kids covers a routine that bends with real life.
What is the difference between a PSA and a PSP?
This confuses every new parent, so let me clear it up.
A PSA means you are your own private school. You file the affidavit, you keep the records, and you choose every subject. A PSP—Private School Satellite Program—means you are a student in someone else's private school, usually a local homeschool group or umbrella school. They file the affidavit, they often guide some of the curriculum, and they may keep records for you. PSPs offer community and structure; PSAs offer full independence. Both are completely legal paths in California.
How long should I keep homeschool records?
Keep them until your student graduates high school, and ideally for two to three years beyond. If your child applies to college, a trade school, or the military, admissions officers may ask for a homeschool transcript and course descriptions. That is why I recommend keeping attendance, grades, and course lists through age eighteen even though California itself does not set a retention deadline.
Those grade logs become the raw material for future transcripts — our homeschool gradebook keeps them in whichever scale you choose so a homeschool transcript is a twenty-minute export later, not an archaeology dig. Scan immunization forms into a secure folder and back them up somewhere cloud-based. Paper is fine, but digital copies survive coffee spills.
Can I use a homeschool app for California record keeping?
Absolutely. California law does not specify how you keep records, only that you keep them. A spreadsheet, a paper planner, or a homeschool app all satisfy the requirement. The key is consistency: update attendance weekly, log subjects once a semester, and keep immunization forms in one labeled folder. If you would rather map the whole year in one place, that is what our curriculum planner is for.
This is part of why I built ClassGenie — but a simple binder works fine if you stay consistent. And if you are obsessing over record keeping because you are secretly afraid your child is behind, the free Homeschool Survival Kit has the checklists that quiet that worry.
Filing in a different state? Our companion guide on what homeschool records to keep in Texas walks through the same questions under Texas law.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to keep a portfolio for California homeschool records?
No. California law does not require homeschool portfolios or work samples for families filing a Private School Affidavit. Many parents keep a few samples anyway to track progress and build future transcripts.
Will the state audit my homeschool records?
It is rare. The California Department of Education generally does not audit individual private homeschools. If a truancy officer or school district questions your status, showing your filed Private School Affidavit and basic attendance records is usually sufficient.
Does California require standardized testing for homeschoolers?
No. Private homeschools in California are not required to administer standardized tests. Some parents choose to test voluntarily to measure progress or prepare for college admissions.
Can I hire a tutor instead of teaching my child myself?
Yes. Under Education Code section 48224 you may use a private tutor who holds a valid California teaching credential for the grade taught. The tutor must teach in English for at least three hours a day across 175 days a year, and you should keep a record of their credentials.
Do I need to keep homeschool records if I enroll in a charter school?
If you use a public charter school for homeschoolers, the charter typically handles record keeping and compliance. You will follow their specific policies rather than the private school affidavit rules.
California gives homeschool families real freedom, and the record list is short: attendance, subjects, immunizations, and the affidavit once a year. Keep those in one place as you go, and the paperwork that feels intimidating in October becomes a non-event by June.
— Laura, founder