Rest assured, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Each state has its own set of requirements. In California, all children 6 years old as of December 2 are required to be enrolled in school. To legally homeschool your child, parents may choose from the following options:

Establish a Home-Based Private School
Enroll in a Private School that offers an Independent Study Program (ISP)
Enroll in a Public School ISP or Charter School
Use a Credentialed Tutor

Each of the options has pros and cons. A Home-Based Private School offers the most flexibility as far as choosing the style and curriculum you use. Instructors must be 'capable of teaching' but do not require a California teaching credential or equivalent training. State-mandated testing is not required of private schools in California, including Home-Based Private Schools. Home-Based Private Schools need to file a Private School Affidavit (PSA, also known as an R-4 form) between October 1 and October 15 of each school year. Home-based private schools keep their own records. There is no support system automatically provided, so it takes a bit more effort seeking out or creating those opportunities for networking and socialization.

A Private ISP will normally take care of all of the record-keeping and other administrative matters. They also offer support systems which vary depending on the school. A drawback might be tuition fees and some restrictions through compli- ance with curriculum requirements and administrative supervision.

A Public School ISP or Charter School usually loans you the materials you need for the year as well as supplies consumables free of charge. They keep any necessary records. Public school charters in our area typically offer a resource teacher who meets with you from once a week to once a month, depending on the program. If you are new to homeschooling, this could be a great option.

Your resource teacher is available to help with lesson plans, go over the past week's work and answer any questions you might have. These programs may also offer extracurricular activities like field trips, music, physical education, etc. or give you a monetary allowance to pay for these activities. The most important thing in choosing an ISP is to find one that respects your authority as a parent and works with you to best serve your children's individual educational needs.

A Credentialed Tutor is an option for parents who want the homeschooling environment without having to do the teaching themselves. Credentialed tutors must have a valid California teaching credential that is appropriate to the grade level of the child/children being taught. Instruction must be in English, between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm for a minimum of three hours per day, 175 days per year. Many credentialed teachers who teach their own children actually opt to register as a private school because of these additional restrictions. Certain benefits, like concurrent enrollment in a community college, are not available to tutored students but are available with the other homeschooling options.

Next month, I’ll discuss what is involved in setting up and choosing a curriculum for a Home-Based Private School.

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