Homeschooling How To's

The California Homeschool Network has a very helpful website at www.californiahomeschool.net; this is where I went for basic information when I first started homeschooling my kids. You are just fine teaching him at home. You are not required to enroll him in any kind of program; you are free to create your own curriculum and teach him at home. The website has more details on the legal aspect of homeschooling (under "Legal Options"). You can also look up homeschooling groups in your area; this helps in asking others questions about all your options for homeschooling, and also to connect with other homeschoolers your son's age. Good luck!

I believe you can do a "statement in lue" for the remainder of this year. .see the CA homeshcool network link that another mom sent you. That is a great resource.

Then....In late August or beginning of sept, Start homeschooling your son for the next grade level/school year. YOU pick what date your school will start. Then, anytime between Oct 1-15 , you will have to go online and register your private school with the CDE (CA Dept of Education.) The CA homeschool network site has instructions and should have the link. Fill it out online and email it. Once you do this, you are registered. Make sure you use a computer that is hooked to a printer and can print a copy of it , and then file your printed copy in a binder or file dwarer.. keep it in archives. Do not try to file at the beginning (aug/sept) of your school, Your school should already be up and running... and then you file in October. This is what all the big private schools do and is what homeschoolers need to do also.

You will also have to keep an attendance sheet. You dont have to turn it in, you keep it on file at home. There are 180 days in the school year.
You also have to keep on file...a statement of the qualifications of the 'teacher" (you). Dont freak out about this. Remember that these requirements were put in place for the faculty at the pivate schools like the one you just pulled your son out of..not for homeschoolers.. So If you only have a high school diploma- no problem. Put that on the form. (It is probable no one will ever see it anyway.) With your name, your school name, address, position title, and any other classes you've taken. It's that simple. You do not have to mail it to anyone. File it. You have it on hand in case you get audited. (Unlikely.) stick it in the same file with your copy of your electronic registration.

Go to yahoogroups.com and lookup homeschooling groups in the bay area. That can get you started with a support group. That is very important. Someone on there will probably have copies of attendance sheets that they can send you so you can use it. You may even find blank ones online.

When I lived in Ca in 2009 I had a homeschool binder. I put dividers in it, and on section 1, was the attendace sheet. Section 2, was my daily activity planner.(I listed what we did every day.. NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATE- I JUST DID IT) Section 3, was my the reading log...a sheet to record "books read" (not required by the state but so fun to look back on). Section 4 was faculty info sheet. Section 5 was my copy of electronic registration. I also had a binder for my child , separated by subject, where i kept samples of his work. At the end of the year, I pulled a sample of work from each month from his binder, put it together with all the stuff from my binder, put in into a grocery sack, and taped it up. Wrote HOMESCHOOL ARCHIVE GRADE X on it, and then threw it in the attic. Keep your homeschool documents archived for 5 years if possible.

I've been homeschooling for 12 years, 10 of them in CA.
Mail me with any questions.....
Gail

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You'll have to check to see how you need to go about filing an affidavid with the state. check HSLDA.org to find out. You can file anytime but you just need to find out how to do it. Good luck to you!! =D

You can still file an affidavit with the state, simply to provide peace of mind. The affidavit is simply a formality indicating that you have established a private school. You can find step by step instructions on filing your Private School Affidavit at http://www.hsc.org/linebyline.php .

Joining the HSLDA isn't necessary. You should be aware that the HSLDA uses dues to lobby on issues that are not directly related to home education, such as their support of DOMA. You can find out which issues they lobby for/against at their website: http://www.hslda.org/docs/ . All of California's statewide homeschooling organizations (HSC, CHN, and CHEA) have legal teams to deal with any issues relating to home education in California.

If you haven't already found a local support group, you can find information on where to find one at either http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/CaliforniaSu... or at http://www.homefires.com/support/ .

Hi M.,

Before you do anything, join and call HSLDA for advise.

I am not sure you have to notify your school district - I don't think that's true of California. Correct me if I'm wrong, J.L. Perhaps she is referring to the fact that your child was previously enrolled? But he was enrolled in a private school, so I don't think the school district has to know anything about it. Laws vary from state to state. I've homeschooled in California for 11 years and haven't ever had to do that. Don't do it unless you know you have to. It could lead to unnecessary conflict.

There are three ways to homeschool here. You can sign up with a public or private school's independent study program. That way, your son is officially a student of that school. Similarly, you can sign up with a public charter school, which supervises you somewhat. With charter schools, you can teach exclusively at home or take classes. The third way is to file an affidavit with the state, effectively opening your own private school. This choice gives you the most freedom - it's your school and you can teach however you want, as long as you cover the specified basics and teach in English.

The affidavit is supposed to be filed Oct. 1-15. I think you can file it at any time, though. Since you've been teaching independently already, that's probably the easiest choice. I would strongly advise you to join HSLDA before you file or do anything else, just in case there's a problem. A yearly membership is $100. Call them for advise. You'll probably be just fine, but you don't want any interference or legal hassles.

Here's the link to file the affidavit:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/rq/affidavit.asp

Hope all goes well - you made a great choice to homeschool!

to enroll him in homeschooling? i'm not sure how it works in CA, but here you would need to send a notice of intent to the board of ed and that's it. technically it should be done prior to pulling the child out of school, but it's never to my knowledge been a sticking point.
there's certainly no need to re-enroll him in school. just look into your state's requirements, fulfill them, and move on. there may be some explanations due if CA is particularly nitpicky, but just explain that you didn't quite understand and make sure you are within whatever legal parameters your state requires (ie keeping a portfolio or finding an umbrella group.)
it'll be fine.
khairete
S.