If you are new to homeschooling, we welcome you! This page is an excellent place to start in your possible journey into private home education. Let’s get started!
First off we need to answer an essential question, “how can I legally homeschool?”. There are four legal ways that you as a parent can homeschool your kids in the State of California:
- 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 you would create letterhead and various forms that the state requires you keep on each child. Also, you are free to choose whatever curriculum you would like to teach your children, be it secular or Christian. You set your own standards, and the cost of all books and supplies are your responsibility.
- You can enroll your child in the public homeschool system, which is called a charter school. Charter schools are common in our state, 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.
The truth is, is that many Christian parents that enroll their children in charter schools are told by the administrators that although they cannot purchase Christian curriculum with state funds allotted by the charter school, they can, however, teach Christian curriculum as long as the parents provide that curriculum. 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 are 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 example, 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 subject: https://fpmca.org/california-chart-schools-what-the-law-says-pertaining-to-religious-instruction/ and here: https://fpmca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CA-Charter-School-Law-190201-1.pdf
- If you hold a valid California teacher’s credential for the grades and subjects taught, then you can also legally homeschool.
- You may enroll in a private school PSP (private school satellite program), which files their own affidavit with the State and so all families enrolled in a PSP fall under the guidance and authority of that PSP. Our school is considered a PSP!
For more details on all of the above subjects, we defer to Family Protection Ministries based in Sacramento. They are legal advocates for families who choose to privately homeschool: https://fpmca.org/home-schooling-in-california/.
Revival Christian Academy is a PSP but more than that, we are a ministry of Revival Christian Fellowship. We follow the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Education and the church. We have a comprehensive program that is designed to encourage, support and hold parents accountable for their homeschooling, along with fellowship and fun for the kids! For more information and to speak with us call 951.246.5657.