We’re lucky to be living in a country that allows parents to take their kids out of school and educate them at home. Unlike many other states, California doesn’t have many homeschooling regulations. California’s homeschooling law allows 3 different options: 1) Homeschooling as a home-based private school, 2) Homeschooling with a private school satellite program (PSP), or 3) Homeschooling via instruction by a private tutor.
In order to homeschool as a home-based private school or with a private school satellite program (a private school which has filed an affidavit), you must:
In addition, if you want to homeschool as a home-based private school, you will have to file an annual private school affidavit.
In order to homeschool via instruction by a private tutor, your child must:
Although unschooling via any of these homeschooling options is feasible if you don’t mind these requirements, your child may not have access to a community of peers who they can engage with and learn from on a day to day basis.
Enter The Open School. We have a virtual program that you can enroll in from anywhere in the world. And as a self-directed school, our program is perfectly aligned with unschooling. We have no required subjects and no tests. Instead, students design virtual activities to do with other students and staff, including art projects, video games, workshops, one-on-one lessons, and anything else you can imagine. It’s a community of self-directed learners, and a great place for unschoolers to make deep, lasting friendships.
If you want your child to be a free learner in California, with access to a supportive and caring community of peers and adults, a virtual private school may be your best bet. You can read more about our virtual program, or contact us directly, by clicking one of the buttons below.