A Private School Affidavit (PSA) is an annual registration filed with the California Department of Education that establishes a home-based private school, allowing families to legally homeschool with complete educational freedom.
What is a Private School Affidavit?
A Private School Affidavit, commonly called the PSA or R-4 Form, is California's primary mechanism for legal homeschooling. By filing this document annually, parents declare under penalty of perjury that they are operating a private school from their home. This isn't a request for permission or a license application—it's simply notification that you're already doing the work. The California Department of Education doesn't evaluate, approve, or supervise your school. They just need to know it exists. Filing exempts your children from compulsory public school attendance under Education Code Section 48222.
Key Takeaways
- Must file annually between October 1-15 (extended access August 1 - June 30)
- Provides complete curriculum and teaching method freedom with no state testing required
- No teaching credential required—only "capable of teaching" standard
- Families bear all curriculum and material costs (no state funding)
- Requires maintaining attendance records and offering instruction in core subjects
How the PSA Differs from Other Options
California offers four legal pathways for homeschooling, and the PSA represents maximum independence. Unlike families enrolled in charter school independent study programs who receive $2,000-$3,000+ annually for curriculum but must complete state testing, PSA families maintain complete control over every educational decision. You won't receive funding, but you also won't attend mandatory meetings with credentialed teachers or submit your child to standardized assessments. For families with strong convictions about educational philosophy—whether religious, classical, unschooling, or otherwise—this autonomy makes the PSA worth the trade-off.
Filing Requirements
Filing Requirements
- File online at cde.ca.gov/psa
Paper forms no longer accepted; October 1-15 is the official window
- List all enrolled students
Only children ages 6-17 who are not enrolled elsewhere
- Maintain attendance records
Document any absences of half-day or more
- Teach required subjects
English, math, social studies, science, fine arts, and health
- Keep instruction in English
Primary language of instruction requirement
What to Keep on File
Beyond the affidavit itself, you'll want to maintain several records at home. An attendance register documenting school days is essential—note any absences even if you make up the time differently. Keep a general description of your courses of study (a curriculum overview works fine), and retain basic faculty records, which for most homeschools simply means you. Immunization records for your enrolled students round out the documentation. None of this gets submitted anywhere unless specifically requested, but having it organized protects you if questions ever arise.
Privacy Protections
One underappreciated benefit: if you file with five or fewer students, your school's information won't appear in the CDE's online public directory. Someone would need to physically visit the Sacramento office to look it up. For families who value privacy alongside educational freedom, this provides meaningful protection while still maintaining full legal compliance with California's compulsory education laws.
The Bottom Line
The Private School Affidavit offers California families the most autonomous path to legal homeschooling. You trade state funding and support structures for complete control over curriculum, schedule, and methodology. For families confident in directing their children's education and willing to handle the administrative details themselves, the PSA provides unmatched freedom. Just remember: filing annually by the October deadline isn't optional, and keeping those basic records will serve you well if your homeschool ever faces scrutiny.
