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Filing a Private School Affidavit

One of the options for homeschooling in California includes filing a yearly private school affidavit. Although an affidavit may be filed later in the year if you begin homeschooling in the middle of theschool year, the time recommended by HSLDA is between October 1st and 15th.

The California Private School Affidavit is an online form which states to the department of education that you intend to operate as a private school in the state of California. If you are enrolled in a private school satellite study program (a “PSP” or “umbrella school”), then this process is done for you by the PSP.

If you are a California state credentialed teacher, you do not need to file, though many do because the private school status is more flexible and easier to deal with. If you are homeschooling through a public program or Charter school, you do not have to file this affidavit. The California Department of Education website states that the links allowing you to file an affidavit will not be activated until October 1st. Please refer to www.hslda.org for filing instructions if you are unsure of how to complete this form – they have complete instructions listed at this link:

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ca/affidavit/AffidavitInstructions.asp

They update the instructions each year on or just prior to October 1st  so that it is up to date. If you have questions, you may also contact one of the CFS Poway board members.

According to HSLDA, the only information required to be reported on an affidavit or statement are the items specifically mentioned in EC § 33190. However, the computerized online affidavit form has been programmed by the CDE to require some additional information.

HSLDA recommends that you provide only what is necessary to file the affidavit as indicated by the CDE on screen with an asterisk. Access the Private School Affidavit form on the CDE website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/rq/ on or after October 1st. If this is the first time you are filing a Private School Affidavit, you may want to print a blank copy before filling it out and review it.

Here are some important tips to remember:

* Do not include children who are under 6 years of age by December 1st of this school year.

* Mark "co-educational" and "Day only".

* Electronic signature: This is a series of questions for you to answer so that in the future,. they can verify who filled out the application online, should it ever become an issue.

* Print at least 2 copies for your files!