Homeschool glossary: what do these terms mean?
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Plain-language definitions for terms used throughout this site, each linked to its source.
- Private School Affidavit (PSA)
- The annual filing (CA Education Code Section 33190) that any person or entity offering private school instruction, including a parent teaching their own child at home, must submit to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Statutory window is October 1-15; CDE's online system stays open August 1-June 30 for new filers. (source)
- Private School Satellite Program (PSP)
- A private school, filed under the same PSA requirement as any private school, that enrolls other families' children for primarily at-home instruction under its own single affidavit rather than each family filing individually. Term is industry/HSLDA usage, not a distinct statutory category, CDE's own page lists it as one of several types of filer under EC 33190. (source)
- Independent Study
- A state-defined alternative to daily classroom instruction, offered by a local educational agency (school district, county office of education, or charter school) under CA Education Code Sections 51744-51749.6 (Article 5.5). Requires a signed written agreement per pupil, a credentialed supervising teacher, and adherence to state minimum synchronous-instruction time by grade band. Participation must always be optional for the pupil/family. (source)
- Learning Period / Independent Study Agreement
- The signed written agreement (CA Education Code Section 51747(g)) between the LEA, the supervising teacher, and the family that governs an independent-study pupil's assignments, evaluation, and duration. Cannot be valid for longer than one school year. (source)
- ADA (Average Daily Attendance)
- The funding metric California uses to apportion state money to public schools and charters, including for independent study, based on how many days pupils actually attend/participate. Independent-study teacher caseload ratios are also calculated against ADA (CA Education Code Section 51745.6): districts may not exceed their own districtwide pupil-to-teacher ratio, and charters may use either that method or a fixed 25:1 ratio. (source)
- A-G (A-G Admissions Criteria)
- The University of California/California State University subject-area course requirements ('a' through 'g') that determine whether a high school course counts toward UC/CSU admission eligibility. Independent study pupils in grades 9-12 must have access to all A-G-approved courses the LEA offers for graduation, taught by a subject-expert credentialed teacher at least weekly (CA Education Code Section 47605(c)(5)(A)(iii); 51747(c)). (source)
- WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
- An accrediting body referenced directly in charter school law: courses accredited by WASC 'may be considered transferable' between California public high schools (CA Education Code Section 47605(c)(5)(A)(iii)). WASC accreditation is not required for a home-based private school, PSP, or independent-study program to operate legally, it is a voluntary/optional accreditation some schools pursue for transfer-credibility purposes. (source)
- Compulsory Education Law
- CA Education Code Sections 48200-48361, requiring every child aged 6-18 not otherwise exempted to attend a public full-time day school. The PSA, PSP, independent study, and private-tutor pathways are all recognized statutory exemptions from this requirement. (source)
- Nonsectarian / Secular Curriculum Requirement
- The constitutional and statutory rule that public schools, including charter and district independent study, cannot teach or fund sectarian/denominational instruction or materials. Sourced to CA Constitution Article IX, Section 8, and, for charter schools specifically, CA Education Code Section 47605(e)(1). This rule does not apply to a self-filed PSA or a PSP, which are private schools and may be faith-based. (source)
- Nonclassroom-Based Instruction
- A charter-school funding category (CA Education Code Section 47612.5(e)(2)) covering any instruction that doesn't meet the 'classroom-based' definition, at least 80% of instructional time at a schoolsite with 80% pupil attendance there. Includes independent study, home study, work study, and distance/computer-based education. Requires a separate State Board funding determination to receive apportionment. (source)
- Vendor / vendor-accepting charter
- An enrichment provider that a specific charter's independent-study program allows families to pay using their curriculum funds. Which vendors a charter accepts varies by charter and changes; confirm with your specific charter rather than assuming a listed vendor works for yours.
Sources
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