What are my options for homeschooling in the South Bay?

Last checked 2026-09-17

California recognizes a handful of legal ways to homeschool, and a charter is a common, well-regarded starting point for many South Bay families. It isn't the only option, or a required one. Each pathway below has its own page with the mechanics, cost, and curriculum rules; the comparison page puts them side by side.

Which pathways exist?

• Private school affidavit (PSA)
  File your own private school. Free, total curriculum freedom, most paperwork.
• Private school satellite program (PSP)
  Join an existing private school as an umbrella. Usually paid, less paperwork.
• Charter independent study
  A common starting point: a public charter funds curriculum and pairs you with a credentialed teacher; materials stay secular.
• District independent study
  Your home district's own independent study program.
• Private tutor
  A certified tutor teaches your child; a narrower, less common path.

Which way is the most common?

Honestly, no one can say for certain. California doesn't keep a central count of families who file their own private school affidavit, that filing is a once-a-year snapshot the state uses to track school-age children, not a running tally of who homeschools (source). Charter students are the ones counted in state enrollment data, which is what makes charter independent study the most visible route and a common first step, rather than a requirement. Families who want full curriculum freedom, including faith-based materials a charter can't fund, often file their own affidavit instead.