Private/Home School Guidance & Resources for LEAs

Guidance and resources for local educational agencies (LEAs) regarding private/home school disenrollment and compulsory education exemption verifications.

Guidance

Disenrolling Students to Attend Private/Home Schools

Upon receiving a parental request to withdraw a student from public school, the LEA shall follow local procedures for disenrolling the student from their LEA. LEAs should be aware that the filing of the Private School Affidavit (PSA) is not a prerequisite to withdraw a child with the intent to enroll them in a private/home school. Therefore, the LEA’s disenrollment procedures shall not include the requirement for parents to show proof of a filed PSA.

Verifying Compulsory Education Exemptions

In order for exemptions from compulsory education for children who are being instructed in a private full-time day school to be valid, the supervisor of attendance or other person designated by the local governing board shall verify that the private school has filed an affidavit per EC Section 33190.

The annual statutory affidavit filing period is October 1 to October 15. Below is guidance for verifying affidavits outside of the statutory filing period.

July 1 through July 31

The PSA filing system is not available during the month of July. Therefore, the verification of affidavits for children who are being instructed in a private full-time day school starting between July 1 and July 31 shall take place after the PSA filing system is made available on August 1. Note, during this time, parents may withdraw their children and enroll them in a private full-time day school, or begin homeschooling prior to filing an affidavit.

August 1 through September 30

The PSA filing system will be available for early filing beginning on August 1 in order to accommodate newly established private schools and parents opting to withdraw their children and enroll them in a private full-time day school. Therefore, the verification of affidavits for children who are being instructed in a private full-time day school prior to October 1, may take place beginning in August.

October 16 through June 30

The California Department of Education (CDE) leaves the PSA filing system open throughout the school year to accommodate newly established private schools in meeting the PSA filing requirements, therefore, the verification of affidavits for children who are being instructed in a private full-time day school starting between October 16 and June 30 shall take place shortly after withdrawing the student from public school.

The CDE recommends that LEAs inform parents of their affidavit filing requirements and provide a time frame in which the parent needs to complete their affidavit filing in order for the LEA to validate their exemption from compulsory education and avoid referral to the school attendance review board (SARB).

Resources

Resources for LEAs

Private School Search Tool
Allows county offices, districts, and other authorized users to search for and obtain private school affidavit information for the private schools in their county.

School Attendance Review Boards
Information about school attendance review boards (SARBs) that are composed of school and community members who meet regularly to diagnose and resolve persistent student attendance or behavior problems.

Truancy
Information and resources that define truancy and truancy penalties and other related information.