Updated for 2023
There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool and it’s a very personal decision to make. As you go through the process, you’ll need to know all your options and all the rules as well as learn about all the available resources.
Many parents in Los Angeles will likely consider homeschooling their children for the 2023-2024 school year, so we wanted to help by offering a guide to homeschool resources and information in the state of California.
Contents
• How to Homeschool in California
• Why Parents Are Considering Homeschooling Now
• Why Homeschooling is Not the Same as Crisis Schooling
• Homeschool Blogs and Websites
• Homeschool Programs in California
• Finding Homeschool Curriculum
Understanding the Rules and Laws: Homeschooling in California
The bottom line is: all children must be enrolled in some form of school, at all grade levels from elementary to high school, according to California State Law. But the definition of school includes homeschooling. So yes, you are legally allowed to homeschool your child here, as long as the rules are followed.
The CA State Department of Education has definitive information on the rules and regulations for homeschooling. We’ve found it’s a very nuanced and complicated system, and luckily there are homeschool groups and expert websites that can offer some practical information on the reality of life as a homeschooler.
How to Homeschool in California
As an overview, there are a few basic ways to homeschool your children and follow the law:
- you can create your own private school (which entails filing a certain type of paperwork called the Private School Affidavit with the State — and also finding a curriculum),
- you can work with a Charter school program that already has a curriculum you like, or
- you can create an Independent Study Program with your local public school district.
Please note this is just an overview of the ways to legally homeschool your kids – and in practice, there’s quite a bit more to it.
Related: 20 Essential Back-to-School Supplies for a Super Successful Year
Why Would Parents Choose Homeschooling Now?
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will hold in-person classes for the 2023-2024 school year. However, some parents will probably choose to homeschool their children rather than send them to public or private schools. They might make this move due to safety concerns, health reasons, a negative environment, or other reasons.
Whatever the motivation, there are some parents who feel they can find a curriculum that is as good or better than what the schools offer. But, more than that: many feel their child will be left behind if they don’t take matters into their own hands.
Here’s a guest article written by a mom who has chosen to homeschool her son in the past.
Homeschooling is Not “Crisis Schooling”
In the spring of 2020, when schools were forced to shut down, many LAUSD students were left with little or no instruction time at all, and much of what was done was inconsistent. Some parents considering homeschooling cite this as a reason to make the change, feeling they should take over the role of teacher in their child’s life.
Many homeschool experts point out that what took place in spring 2020 was “Crisis-Schooling”, not homeschooling – and that the two are as different as night and day.
Instead of juggling working at home and inconsistent Zoom calls for their kids, like many found themselves doing in spring 2020, homeschooling now is a conscious choice, which takes planning, resources, creativity, and commitment.
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Benefits of Homeschooling
While many parents are looking to this as a reaction to current events, many others have chosen to homeschool for years, for a variety of reasons, and with terrific results.
Being able to choose the curriculum your child learns is a big benefit to some parents, and it may go without saying that the flexibility it offers is something homeschoolers value.
One mom who’s been doing it for years tells us she saved three hours a day in commuting time for school drop-offs and pick-up times when she started homeschooling, and having that time back helped her have more time for instruction (and fun) with her kids, not to mention the added boost to her sanity of not being on the 405 as much.
Homeschooling also offers a sense of community, which some might have felt would be lacking when leaving a traditional school setting. There are networks of families who collaborate, share best practices, and when conditions permit, enjoy field trips and “recess” playtime together.
Along with courses in core subjects like Math, English, and Social Studies, homeschooling can allow space and time for more enrichment classes, too.
Related: First Day of School: 12 Ways to Make it Special
Resources for Los Angeles Parents Who Want to Homeschool Their Children
How do I start homeschooling in California? For those Los Angeles parents who are considering homeschooling their kids, we offer you this guide to the steps you need to take and the resources you’ll need to do it.
You probably have questions like:
– Does California pay for homeschooling?
– How much does it cost to homeschool in California?
– How many hours per day do you have to homeschool?
– Can I hire a credentialed teacher to help?
– Can a group of families form a pod and work together?
These are websites with tons of information, from homeschooling parents and experts, to help guide you on your journey.
Homeschool Websites From Parents and Experts
California Homeschool Network
Christian Home Educators Association of California
Homeschool Legal Defense Association
Homeschool Association of California
A2Z Homeschooling
New Edge Academy
Time4Learning
How to Homeschool by Someday I’ll Learn
California Unpublished — Free Printables and Info
The Homeschool Mom
The Contemporary Homeschooler
The Mom Trotter
K12.com
California Dept of Ed Website
California Department of Education Homeschool Laws
Featured Homeschool Programs
EverWild and Forest School
Type: Enrichment Program, Homeschool Program, Nature Immersion Program, Science Class
Description:
EverWild engages and mentors children and families to develop a meaningful connection to the Earth through Forest School classes and Summer Camps offered in Santa Clarita Valley, Topanga/Palisades, Thousand Oaks, Pasadena/Glendale, and Culver-West areas.
Children are guided by nature as they play, explore, discover, and create. Mentors develop projects based on children’s interests, naturally occurring events in nature, environmental stewardship skills, and Next Generation Science Standards. EverWild enhances children’s social and emotional development, 21st-century skills, and ecological literacy.
The majority of families who enroll their children at EverWild are homeschooling. Children typically attend our program 2-4 days/week from September-May. Many families continue attending throughout the summer months including new families who plan to homeschool in the Fall. Our partnered charter schools provide homeschoolers with tuition support to attend our program.
In commitment to diversifying the outdoors, we are actively raising funds and providing opportunities for children from low-income households to attend our Nature Immersion Program during the ‘22-’23 Forest School Year. Scholarship applications will become available Summer 2022.
Forest School classes are offered in Santa Clarita Valley, Topanga/Palisades, Thousand Oaks, Pasadena/Glendale, and Culver-West areas. Please see our website for class locations.
Connect:
Pacific Preparatory
Type: Elementary School, Featured Private Elementary Schools, High School, Homeschool Program, Middle School, Special Education Resources
Description:
Pacific Preparatory is an accredited K-12 school where students meet virtually with their teachers one-on-one, receiving real-time instruction. Curriculum is always interactive and our teachers adapt activities and homework to fit each student using both physical and virtual materials. We serve a wide variety of learners, including those needing an accelerated pace and those with complex learning challenges. With two decades of experience, we offer innovative school options for families who desire the highest quality educational programming in a non-traditional setup. Rolling admissions is offered with single course, part-time, full-time and transitional options.
Connect:
Local Homeschool Programs
Groza Learning
Realm Academy
Asteme
Related: Time to Shop for Back-to-School Supplies in LA
Homeschool Curriculum
Here’s a partial list of options for curriculum if you choose to homeschool:
Abeka
Calvert
Right Start Math
Well-Trained Mind
ABC Mouse
Aleks Math
Alpha Omega Academy
Space of Mind
Related: Guest Post – Homeschool the Best Decision
Related: Changes to Homeschooling 2021 and Beyond
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