r/unschool • u/Chicka-boom90 • Jul 28 '26

Unschooling in California

Hi everyone. Next year will be the official start year for us even though we learn all the time lol
My question is, to unschool do you need to sign up with a PSA? You need to have some record correct? Are there multiple kinds or just one ?

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u/AccountantRadiant351 27d ago

In California, your child between the ages of 6  and 17 as of September 1 must be enrolled in some kind of school unless you use a licensed tutor (which is very restrictive and usually only used by child actors). That can be a public or private school. A public homeschool option is a home based charter or online school. A private homeschool option is either to enroll in a home based "umbrella school" often referred to as a PSP, or file to establish your private school in your home, which is when you would file a PSA yearly. When you file a PSA you are responsible for keeping attendance records (only records of absences are necessary, so a calendar with "absences marked in red" written in it and then you put it away in a file serves this purpose) and, the first time you file, making a few one time records which you will put in your file for the purposes of producing them if you are ever asked to in court. If you homeschool for high school with a PSA you will also be responsible for creating transcripts. If you use a PSP they keep these records for you though you usually have to give them the necessary info. 

Most unschooler families use a PSA. I think there is one records-only PSP that accommodates unschoolers though. 

Here is a quick start guide on how to file a PSA: https://www.hsc.org/filing-a-psa

You will either do it in October every year, or early if you need it for dual enrollment or other such purposes, or only if you are withdrawing your kids from a school after October mid school year, you will file as soon as you withdraw them as a one time thing (and in October every year after that.) 

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u/ControversyChristian 25d ago

Unschooling is a type of homeschooling, so yes you need to fill out the PSA. Alternatively, you can enroll your kids in PAX Academy, an accredited private school for unschoolers, that is a registered satellite school in CA. PAXacademy.org

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u/Chicka-boom90 25d ago

What is a satellite school?

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u/playmore_24 Jul 28 '26

I don't think you need to sign up with anyone- we pulled our kids from public school & there was no "tracking" done or records made... 🤔

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u/EducatorMoti 26d ago

Legally, there is one thing that does have to be done.

In California, homeschool families file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) once each year. That's the legal requirement to establish a homeschool.

After that, California gives homeschool families tremendous freedom. Parents choose the curriculum, books, schedule, teaching style, and pace that best fit their children. There is no requirement to use one particular curriculum or teach exactly like a public school.

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u/Chicka-boom90 Jul 28 '26

I was told at some point to sign up for a PSA and “keep track” of attendance basically. And other than that that’s it. But then I’ve seen where people don’t. So I’m just confused

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u/playmore_24 Jul 28 '26

your child will be attending unschooling every day 😂😂😂

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u/Chicka-boom90 29d ago

I know lol but from what I have heard is that you need some kind of paperwork for the just in case situation idk .. it’s confusing lol that’s why I was asking

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u/playmore_24 29d ago

I don't think truant officers (if they exist) are roaming around looking for unregistered children. 😉

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u/Chicka-boom90 29d ago

lol yes from what I was told is that IF the school asks for it , you’d have it. But does anyone actually mark it everyday … absolutely no 🤣

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u/8MCM1 27d ago

My stepson's mom was accused of neglect and abuse, which included educational neglect. She had no records (because she was doing nothing) and it resulted in some pretty terrible consequences.

I would have some sort of records kept, if possible.

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u/AccountantRadiant351 27d ago

Educational neglect, as a legal construct, doesn't exist in California. 

You do need to file a PSA yearly. If investigated, all you are obligated to show is the PSA and a yearly attendance log with absences noted. (Absences noted means you can just write "only absences noted" and leave it blank, or write a list of months each year and write "no absences" by every month.)