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How to withdraw from public school to homeschool in California

In California you file a notice and send the school a withdrawal letter. Doing them in the right order avoids absences.

Checked November 2026 against the HSLDA summary for California. Not legal advice: confirm with the source before you file.

Before your child’s last day at school

  1. 01

    Choose your legal option

    California allows more than one way to homeschool: Home-based private school (affidavit); Private school satellite program (PSP); Private tutor with a teaching credential. Each has its own paperwork, so pick one before you contact the school.

  2. 02

    File the notice your state asks for

    A private school affidavit filed online with the state every year between October 1 and 15 (home-based private school and PSPs). The tutor option files nothing. Have it filed (or ready to file) before your child’s last day, and keep a dated copy.

    Write the notice of intent
  3. 03

    Send the school a withdrawal letter

    Tell the principal in writing that your child is leaving to be homeschooled, and the date. Without it, the school may keep marking your child absent. Hand-deliver it or send it by certified mail, and keep a copy.

    Fill in the letter below
  4. 04

    Ask for records and return school property

    Request a copy of the cumulative file (grades, test scores, any IEP or 504 plan, health records). Return the laptop, textbooks and library books so nothing is held against the records.

California school withdrawal letter

Fill in the details and the letter updates on the right. Nothing is uploaded: it stays in this browser.

Children

[Parent name(s)]
[Street address, city, state, ZIP]
[Email · phone]

November 5, 2026

[Principal’s name], Principal
[School name]
[School address]

Re: Withdrawal of [child’s full name] to homeschool

Dear Principal,

Please accept this letter as notice that we are withdrawing the following child from [school name] to be educated at home, in accordance with the laws of the State of California:

  - [Child’s full name, grade]

Please remove our child from the attendance roll as of that date. We have filed the notice that California requires for home education.

We also request a copy of the cumulative school records, including grades, test scores, health records and any IEP or 504 plan, sent to the address above.

Thank you for your help with this transition.

Sincerely,


______________________________
[Parent name(s)]

Keep a dated copy and note how it was delivered. Some districts also have their own withdrawal form.

Your first two weeks at home

  • Start light. A child coming out of a classroom often needs a few days to adjust. Reading together, a library trip and a little math are enough at first.
  • Cover what California asks for. The courses commonly taught in public schools, such as language arts, math, science, social studies and health.
  • Set the calendar. None set for a home-based private school. A credentialed tutor teaches 3 hours a day for 175 days. Plan the school year.
  • Log attendance from day one. What California expects: an attendance register, the courses of study, and a list of instructors with their qualifications. Open the attendance tracker.
  • Make a simple weekly schedule. Build it here, print it and put it on the fridge.

Questions about withdrawing in California

Do I need the school’s permission to withdraw my child to homeschool in California?

No. California does not ask the school to approve your decision. What it does ask: a private school affidavit filed online with the state every year between October 1 and 15 (home-based private school and PSPs). The tutor option files nothing.

Can I withdraw my child in the middle of the school year in California?

Yes. Families start homeschooling at any point in the year. File what California asks before the last day at school: a private school affidavit filed online with the state every year between October 1 and 15 (home-based private school and PSPs). The tutor option files nothing.

Will my child be marked truant after I withdraw?

Not if the paperwork is in place first. Keep your child in school until the withdrawal letter is delivered and any required notice is filed, and keep dated copies of both. Most truancy problems come from simply stopping attendance without telling anyone.

What happens to my child’s IEP or 504 plan?

Once your child is no longer enrolled, the school’s IEP or 504 plan stops applying the way it did. Some districts still offer services to homeschooled students, for example speech therapy or part-time enrollment, so ask the district what is available before you withdraw. Request a copy of the plan for your own records either way.

How long does it take to start homeschooling in California?

Usually a few days: file the notice, deliver the withdrawal letter, and start. Check whether your district wants its own form, which can add a little time.

The full California requirements

Days, subjects, testing and records are on the California homeschool laws page. This page is not legal advice; read the HSLDA summary for California before you file.

Withdrawing in another state