Homeschool funding & ESAs in California

Can I get paid to homeschool in California?

No. California has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. California's homeschool rules require no test or evaluation of their own, so there is nothing on that side to arrange.

What does California require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

California does not require a test or an evaluation, so there is no assessment to arrange. What California asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. California requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: California Department of Education (CDE). How: Private School Affidavit (PSA) filed online via the CDE portal. When: Annually, October 1–15 (the CDE system is open Aug 1–Jun 30 for mid-year starts). The affidavit establishes the home as a private school; it is not state approval or licensing. It asks for the school's names, its business address, the address where the records are kept and the custodian who keeps them, the directors and officers, and enrollment by grade with the number of teachers (Educ. Code § 33190). Families using the private-tutor exemption file nothing with the state: § 48224 requires no filing, and the October affidavit is filed by those offering or conducting private school instruction.

Testing or evaluation

No. California does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. No California statute requires testing for homeschoolers operating under the PSA private-school pathway.

Days and hours

Here is California's rule. PSA/PSP: keep an attendance register that clearly shows every absence of a half day or more, and keep it available for inspection (Educ. Code § 48222); this route sets no minimum number of days or hours. Private tutor: at least three hours a day for 175 days each calendar year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., by a tutor holding a valid California credential for the grade taught (Educ. Code § 48224).

Records

California requires these records: attendance register (every absence of a half day or more); courses of study; faculty names and addresses, with each person's educational qualifications; and each child's permanent enrollment and scholarship record, carrying proof of immunization. Education Code § 33190 sets that list, and the affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury that those records are kept at the records address written on it, in the care of the custodian named on it — so keep them where the affidavit says they are, which need not be where you teach. Two records commonly listed as required are not on § 33190's list: a copy of each filed affidavit, and the wider set of individual pupil records in 5 CCR §§ 430–437, whose own definition of 'district' reaches a private school only where California tax revenues pay part of the tuition. The Department of Education's guidance calls both highly recommended rather than required. Keep them anyway, because other statutes do bind: where the instructor is also the administrator, which describes every home-based private school, the affidavit must be made available on request to enrolled and prospective families (§ 33191(b)); a child's permanent record must be sent within 10 school days to a public or private school the child moves to, once that school asks (§ 49068); and a private school may not admit a pupil without documentary proof of immunization, recorded in that child's permanent enrollment and scholarship record (Health & Safety Code §§ 120335, 120375).

Full California homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →