The state says. •Keep an attendance record for each child.•It shows each absence of a half day or more.•The private school rules ask for that record.•None of them sets a number of days or hours.•The tutor route is different.•It asks for at least three hours a day, 175 days each calendar year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

You do. 1.Pick your own school days and hours.2.Mark each school day in your attendance record.3.Write down every absence of a half day or more.

The state says. The state names five ways to school at home:•A home-based private school. You file a yearly form called the Private School Affidavit.•An existing private school that offers home study.•A public charter school.•A public school independent study program.•A tutor who holds a California teaching credential.•The charter and independent study ways are public school options.•These steps follow the home-based private school.

You do. 1.Pick one way for each child.2.For a home-based private school, file the affidavit in Step 1.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. Ages 6 to 18.

You do. Check that each child aged 6 to 18 is in a school, or in your home-based private school.

The state says. •Yes, every year.•File a form online with the state education department.•It is called the Private School Affidavit.•An affidavit is a form you sign and swear is true.•The yearly filing time is October 1 to 15.•A new home school can file any time from August 1 to June 30.•The website is closed in July.•After you file, you do not have to report to your school district.•But your child is excused from public school only after the district checks that you filed.•The state says to give a copy of your affidavit to the district's attendance office.

You do. 1.File the affidavit online.2.Save the confirmation page and the confirmation email.3.Give a copy of your affidavit to your school district's attendance office.4.

The state says. •The teacher must be capable of teaching.•The private school rules do not ask for a teaching credential.•The tutor route needs a California teaching credential for the grade taught.

You do. •You can teach your own children.•Keep a list of each teacher's name, address and schooling.•The state asks you to keep that list.

The state says. •Teach in English.•Teach the subjects public schools must teach.•Grades 1 to 6: English, math, social sciences, science, visual and performing arts, health and physical education.•Grades 7 to 12: English, social sciences, a world language, physical education, science, math, visual and performing arts, applied arts, career technical education (job skills) and driver education.

You do. 1.Choose books and lessons for these subjects.2.Write down the courses you teach. The state asks you to keep that list.•The Academic Planner shows what colleges expect.

The state says. •The state does not ask for a test.•The state education department says state testing is not required of private schools.•A home-based private school is a private school.

You do. •You may test your child to see how your child is doing.•You choose the test and keep the results.

The state says. •The school shot law does not apply to a home-based private school.•It also does not apply to independent study with no classroom classes.•If your child joins classroom classes, the shot rule applies.•Then the only exemption is a medical one.•An exemption is a paper that lets a child skip a shot.

You do. •Keep any shot records you have in your home school folder.•The state's list of required records does not name them.•A classroom program your child joins later will ask for them.