How to File a California PSA: Unenroll, October Dates, and Records Checklist

A calm parent checklist for California's Private School Affidavit (PSA)—when to file, unenroll then file, mid-year starts after October 15, and EC 33190 records—so CA PSA filing feels steadier ahead of the 2026 October window.

Not legal advice. Confirm current expectations with the California Department of Education and your own situation.

Who this is for

This guide is for California parents filing a california private school affidavit / homeschool affidavit california—especially families schooling at home as a home-based private school, returning for another October window, or switching mid-year from public or charter school.

California families educate at home in more than one way (charter or independent study, a credentialed tutor under EC 48224, an existing private school or PSP, or a home-based private school). This page stays on the PSA / home-based private school path under Education Code (EC) Section 33190. For a short official overview of other options, see CDE Schooling at Home. You need a clear order of steps, the filing window, facts for one sitting, and quiet recordkeeping—not lawyer language.

What the Private School Affidavit is (plain English)

The California Private School Affidavit—also called the PSA or R-4—is a registration document. Under EC Section 33190, anyone offering or conducting private school instruction at the elementary or high school level must file an affidavit (or statement) each year, under penalty of perjury, reporting prescribed school information.

CDE's "who should file" list includes conventional private schools and parents who operate a private home school. Many families not using another exemption path file as a private full-time day school. Exemption from compulsory public attendance under EC Section 48222 is tied to that framework—and is valid only after the local district verifies the annual PSA filing.

Filing is registration, not state approval, endorsement, licensing, or accreditation; CDE does not verify what you report; the online system is the established path (a statement in lieu exists if you cannot file online). If you are unsure whether you need a PSA, read CDE's affidavit and Schooling at Home pages—this overview cannot decide that for you.

Start-here checklist (unenroll → file → keep records)

When October is circled—or you just pulled kids from another school—use this order:

1. Confirm the PSA path — You are operating (or switching to) a home-based private school under EC 33190, not another CA option.
2. Unenroll if you are leaving another school — Complete withdrawal from public, charter, or other full-time enrollment in writing or by email per local procedures before you rely on the PSA for exemption.
3. Gather facts — School name, physical address, district/county, grades and enrollment, admin and custodian-of-records details (see prepare list below). CDE notes you generally cannot save and return later.
4. File online in one sitting — Use CDE's PSA filing system while it is open.
5. Save confirmation — Keep the confirmation page, email, and any PDF with your pupil records; districts often ask for it when verifying EC 48222 exemption.
6. Keep ongoing records — Attendance register, courses of study, and faculty qualifications under EC 33190—not only the filing day.

Unenroll, then file

Parent-association practice (for example, Homeschool Association of California) recommends unenrolling in writing or by email first, then filing the PSA—so your withdrawal trail is clear and kids are not still enrolled elsewhere while home is already the school.

CDE's LEA guidance adds a useful nuance: filing a PSA is not a prerequisite to begin withdrawal with intent to enroll in a private or home school. Students are generally not exempt from compulsory attendance under EC 48222 until the local district verifies that PSA filing requirements have been met. Practical takeaway: follow your district's withdrawal steps, file promptly, save confirmation, and be ready to share it if asked. Ask your LEA for local procedure—no district scripts invented here.

Filing window & what to have ready

Hard dates CDE states

Returning schools: plan CA PSA filing between October 1 and October 15. Confirm open/closed wording on CDE's Affidavit Information page before you begin (especially 2026–27). File online and save the confirmation page and email.

Mid-year or after October 15

Starting outside October 1–15 is common—mid-year unenrolls, spring moves, summer starts that miss October. Per CDE, the online system stays open August 1 through June 30 for new schools and home schools. If you establish after October 15 and the system is still open, file as soon as practicable after you have set up the school and completed unenrollment. Parent guides (HSC / HSLDA) echo that timing: do not wait for next October if you are already operating.

July exception: the system is closed July 1–31. Schools established in July wait until August, then file promptly once it reopens.

What to have ready in one sitting

From EC 33190 and CDE's filing instructions, expect: a school name; physical address where instruction happens (home address for a home school—not a P.O. Box), plus mailing contact; county and local public school district; grade span, enrollment by grade, age range, and staff counts; administrator contacts (often the same parent); custodian of records and records address; acknowledgments that required records are maintained; and a signature under penalty of perjury.

The affidavit includes statements connected to EC Section 44237 (criminal-record summaries). CDE excerpts note 44237 does not apply to a parent or legal guardian working exclusively with his or her own children—verify for your staffing. Preschool-only / TK-only programs are outside the PSA. Enrollment must be greater than zero.

Recordkeeping that makes filing less stressful

On the affidavit you state that certain records are maintained at the address you list and are true and accurate. CDE's Schooling at Home page summarizes required private/home school records under EC 33190 as:

1. Attendance records — kept in a register, clearly showing every absence of a half day or more on days school is maintained (see also EC 48222)
2. Courses of study offered by the school
3. Faculty names and addresses (city and street), with a record of each person's educational qualifications

CDE also highly recommends keeping copies of filed PSAs and individual pupil records consistent with the Title 5 framework it points to. Private full-time day schools generally teach in English and offer the branches of study required in public schools (EC 48222; see also EC 51210 and 51220). Parents choose curriculum.

Quiet habits: log attendance as you go; keep a simple course list; save each year's PSA PDF and confirmation; note where records live. You do not need a perfect binder on day one—just records that match the affidavit. A year-round homeschool activity log makes October (and mid-year) quieter because attendance and courses of study are already half-built.

FAQ

Is filing a California Private School Affidavit the same as the state approving my homeschool?

No. Per CDE's PSA FAQ, filing the Private School Affidavit (also called the R-4) is a registration document under Education Code section 33190. Filing does not constitute approval, endorsement, validation, or certification by CDE, and CDE does not verify what you report. Keep teaching and required records; do not treat a confirmation code as a license or accreditation.

What if I'm starting a new California home-based private school after October 15?

The statutory filing period is October 1–15, but CDE keeps the online PSA system open from August 1 through June 30 for new schools and home schools (closed in July—wait until August if you establish then). If you start after October 15 and the system is still open, file as soon as practicable after you establish the school and unenroll from any prior full-time school. Confirm current open/closed dates on CDE's Affidavit Information page before you begin.

Should I unenroll from public or charter school before I file the PSA?

Parent-facing practice guides (e.g., Homeschool Association of California) recommend unenrolling in writing or by email first, then filing the PSA. CDE's LEA guidance notes PSA filing is not a prerequisite to begin withdrawal with intent to enroll in a private/home school—but students are generally not exempt under EC 48222 until the local district verifies PSA requirements are met. Practical takeaway: complete withdrawal per local procedures, file promptly, save confirmation, and be ready to share it if asked.

What records should California PSA families keep?

Under EC 33190, as summarized on CDE's Schooling at Home page: an attendance register (absences of a half day or more on days school is maintained), courses of study offered, and faculty names/addresses with educational qualifications. CDE also highly recommends keeping copies of filed PSAs and individual pupil records consistent with the Title 5 framework it points to.

How Bloomfolio helps

Bloomfolio is a homeschool portfolio and docs product built to lower paperwork anxiety—not to replace your judgment or official CDE filing. It does not submit the PSA to CDE, verify district exemption, or replace Education Code judgment.

For California PSA families:

• AI activity logging — Ordinary-language captures so attendance and courses of study are easier to reconstruct (activity log with AI)
• PDF docs — Downloadable files to keep beside PSA confirmation and pupil records
• Sage companion — Gentle prompts when the log is blank
• Supported in 32 states — California among them; see every state we cover

Plans: Free $0 (3 students, 20 Sage messages to start, +5/day; documents are generated on Essential); Essential $8/mo; Family $15/mo; 14-day free trial. Soft upgrade when affidavit season arrives and you want the paperwork generated—see Free vs Essential. Florida's cousin is an annual evaluation, not a PSA—different statute, same checklist energy.

Soft CTA

If the california private school affidavit has been a circled kitchen-calendar date—or you just unenrolled mid-year—you are not alone. Log a little through the year, keep attendance honest, save the confirmation PDF when you file.

Start free when you are ready. Keep your pace. Keep teaching.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. California private-school and compulsory-attendance rules, and the online Private School Affidavit system, can change. Always verify current expectations with the California Department of Education (cde.ca.gov), the Education Code sections that apply to your situation (including EC 33190 and 48222), and your local school district's procedures before you withdraw a student or file. Filing a PSA is not state approval, endorsement, licensing, or accreditation of your school. This page does not create an attorney–client relationship.

Sources consulted

• CDE Private School Affidavit Information: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/affidavit.asp
• CDE Private School Affidavit (PSA) FAQ: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/psafaq.asp
• CDE Private School Affidavit Instructions: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/psainstructions.asp
• CDE Schooling at Home: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/homeschool.asp
• CDE Education Code for Private Schools (incl. EC 33190, 48222, 44237 excerpts): https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/psaffedcode.asp
• CDE Private/Home School Guidance for LEAs: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/leaguidance.asp
• California Education Code § 33190 (LegInfo): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&sectionNum=33190
• CDE online PSA filing system: https://www3.cde.ca.gov/psa/
• HSC How to File a PSA (parent practice note — unenroll-then-file / mid-year timing): https://www.hsc.org/filing-a-psa
• HSLDA How to Comply with California's Homeschool Law (supporting practice): https://hslda.org/post/how-to-comply-with-californias-homeschool-law