Author: Homeschool World

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Homeschool FAQ Homeschooling Resource Homeschooling tips

How To Set Up Private School For Homeschooling?

If you are in California and want to set up your own private school as one of the four options that get started homeschooling your kids legally and right way, here is how to set up and file for PSA (Private School Affidavit) and set up your own private school for your kids to teach. Establishing Your Private School is easy once you know the steps and how to get started on it.  Home educators may establish a private school based in their home by filing a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education as an option for homeschooling your own children.

Please check out our article on : How to Homeschool in California Article for more choices.

How and When to File the PSA?

One of the easiest way for parent to file for The Private School Affidavit can be online at the California Department of Education website from October 1st to October 15th of every year. You can file any other time during school year, but during Oct 1st through Oct 15th is easiest method. Schools that are created after the filing period should file at the time the school is established every year during these time. The CDE usually leaves the form up until early spring. If you need to file your affidavit and cannot do so electronically (or choose not to), you can still file a Statement in Lieu. We will share soon how to file Statement in Lieu in coming next articles.

If you need a step by step instruction on how to file PSA for California, here is free downloadable link: Step by Step Guide to File PSA

How the PSA Works For Homeschooling?

There is a huge misconception about it, as I was also not sure how it work and how it made it all legal. This is what the information I got from official California Homeschool Website. The Private school  affidavit is not a license to private school. The State of California accredits neither public nor private schools if that makes sense.  By filing an affidavit you are showing intent to establish a private school, and informing the state, as required by law. Parents have been legally using this provision for many years to conduct their own home-based private schools. So, I know it works and recommended by experts.

What are California Private School Requirements?

According to http://leginfo.ca.gov/, Education Code sections §48222, §48415, §33190, §51210 and §51220 set the criteria for a private school. The following legal requirements apply to all private schools regardless of size:

  1. The administrator of every private school must file an affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction between October 1st and October 15th of each year.
  2. Private school instructors must be “capable of teaching.” There is, however, no requirement in the CA Education Code that mandates that teachers in a private school setting hold a state teaching credential or have the equivalent training.
  3. The names and addresses, including city and street, of the faculty must be kept on file, as must a record of the educational qualifications of each instructor.
  4. Instruction must be in English.
  5. Instruction must be offered “in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools.” The materials and methods you use to teach these areas are up to you. You are not required to teach every subject as long as it is offered and available to the student:
    • Grades 1-6: English, math, social sciences, science, fine arts, health and phys ed.
    • Grades 7-12: All that is included in the above plus: foreign language, applied arts, vocational ed and drivers ed.

For information about record keeping for Private schooling records see here: Private Schooling Records (Coming soon!)

Important Things to know about PSA (Private School Affidavit)

  • Kindergarten attendance is not mandatory in California. You can teach your child at home but do not fill out PSA for Kindergartener.
  • If you are using ISP or Charter school to homeschool, no need to file PSA as it is done by the school itself.
  • Some Correspondence school PSP may require filing PSA while other do not. So check with your PSP when in doubt.
  • Fingerprinting is not needed when a parent or legal guardian is working with his or her own children.
  • State should not be asking more information other that what is listed in California Education §33190.
  • If you are part of ISP, PSP, Charterschool program, no need for filing PSA is required.
  • Best time to file for PSA is between Oct 1- Oct 15 of every year.
  • Do not file for PSA as backup when you have signed in with public school, PSP, ISP or Charter school.

 

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Fun Learning

How To Learn With Autism

When a child has a Autism, learning can be challenge for kids, parents and teacher. But it does not have to be, by just getting right help and support. Learning about Autism, early signs to know if your child might be autistic, how to help and educate the right way so it might be easier for child as well as parent and teacher too will make a huge difference in child’s life. Hope you enjoy this info graphic on one of the most mis-understood subject for many of us.

Autism and Learning Overview
Diagnosis of Autism and Learning with Autism
Elements of a Successful Education
Additional Autism Resources
Information Provided by OnlineCollege.org
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Fun Learning

Homeschooling By Number: Info Graphic Chart

Before I started homeshcooling my kids, I surely did not know there were so many homeschooling families.  I was happily surprised to know that there are many good and concerned parents who homeschool their kids successfully and legally. However I did not know until I found this info graphic that shows homeschooling by numbers so we can see how we fare among others. It is surely interesting facts that I am sure will fascinate all homeschoolers and potential homeschooling parents.

Homeschooling by the Numbers
Comparing 2008-2009 SAT Scores • Independent Homeschooling, Religiously-Affiliated Homeschooling, Public Schools
National Average Percentile Scores, Public School Versus Homeschool
Education Level of Homeschooled Parents
Number of Children Per Homeschooled Family
Via DegreeSearch.org
Categories
Fun Learning

Know Your Learning Style

Discovering your learning style and sometimes teaching style can be a huge eye opener. It sure was for me when I started homeschooling my 3 years old first time. Now that I have tested my own and my child’s learning style, teaching and educating is much easier. This works for daily learning as well, not only for homeschoolers, you know? Try it and check it out yourself.

What Type of Learner Are You?
The Styles of Learning - Visual Learners, Read/Write Learners, Auditory Learners, Kinesthetic Learners
Visual Learners - Characteristics, Learning Suggestions
Auditory Learners - Learning Suggestions, Characteristics
Kinesthetic-Tactile Learners - Learning Suggestions, Characteristics
Percentages of Learners - Kinesthetic-Tactile, Read/Write, Visual, Auditory
Source: See above & onlinecollege.org
Categories
Fun Learning

How Did Homeschooling Started: History

Want to know How Homeschooling Started? Here is fun info graphic on history of Homeschooling! Hope you like it.

Homeschooling
Via: Online College Source

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Homeschool-Family Homeschooling Resource Homeschooling tips

Reasons Some Parent Homeschool

There are many reasons, parents may decide to homeschool as I talked about it before in Why Some Parents Choose To Homeschool?  In olden days before there were any official school system or mandatory education in those systems, parents taught what they knew to their children, be it what type of work they did, how to cook, clean and survive and so on. That was kind of education at home for that time. Many of famous people around a few hundred years ago were homeschooled, there was no surprise as it was the norm then before schooling system came in to picture.

According to wikipedia and NCES (National Center For Education Statistics) survey done around 2007 shows following data. While it has now been 2013, information is important to know.

In the 2003 and 2007 NHES, parents were asked whether particular reasons for homeschooling their children applied to them. The three reasons selected by parents of more than two-thirds of students were concern about the school environment, to provide religious or moral instruction, and dissatisfaction with the academic instruction available at other schools.

From 2003 to 2007, the percentage of students whose parents reported homeschooling to provide religious or moral instruction increased from 72 percent to 83 percent. In 2007, the most common reason parents gave as the most important was a desire to provide religious or moral instruction (36 percent of students). This reason was followed by a concern about the school environment (such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure) (21 percent), dissatisfaction with academic instruction (17 percent), and “other reasons” including family time, finances, travel, and distance (14 percent).Other reasons include more flexibility in educational practices and family core stability for children with learning disabilities or prolonged chronic illnesses, or for children of missionaries, military families, or families who move often, as frequently as every two years.

Number and percentage of homeschooled students in the United States, by reason for homeschooling: 1999, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Reason for homeschooling Number of
homeschooled students		 Percent standard error
Can give child better education at home 415,000 48.9 3.79
Religious reason 327,000 38.4 4.44
Poor learning environment at school 218,000 25.6 3.44
Family reasons 143,000 16.8 2.79
To develop character/morality 128,000 15.1 3.39
Object to what school teaches 103,000 12.1 2.11
School does not challenge child 98,000 11.6 2.39
Other problems with available schools 76,000 9.0 2.40
Child has special needs/disability 69,000 8.2 1.89
Transportation/convenience 23,000 2.7 1.48
Child not old enough to enter school 15,000 1.8 1.13
Parent’s career 12,000 1.5 0.80
Could not get into desired school 12,000 1.5 0.99
Other reasons* 189,000 22.2 2.90

The data numbers may have changed but reasons behind parent choosing to homeschool somewhat remains similar. What are your reasons for homeschooling?

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Getting Started