Withdrawing from public school
How to Withdraw From Public School in California
Pulling your child out of public school in California starts with a letter to the school. The steps are below, with a free California withdrawal letter you can print today and the timing that keeps the district from marking your child absent in between.
How withdrawal works in California
Because California has no homeschool statute, how you withdraw depends on your pathway. If you file your own PSA or join a PSP, notify your child's current public school in writing that they now attend a private school; the PSA or PSP is the legal record. If you move to a charter or district independent study program, that program handles the transfer. Send the notice before you stop attending to avoid a truancy referral, and keep a copy.
Step by step
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1
Confirm your child is currently enrolled
This guide is for moving a currently enrolled student to homeschooling. If your child has never attended public school in California (a kindergartner you're starting at home, for example), there's usually nothing to withdraw from. A quick call to the school confirms their status.
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2
Send a written withdrawal letter to the school
California handles the transition from public school at the state level: send a withdrawal letter to the child's current school, then file a notice of intent directly with the state Department of Education. Homeschool Fox generates a compliant withdrawal letter from your family's details in a few clicks.
Get the free California withdrawal letter -
3
File your notice of intent
Yes, California requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify the state Department of Education. The notice is filed again each school year.
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4
Keep dated copies for your records
Save a copy of the withdrawal letter and anything you file, noting the date you sent it. If the district ever asks about attendance, dated proof that you withdrew on time is what closes the question.
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5
Set up your homeschool
With the withdrawal handled, the rest is starting your homeschool: planning subjects, setting an hours or days target, and keeping records. The California homeschool guide covers what the law asks for from here.
Read the California homeschool guide
Withdrawing for the first time? The guide to withdrawing from public school covers the records request and mid-year timing in any state.
Free California printables
Two ready-to-use PDFs for California homeschoolers. No account needed.
Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.
What Homeschool Fox tracks for California
The records California asks you to keep, plus the rest of your year, in one place. No spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.
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- The records California asks you to keep
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Last verified October 2026 by Andy Leverenz against California's own published requirements. See the sources.
Source pages last confirmed live on Oct 26, 2026.
Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.
More California guides
- California Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
- Homeschooling High School in California Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
- Record Keeping in California What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
- Moving to California What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
- Public School Sports in California Whether homeschoolers can play, what it takes, and who to ask.
- Required Subjects in California The list, how much time each needs, and proving you taught them.
- California Letter of Intent Who to file with, when it's due, and a free generator.
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