California Homeschooling

Everything you need to successfully homeschool in the great state of California is right here! We've gathered together the best resources for preschool through high school, along with lesson ideas, teaching tips, support information, curriculum suggestions, and much more. Here are some great starting points:

What's Popular
The Homeschooler Magazine
Published six times a year, this magazine features articles and information about homeschooling news and events and how to get in touch with HSC County Contacts. Requires you to become a supporting member of HomeSchool Association of California (HSC).
Sierra Homeschool Network
A homeschool support group open to all families in Nevada, Placer and Yuba Counties of California. The group offers support, and activities to families who are homeschooling or just considering homeschooling.
Butte County Unschoolers and Eclectics
This email group is for unschoolers and eclectic homeschoolers in Butte County.
Underground Adventures in California - Cavern Tours
Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation runs five "underground adventure" locations: Black Chasm, National Natural Landmark; Boyden Cavern, California Cavern, State Historic Landmark; Moaning Cavern, and Sutter Gold Mine Tours. Guided tours are offered at each location and picnic tables provided for to enjoy their meals or snacks in the scenic beauty of the properties. Two of the locations offer challenging adventure activities: Moaning Cavern has the Rappel and Adventure Trip and California Ca...
Presidio of San Francisco
For thousands of years, Native Americans called the Ohlone managed and harvested the natural bounty of what is now the Presidio. In 1776, Spanish soldiers and missionaries arrived, forever disrupting Ohlone culture and beginning 218 years of military use of the area just south of the Golden Gate. The Presidio served as a military post under the flags of Spain (1776-1822), Mexico (1822-48), and the United States (1848-1994). Today, visitors enjoy the history and beauty of the Presidio. Within i...
Alternative Family Education-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz City Schools Alternative Family Education (AFE) is an independent home study school provided for kindergarten through twelfth grade students and families who prefer an individualized approach to education, combined with the support of school district resources. The program gives parents the responsibility to directly supervise instruction, with professional guidance from a credentialed teacher consultant. The program is designed by and for homeschool families, with teacher consultants...
Los Angeles Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo houses a collection of 1,200 animals from around the world.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Located in San Pedro between Point Fermin and the Port of Los Angeles, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium features a touch tank, marine animal exhibits, and special events.
Homespun Learning
Homespun Learning is a no-cost secular cooperative group open to active homeschooling families living in or near Yolo County, California, including the cities of Davis, Dixon, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland and towns in the Capay Valley. Citizens of this co-op community both organize and participate in a range of activities open to all members based on interest and ability.
Lava Beds National Monument
Volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones, lava tube caves and pit craters. During the Modoc War of 1872-1873, the Modoc Indians used these tortuous lava flows to their advantage. Under the leadership of Captain Jack, the Modocs took refuge in "Captain Jack's Stronghold," a natural lava fortress. From this base a group of 53 fighting men and their families held off US Army forces number...
Charles Paddock Zoo
At the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascarero you will discover over 100 animals in five park-like acres. You will be able to view the animals up close in naturalistic habitats.
California Education Code
Index to the entire California Education Code. Sections pertaining to home education include Sections 33190-33193, 44237, 48200, 48220, 48222, 48224, 48415, 51210, 51220, 51220.5, 51221, 51225.3, 51745, and 51747.3.
Aquarium of the Pacific
Experience the world’s largest and most diverse body of water at the Aquarium of the Pacific, the fifth largest U.S. aquarium and home to over 12,000 ocean animals representing over 550 species. Located in the beautiful Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Calif., the Aquarium of the Pacific takes visitors on a journey through three regions of the Pacific Ocean, exploring the waters of Southern California/Baja, Northern Pacific and the Tropical Pacific through 18 major habitats and 31 focus exhibits.
South Solano Homeschoolers
South Solano Homeschoolers is a group of Benicia-Vallejo homeschoolers who meet to plan educational field trips, exchange information, and chat. This is a secular group.
California Department of Education
The website for the California Department of Education.
Upcoming Events
Pretend City Children's Museum Homeschool Days
Third Friday of each month
Irvine, CA
Once a month, on the 3rd Friday of each month, they offer Homeschool students unlimited access to 17 interactive exhibits offering learning through fun experiences. All of the educational exhibits develop foundational math, reading, and science skills, while fostering curiosity and inspiration, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, teamwork, self-confidence and socialization. Pretend City believes that the process of learning is as important as the product. A field experi...
Not Back to School Camp - Oregon
August 11-25, 2021
Camp Myrtlewood, Bridge, Oregon
Not Back to School Camp is a non-denominational, non-religious homeschool camp. The camp offers workshops, spontaneous events, and special evening gatherings, bringing together campers who are excited about life and willing to be themselves and to reach out and connect with the others. 
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Featured Resources

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A Different Kind of Teacher: Solving the Crisis of American Schooling
In 1991, shortly after receiving both the New York State and New York City Teacher of the Year Awards, John Gatto resigned to begin a new career as an education reform advocate. In this collection of 16 essays, Gatto analyzes the problems of American...
Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days: Share a Day With 30 Homeschooling Families
From a bedroom community in Nebraska to a farm in Vermont, from families who rely on workbooks to those who have sworn them off, this in-depth examination of the lives of homeschoolers covers a wide range of people and methods. When author Nancy Land...
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
This radical treatise on public education has been a New Society Publishers' bestseller for 10 years! Thirty years of award-winning teaching in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling...
Explode The Code
Explode The Code provides a sequential, systematic approach to phonics in which students blend sounds to build vocabulary and read words, phrases, sentences, and stories. Frequent review of previously learned concepts helps increase retention. Each w...
Pass Your California DMV Test Guaranteed! 50 Real Test Questions! California DMV Handbook
This book contains the 50 most common questions and answers to the California DMV Written Test. Written by a former DMV classroom instructor and test creator, this straight forward book tells you the most likely questions and answers that will appear...