Instructions For Online Filing of the Private School Affidavit (PSA)
The CDE requires private schools to file the PSA online between October 1-15 each year.
Click here to access the online form.
You may follow these line item-by-item suggestions for filling out the form to
establish your own private school:
Statutory Notices
- 1 - 4. Statutory Notices - Just check the boxes to indicate you understand each
point (see form for details).
School Information
- This Is A Private School - Click on "Yes" indicating your school meets the Ed Code 48222 description.
- Is This A New School - Yes or No (Check correct box.)
- Have you submitted an application or renewal for certification as a nonpublic, nonsectarian school (NPS) to the Special Education Division of the CDE? Click on "No."
- County - From the drop-down list, select the county where your school is located or type in the name.
- Public School District in which school is located. Use the drop down list to select your district name or just type in the name of your public school district.
- If your school was previously assigned a CDS code, please enter it. Note: Codes are usually only assigned to schools with six or more students. (If this is the first time you are filing the form, and you have 6 or more students, you will not have been issued a CDS code.)
- Name of school - Type in the name of your school. Some families choose academic or professional sounding names, others take a more whimsical approach. (You can change the name on subsequent affidavits.) Remember that your child may receive his/her diploma from your school, so take that into consideration when choosing a name.
- Street Address - Private schools must have a physical location in CA. A post office box will not suffice. Type in the street address of your homeschool.
- City - Type in the city where your school is located.
- Mailing Address (if different) - If your mailing address is different than your street address, provide that info.
- Mailing City (if different) - See above.
- School Telephone Number - Type in your area code and phone number.
- Site Administrator - Type in the name of your school's site administrator. That's probably you, so enter your name.
- Site Administrator Title - Type in the title you want to be called such as Director, Headmaster, Principal, etc.
- School E-mail Address - Enter email address.
- Optional E-Mail Address - Enter email address.
- Type of School - Select one of the options provided: Coeducational (students may include both boys and girls); Boys Only; or Girls Only. (You can choose Coed - even if you currently have just boys or girls in your student body. Do not select "Special Education."
- School Accommodations - You are provided with a choice of: Residential Boarding Only, Day Only, or Both. Residential Boarding Schools have regulations with which you may not be able to comply. Select "Day Only."
- Grades Offered - You are asked to select the lowest grade you offer as well as the highest. Notice that the key word is "OFFERED." You don't have to put the grades your children are actually in. You can choose grade 1 for the lowest and 12 for the highest, regardless of whether or not you have students enrolled in those grades. Under no circumstances should you offer kindergarten because kindergarten attendance isn't mandatory and may require additional regulation.
- High School Diploma Offered - As a private school you can issue a high school diploma to your students. You can check "yes" or "no"- but if you offer high school grades (9-12) you should probably check "yes."
- Former Name of School (if any) - It's expected that you will use the same school name year after year, so you will probably leave this space blank. However, if you want to change the name of your school for any reason, enter the school name you filed under in the past in this box. (This doesn't apply to schools filing for the first time.)
- Former Public School District (if any) - Select "no" unless the public school district where your school is located has changed since the last time you filed the PSA. (This doesn't apply to schools filing for the first time.)
Classification of School
- Classification of School - Since it's unlikely that a church is funding your school, select "Non-Religious."
Statistical Information
- Range of students' ages (Youngest may be no younger than 4 years and 9 months.) - Type in the age range of the students enrolled in your school. Do not include preschool or kindergarten age children due to the additional regulations that would apply. Remember, kindergarten and preschool are not mandatory in CA.
- Enrollment on a single date October 1-15, 2006. Enter the number of students that are enrolled in each grade range. Enter "0" for kindergarten, even if you have a 5 year old (for the reasons mentioned previously). If your students are ungraded, fill in the "Ungraded Elementary" or "Ungraded Secondary" boxes. Add up the total number of students enrolled and type that number in the "Total Enrollment" box.
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- Number of Twelfth Grade Graduates in the [prior] School Year - Type in the number of students that graduated in the previous school year, if any.
- Number of School Staff - Since you are establishing a full-time private school, enter "1" in the full-time teacher slot. Even if you are also the administrator do not count the same staff member twice. Type "1" under "Full-time Teacher" and leave "Administrators" blank.
Directors & Principal Officers
- 31 - 40. Directors and Principal Officers - Fill in your name, address and e-mail address (the same as your school). Only one principal officer is required. It's okay to designate someone else to be the Director or Principal Officer - such as your spouse. In that case, fill in their name and address.
Tax Status of School
- Select "None of the above," unless you have formed a non-profit corporation and been granted a federal tax exemption.
- NDSL Cancellation - Since your private school will not be eligible for NDSL loan cancellation, check "no."
School Records
- 43 - 46. Name of Individual who is Custodian of Records - Type in your name, school address, and e-mail address. As a private school you are required by law to maintain school records at the school's physical location in CA.
Acknowledgements
You are asked to check a series of boxes to show you understand that:
- It's the private school's responsibility to look into health, safety, fire, zoning and business licensing laws. (Unless you are operating your school as a business and actively taking enrollments in exchange for tuition, these probably do not apply to you.)
- When your school ceases operation, you are required to give a copy of the students' records to the parents. (This only applies if you enroll children other than your own.)
- You must keep a copy of the affidavit for 3 years.
- Just because you filed the affidavit does not mean your school is accredited or approved by any agency.
- Your school has complied with E.C. 44237 regarding criminal records summaries. This doesn't apply to schools consisting of parents working exclusively with their own children.
Electronic Signature
Fill in the required info and submit form. Be sure to check the form for accuracy
before you hit the "submit form" button. Also, print the form before you
hit the submit button. That way, you'll have a copy of what you submitted. Once
you've submitted the PSA form online, the completed affidavit will appear on your
screen. You are required by law to print out a copy
and keep it in your school records.
Schools will have met their obligation to file a private school affidavit only when
the data has been submitted online and confirmation has been received. Be sure to print
out or write down the confirmation. Remember that you are signing the affidavit under
penalty of perjury, a criminal offense. Be certain to comply with all record requirements.
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