California School Alternatives
Are you considering other educational options outside of public school?
At this point in time, there are two ways that children can attend preschool through high school in the state of California without being vaccinated. First, all children with an IEP do not require vaccination to attend school. It is important to note that some school officials may not realize this, and it is important for parents to know their rights. Educate Advocate California has done a thorough job of looking into the requirements for this status. The CHD guide on IEPs is also a great resource.
To be clear, there is typically an extensive testing process for this, though if your child can benefit from an individualized educational plan, this could get your child the extra help that they need, and also allow them to be in school without being vaccinated.
Secondly, California allows a medical exemption to waive vaccine requirements. That being said, it is increasingly difficult, next to impossible to find a physician willing to do this no matter how severe the child’s condition is. You can attempt to secure the medical exemption, and include a lawyer if necessary to help you, so your child can attend public school.
All of this being said, it is important to check in with each individual school and ask them what their requirements are and what they will accept for exemptions, as at this point in time, we have found that responses do vary.
If you do not have the resources to pay for a lawyer, or simply do not have time for a lawsuit to allow your child to participate in public school, there are many great alternatives to public school. These alternatives typically do not mandate your child to be vaccinated, nor enforce masking, among other things. It is important to know your options, and share with your friends. Some alternative options to public schools are homeschooling, unschooling, homeschooling co-ops, and some private schools.
**This information will be updated on a continual basis.
Legalities
For those wanting to first delve into the legalities of homeschooling, here are a few trusted resources that are extremely thorough and helpful in covering the legal side of homeschooling in California:
A Voice for Choice Advocacy CA School Vaccine Requirements and Options for Not Fully Vaccinated Students
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association)
Homeschool Association of California
Homeschools
If you are looking for traditional homeschool options, it is helpful to understand homeschooling in California; read up at Rescue Your Child, a project by Save California, where you can find a homeschool resource page. Also, Homeschooling in California and Homeschool Association of California can help answer questions you might have about homeschooling. California Homeschool Network is another great resource.
A wide array of homeschool curriculum is available, and you will need to determine what works best for your situation, child, and expectations. Here are some user friendly, simple examples of organizations to help with curriculum.
Montessori
Waldorf Teacher Resources
- Christopherus
- Live Education
- A Waldorf Journey
- Waldorf Teacher Resources
- Waldorf Curriculum (Free Resources)
- Waldorf Resources
Faith Based
World Schooling
Support
Transformative Mentoring for Teens
The Homeschool Bunch offers a unique Mobile Enrichment experience where they host enrichment services for 6-8 weeks at various locations throughout the SoCal area. Their services cater to a minimum of 20 families to a maximum of 45 families, contingent upon the space available. Services cover areas such as West LA, Long Beach, El Segundo, Playa Vista, Newport Beach, Irvine, Arcadia, Santa Monica, and Pasadena.
Seashore Academy offers the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling with the quality of private education. There are locations in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, West Side, South Bay (Manhattan Beach). Learn more or schedule a visit.
Homeschool Co-ops
The thought of homeschooling can feel quite daunting to some. In this case, homeschool collectives are a wonderful option, offering support for the parents and plenty of socialization for the children.
Unschooling
Unschooling is a term coined by John Holt in the 1970’s and is characterized by being more interest-led. For instance, if the child has a natural inclination in astronomy, there could be a deep dive into this topic. Along the way, and more naturally things such as language arts skills are developed as one focuses on the areas of interest. For more information on Unschooling check out:
Public Charter Schools
Public Charter Schools are a good transition option for families that aren’t ready to fully break away from the public school system, and would like some structure and also financial support. Vaccine and dental records are requested, yet exemptions are allowed and honored to be enrolled. One caveat to this is that at the time of this writing, children who are unvaccinated may be enrolled and receive funding though charters, though they in most cases may not attend in- person classes. What this looks like is that the parent is given a budget typically up to 3,000 per school year. The parent can then request materials, tutors, and extracurricular activities from the school’s vendors and materials list, that can then be paid out of the budget. The parent is not given the money per se but can request that the school pay for the services desired, up to the budget amount. Typically students are assigned a charter school teacher as a point person who helps create a learning plan. Work is then submitted for review each month. State testing, though not necessarily legally required, is often strongly encouraged by the charter schools as this impacts their funding.
Check out some public charter school options in California:
How to navigate charter homeschooling
Pacific Charter Institute serves the Greater Sacramento Region and has various schools including Heritage Peak, Rio Valley, Sutter Peak, Valley View, and New Pacific School. Visit their website to learn more and apply.
Blue Ridge Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school serving transitional kindergarten through 12th grade students in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern Counties. Learn more here.
There are 3 associated schools for NorCal and SoCal regions. Check out their websites for virtual information sessions happening now. SKY MOUNTAIN (SoCal/Central), SOUTH SUTTER (NorCal), OCEAN GROVE (South Bay)
Homeschool Conferences
Families find ways to make homeschooling happen and predominantly do not regret the choice. Children flourish and often learn more effectively because the learning is curated to the child. Some families homeschool on their own, others join co-ops and others enroll their children in alternative homeschools. There are options out there, you just need to take that first step and try. If you are still unsure, check out some upcoming homeschool conferences in Northern CA to learn more, including the Northern California Homeschool Convention in Rocklin and the HSC Conference in San Jose.
Reclaiming Education
The truth is that the average child that goes to school will spend almost 9,000 hours at an educational institution. This is a significant impact in shaping who the child is and who they will become. Many are waking up to the realization that they want to have more awareness around this influence, and are increasingly becoming interested in homeschooling. We hope that this article provides you with some resources to get you started. Please reach out if you have any questions and or would like to add to our resources list. Contact: [email protected]