California vs Colorado: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | California | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | Moderate regulation |
| Notification | Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window) | Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program |
| Testing | Not required | Required (13th percentile composite on a nationally standardized achievement test) |
| Required subjects | 10 subjects (by grade) | 9 subjects |
| Instructional time | No requirement | 172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | No requirement |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | attendance |
| Annual renewal | Required by October 1-15 | Required by before the beginning of each school year (14 days advance notice) |
Moving Between These States
Moving from California to Colorado
Grace period: 14 days BEFORE beginning — must file notice in advance (CRS §22-33-104.5(3)(e))
What changes:
- ~Notification: California (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window)) → Colorado (Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program)
- +Colorado requires testing (Required (13th percentile composite on a nationally standardized achievement test)). California does not
- ~Required subjects: California (10 subjects (by grade)) → Colorado (9 subjects)
- +Colorado requires instructional time (172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr). California does not
Transition checklist
Before you leave California:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in California
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Colorado requires: immunization records (CRS §25-4-902)
When you arrive in Colorado:
- ▢File written notification with any CO school district 14 days BEFORE beginning instruction. Include child's name, age, residence, and attendance hours.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (CRS §22-33-104.5(3)(e))
- ▢File 14 days before instruction begins. Re-submit annually.
Moving from Colorado to California
Grace period: No explicit grace period — PSA system open Aug 1–Jun 30 (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
What changes:
- ~Notification: Colorado (Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program) → California (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window))
- -Good news: California has no testing requirement
- ~Required subjects: Colorado (9 subjects) → California (10 subjects (by grade))
- -Good news: California has no instructional time requirement
Transition checklist
Before you leave Colorado:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in Colorado
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in California:
- ▢File Private School Affidavit (PSA) via CDE online system as soon as possible. System open Aug 1–Jun 30.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
- ▢Statutory window is Oct 1–15 but CDE accepts filings year-round for new schools. File immediately upon withdrawal from prior school.
Military families
Neither California nor Colorado has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in California and Colorado?
California and Colorado have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from California to Colorado?
When moving from California to Colorado, you must comply with Colorado's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify