Private School Records

REQUIREMENTS TO FULFILL WHEN ESTABLISHING A PRIVATE SCHOOL

School records are considered confidential information and should never be relinquished unless a child transfers to another school. Although private schools are not required to submit records to the state, they are required to keep certain records in their files, as outlined in the California Education Code. CHN provides a CD with samples of record keeping methods. Visit the online CHN store or call CHN's 800 number to order.

The records a private school must keep on file include:

Copy of the completed Private School Affidavit

Attendance Records (Indicating every absence of a half day or more).

Faculty qualifications and addresses. Private school teachers need not hold credentials, but must be "capable of teaching".

Annual courses of study for each student. You may create your own, or use an existing one such as the state of California Content Standards.

Health Form PM286 OR sign the waiver on the back of the form. School health requirements and waivers are explained in this Department of Health flyer. You may opt to sign the waiver rather than fill out the form for either medical reasons or personal beliefs. Further information on exemptions is available from the Department of Health.

Student Information including the following:

1) Legal name of student.
2) Date of birth, place of birth and verification of birth date.
3) Sex of pupil.
(A copy of the birth certificate should contain all information listed above)
4) Name and address of parent of minor pupil.
5) Entering and leaving date of each school year.
6) Subjects taken during each year. Subjects which must be offered are English, Math, Social Science, Science, Fine Arts, Health, PE, and for grades 7-12, foreign language, applied arts, vocational education, driver education. See CA education codes 51210, 51220, 51220.5, 51221, 51745, and 51745.3 or read the Required Branches of Study guide below.
7) Marks, grades or credits if given. Marks or credits toward high school graduation.
8) Date of high school graduation or CHSPE, GED equivalent.

Cumulative File

Place the Student Information, attendance and health records in your child's cumulative file. These records will need to be sent to a new school if he/she ever transfers.

Other Records, Forms and Requirements

Parents working exclusively with their own children are not required to undergo FBI criminal background checks (fingerprinting) as is required of classroom teachers. They also do not need a TB test for homeschooling purposes.

REQUIRED BRANCHES OF STUDY

Below is a list from the California Education Code of courses private schools must offer to their students. Students are not required to take all of these courses.

The adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6 shall include instruction, beginning in grade 1 and continuing through grade 6, in the following areas of study:

(a) English, including knowledge of, and appreciation for literature and the language, as well as the skills of speaking, reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, and composition.

(b) Mathematics, including concepts, operational skills, and problem solving.

(c) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils.  Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America; the development of the American economic system including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; man's relations to his human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; contemporary issues; and the wise use of natural resources.

(d) Science, including the biological and physical aspects, with emphasis on the processes of experimental inquiry and on man's place in ecological systems.

(e) Fine arts, including instruction in the subjects of art and music, aimed at the development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

(f) Health, including instruction in the principles and practices of individual, family, and community health

(g) Physical education, with emphasis upon the physical activities for the pupils that may be conducive to health and vigor of body and mind, for a total period of time of not less than 200 minutes each 10 school days, exclusive of recesses and the lunch period.

The adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, shall offer courses in the following areas of study:

(a) English, including knowledge of and appreciation for literature, language, and composition, and the skills of reading, listening, and speaking.

(b) Social sciences, drawing upon the disciplines of anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology, designed to fit the maturity of the pupils. Instructions shall provide a foundation for understanding the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America; instruction in our American legal system, the operation of the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, and the rights and duties of citizens under the criminal and civil law and the State and Federal Constitutions; the development of the American economic system, including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western cultures and civilizations; human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, and contemporary issues.

(c) Foreign language or languages, beginning not later than grade 7, designed to develop a facility for understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the particular language.

(d) Physical education, with emphasis given to physical activities that are conducive to health and to vigor of body and mind.

(e) Science, including the physical and biological aspects, with emphasis on basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific investigation and on the place of humans in ecological systems, and with appropriate applications of the interrelation and interdependence of the sciences.

(f) Mathematics, including instruction designed to develop mathematical understandings, operational skills, and insight into problem-solving procedures.

(g) Fine arts, including art, music, or drama, with emphasis upon development of aesthetic appreciation and the skills of creative expression.

(h) Applied arts, including instruction in the areas of consumer and homemaking education, industrial arts, general business education, or general agriculture.

(i) Vocational-technical education designed and conducted for the purpose of preparing youth for gainful employment in the occupations and in the numbers that are appropriate to the personnel needs of the state and the community served and relevant to the career desires and needs of the pupils.

(j) Automobile driver education, designed to develop a knowledge of the provisions of the Vehicle Code and other laws of this state relating to the operation of motor vehicles, a proper acceptance of personal responsibility in traffic, a true appreciation of the causes, seriousness and consequences of traffic accidents, and to develop the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles. A course in automobile driver education shall include education in the safe operation of motorcycles.

(k) Other studies as may be prescribed by the governing board.

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