As an expert in the field of education, I have been asked numerous times about the funding of private schools in California. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding this topic, so I am here to provide clarity and set the record straight. First and foremost, it is important to understand that the state Constitution prohibits any form of state funding for private schools. This means that the government cannot provide financial support to schools that are not part of the public school system. This also includes religious organizations and schools affiliated with a specific religion. But what exactly is considered a private school? According to the California Department of Education (CDE), a private school is a privately owned company or non-profit organization that offers full-time instruction in a variety of subjects at the elementary, secondary, or preparatory school level. Private schools operate independently from the CDE and are not subject to most state education regulations.
They are directly accountable to their students and their parents or guardians through a private school enrollment agreement. For more information on the definitions of public and private schools, you can visit the CDE website. Now, you may be wondering if the CDE has any authority over private schools. The answer is no. The CDE has no legal power to regulate or oversee private schools, except in cases where they request certification from the National Private School Accreditation Alliance (NPS).
This means that private schools operate with little to no oversight from the CDE. In recent years, there has been an increase in private, Internet-based programs offered in California and other parts of the country. These programs can be found through a simple internet search and operate with minimal oversight from the CDE. Some of these programs offer face-to-face meetings with teachers, while others are completely virtual and rely on online instruction. However, the transferability of course credits between private online schools and California public schools and universities varies greatly. Some programs may be eligible for accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Universities, which is California's regional accrediting agency. Another common question is whether the CDE validates private school diplomas.
The CDE has no authority to regulate or oversee private schools, so they have no role in determining the validity or acceptability of private school diplomas. Ultimately, it is up to universities, employers, and military branches to decide whether they will accept credits or diplomas from private schools. It is also important to note that the CDE does not evaluate or rate private schools in any way. They do not have a grading system or academic achievement index (API) scores for private schools. These measures only apply to public schools by law. So how can you determine if a private school has high student performance? The CDE does not collect any information on the performance of private school students or evaluate their educational programs.
If you are interested in the academic competitiveness of a private school, you can ask the main office for information on how they measure student performance and request copies of any reports containing this information. Now, let's address the question that many parents may have: is there public funding available for private school enrollment? The answer is no. There are currently no state programs in California that offer public funding for private school enrollment, except in cases where a public school district places a student with a disability in a non-public school. If you are considering enrolling your child in a California private school, it is important to make sure that the school has filed a private school affidavit. This affidavit is required by law and serves as a record of the school's contact information for the year it was filed. If a private school does not file this affidavit, the CDE will have no record of the school and students who attend may not be exempt from compulsory public school attendance. It is also worth noting that not all private schools that file the affidavit are assigned a county, district, and school code (CDS).
This code is used by the CDE for administrative purposes and is only assigned to private schools with six or more students in grades K-12. However, the filing of this affidavit and assignment of a CDS code does not indicate any approval or review by the CDE. Private schools with five or fewer students do not receive a CDS code unless they are certified by the NPS. Finally, many parents may be wondering if the CDE has copies of private school student records, such as transcripts or diplomas. The CDE does not collect or store any records, academic or otherwise, for private school students. It is important to keep in mind that if a private school closes or cannot be contacted for any reason, it may be difficult to obtain student records. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the school has filed the necessary paperwork with the CDE. One last question that often comes up is whether homeschooling is recognized in California as exempting a student from attending public school.
The answer is not straightforward. While California laws do not explicitly authorize homeschooling, the decision of whether a homeschooled child attends a private school and is therefore exempt from public school attendance is ultimately made by local school districts and law enforcement authorities. In conclusion, it is clear that private education in California is not supported by government funding. Parents are responsible for paying for private school tuition, and there is little to no oversight from the CDE. However, private schools can be a great option for families who are looking for a different educational experience for their children.
