California’s SB 848 Is Now in Effect: What It Means for PSP Families
Local Homeschool News: California
A new California child safety law is now in effect for private schools, and some homeschool families may notice the change. SB 848, the Safe Learning Environments Act by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, was signed on October 7, 2025 (Senator Pérez). Its private school provisions took effect on July 1, 2026 (HSLDA).
Here is the good news for many families. According to HSLDA, the law does not apply to parents who teach their own children in a home-based private school. However, it can apply to private school satellite programs (PSPs).
Under the law, employees, volunteers, and board members of a private school are now mandatory reporters. Schools covered by the law must also adopt written policies on professional boundaries and social media contact, and provide yearly child abuse prevention training (HSLDA). Each PSP must decide whether it has to comply (HSLDA).
If your family is enrolled in a PSP, you may see new policies or training requests this year. Your PSP is the best place to ask how it is handling the law. For all three legal ways to homeschool in California, see our California Homeschool Laws page.
Sources: