What Parents Need to Know About California's Senate Bill 414

California lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 414 (SB 414), a bill that reshapes how charter schools and flex-based (formerly called non classroom-based) programs operate. While most of the discussion so far has focused on what schools and administrators must do, families (especially those in homeschool and flex-based programs) also need to understand what’s changing.

This blog highlights the provisions that will most directly impact parents and students, and what to expect moving forward if it's officially signed into law by Governor Newsom. 

Attendance: Staying on Top of Instructional Minutes

SB 414 introduces attendance recovery programs that allow students in traditional schools to make up lost instructional time. However, children enrolled in independent study or flex-based programs generally cannot use these make-up opportunities to generate attendance credit. 

For families in flex-based schools (like Method), this means that daily attendance reporting remains critical. Parents should be especially diligent about ensuring their children meet minimum instructional minutes, since recovery programs won’t be available to fill in the gaps.

Enrichment Activities: Stricter Rules, Safer Choices

The bill also places new requirements on educational enrichment vendors. Under SB 414, enrichment activities must be:

• Nonsectarian
• Fiscally reasonable
• Safe for students
• Directly tied to a student’s learning plan and approved by their teacher
• Paid directly to allowable vendors; never to parents or students
• Never allowed to be used as an incentive or motivator to enroll at a particular school

For families, this may reduce the number of enrichment options available in the short term. But it also ensures that public funds are being used responsibly and that enrichment programs are relevant and beneficial to student learning.

For homeschool families, these changes may feel restrictive at first. In the long run, though, the new requirements should help protect the flexibility and sustainability of charter school models by reducing the risk of financial misuse.

It's important to note that enrichment funds are a hot topic in Sacramento, and there's been much momentum to eliminate them altogether. But SB 414 doesn't do that. Of equal importance is knowing that it's up to the schools to determine how their budgets are allocated, including whether or not they will allocate enrichment funds. 

Moratorium on New Flex-Based Charters

Another important piece of SB 414 is the extension of the moratorium on approving new flex-based charter schools. Originally set to expire on January 1, 2026, the moratorium now runs until June 30, 2026. The moratorium went into effect on January 1, 2020. So, it's been nearly six years since California placed a "temporary ban" on new flex-based charter schools!

For families already enrolled, this doesn’t change your day-to-day experience. But for those hoping to see new charter options open up in the near future, the timeline has been pushed back yet again.

Oversight and Transparency: More Visibility for Families

SB 414 also increases financial oversight of charter schools. Governing boards must review annual audits in public meetings, including any findings about financial mismanagement. Many schools, including Method, already do this. The public already has a right to request and view annual financial audits, and schools should be posting them on their websites, so this is more of a formality than anything else. 

The Big Picture for Homeschool and Flex Families

For parents, the immediate impact of SB 414 is mostly about attendance and enrichment. These are the areas where your role — in daily reporting, tracking instructional minutes, and selecting appropriate activities — will matter most.

At the same time, the bill’s broader oversight measures are designed to preserve the long-term health of charter and flex-based options. By tightening rules around finances, vendors, and governance, SB 414 aims to protect these models from misuse while keeping flexibility alive for the families who depend on them.

Closing Thoughts

For families who value flexibility in education, SB 414 is a reminder that your involvement matters more than ever. Staying engaged in attendance tracking, enrichment choices, and school governance will help ensure your child gets the most out of these programs under the new law. 

We'll soon be hosting a parent info session on SB 414 and how it may affect Method families. Keep an eye on our calendar and your email inbox!