State Homeschooling Laws
Of course, one of the biggest concerns parents have about homeschooling is the state homeschool requirements – a.k.a. homeschool laws. In fact, the questions are many. Especially including: What does my state require from me to home school legally?
Indeed, we get it. Of course, it can be scary getting it all straight, and we understand no one wants to break homeschooling laws. While homeschooling is legal in all 50 states each state has its own specific state homeschooling regulations. In fact, this is a very important first step in beginning to homeschool. Which is why we’ve included a handy table of each state’s DOE webpage regarding homeschooling laws.
How to Homeschool Legally in Your State
- Indeed, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.
- Each state has different state homeschooling regulations.
- Of course, you must follow your state’s homeschooling regulations or face prosecution.
- If you are road schoolers, you need to follow the state homeschooling laws from the state in which you have your driver’s license/vehicle registrations. It’s best to take proof that you have followed those laws along with you when traveling to other states.
- Also, grandparents, parents, or family members that have been appointed by the legal guardian may homeschool the child once the legalities of homeschooling in that state have been set up.
- Make sure you keep a transcript or detailed record of your student’s accomplishments when they begin high school. In fact, keeping up with this is vital for your teen’s future. Follow the suggested course guidelines for your state, and meet or exceed their requirements.
** Please note that this information was taken from each state’s DOE website page. In fact, we have found that some states have “laws” at the state level that are not enforced or are enforced differently at the local level. Therefore, it is important to reach out to local homeschoolers and groups to help you navigate you homeschool requirements.
Homeschool Laws by State
Again, please note that often a state will create guidelines for homeschooling that are not always carried out and enforced at the local level. In the following chart, we’ve included what the state has listed in writing on that state’s DOE website.
However, your local school district may or may not enforce these guidelines. Indeed, this does tend to cause confusion. In fact, this is why it is important to understand what your state requires from you as a homeschooling family. However, when in doubt give your local district a call or reach out to a local homeschool group. Also, if you feel that your state or local school district is requiring something that they don’t need to there are homeschool legal defense associations that will step in and help you maintain your rights.
Please click the state link in the table below to visit the official state page describing their homeschool laws.
| State | Compulsory Attendance | Testing Requirements | Required Subjects | Other Requirements |
Alaska | Ages 7-16 | No requirements under the AK home school statute. | 4 options to choose from | |
Alabama | Ages 7-16 | |||
Arizona | Ages 6-16 | No testing requirements. | Reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science. | Must submit 2 documents – notarized affidavit of intent to homeschool & child’s birth certificate or reliable proof of the child’s identity. However, homeschooling is under the jurisdiction of each county. |
Arkansas | Ages 6-16 | Yes, homeschooled students are required to participate in either state testing or state-approved alternative testing procedures. | Must file written notice of intent to home school & sign a waiver at the beginning of each year, even when enrolled in umbrella schools. Must be in-person the first time. | |
California | No required testing at this time. | Grades 1-6: English, math, social science, science, visual and performing arts, health, and physical education.Grades 7-12: The government may prescribe English; social sciences; foreign languages (starting no later than seventh grade); physical education; science; mathematics; visual and performing arts; applied arts; career technical education; automobile driver education. | Parents have 3 options: public school independent or home-based study programs; public charter independent study schools, & homeschooling under the Private School Affidavit. | |
Colorado | Ages 7-16 | Testing in grades 3,5,7,9,and 11 or evaluation by a qualified person and results must be submitted to the school district. | Reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the Constitution of the United States. | Documentation of intent to homeschool, attendance, test and evaluation results and immunization records must be kept and produced for the school district. |
Connecticut | Ages 7-17 | No annual testing. | Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, geography, arithmetic, United States history, including the study of the town, state, and federal governments, and citizenship. | The state suggests parents complete the Intent to Homeschool form for each child annually and submit it to the Superintendent’s office for signature, but asks parents to check with their local school district. |
Delaware | Ages 5-16 | It is recommended for parents to keep portfolios. | Homeschooling is considered a “non-public school” and families must register, keep attendance, and annual enrollment with the Delaware Department of Education. | |
Florida | Ages 6-16 | Annual testing, or evaluation of the portfolio and student. | Must notify the state each year, portfolio, must have an annual review (several options), and can participate in extracurricular activities w/school. | |
Georgia | Ages 6-16 | Must test at least every three years, beginning in 3rd grade. | Instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. | Must submit a declaration of intent (online), but umbrella schools are welcomed. Parent must have at least a high school diploma or GED. |
Hawaii | Ages 6-18 | Must test in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 | High schoolers must attend at least three years of high school to meet the state requirements for a high school diploma. | Must submit an intent to homeschool or Form 4140 and it must be officially acknowledged. Also, must keep a record of planned curriculum with semester dates, hours per week, and subjects of instruction. An annual progress report, showing satisfactory progress in all content areas, shall be submitted at the end of each school year. |
Idaho | Ages 7-16 | Parents are encouraged to test their homeschooled children, who are permitted to take the statewide annual exams. | “A homeschooled student must be comparably instructed to students in the public school” | Does not require registration or reporting. |
Illinois | Ages 6-17 | No required standardized testing or reporting. | “The parents may be expected to document the subjects taught which must include “branches of learning” taught in the public school, the time frame in which instruction will be offered, and the competency of the parent or other instructor(s).” | Parents are not required to register with the state. Also, homeschool considered a “non-public” school – no real statutes regarding homeschooling. |
Indiana | Age 7 until graduation | Instruction equivalent to that given in the public schools. | 180 days and attendance records. May participate in extracurricular activities. Also, considered non-public, non-accredited schools. | |
Iowa | Ages 6-16 | Annual assessment depending on your choice of options. “Standardized testing or portfolio assessment may be chosen.” | “Mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies.” | 148 attendance days each year, with at least 37 each quarter. Several requirements if providing “competent private instruction.” However, no requirements if providing “independent private instruction.” |
Kansas | Ages 7-18 | Periodic testing. | Must have a competent instructor. Also, must have at least 186 days of attendance with not less than 6 hours per day. | Homeschooling is considered a “non-accredited private school” and must register the school name and address with the Kansas Board of Education. |
Kentucky | Ages 6-18 | None specified. | Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, science, and civics. Must be in the English Language. | Defined as a private school and asked to create a school name. Notification of the homeschool and identification of every student is required upon registration. Keep course records, attendance records. |
Louisiana | Ages 6-18 | None specified. | Must apply and be approved annually. Additionally, can participate in athletics. Considered a “home study plan.” | |
Maine | Ages 6-17 | Annual assessments required. Must complete one of the following: (1) a standardized test, (2) a test set by the school official but allowed to be taken at home, (3) review & acceptance of the student’s progress by a certified Maine teacher, (4) portfolio assessment by a support group with a certified Maine teacher, or (5) “a review and acceptance of the student’s progress by a local advisory board selected by the superintendent of the administrative unit in which the student resides that includes one administrative unit employee and two home instruction tutors.” | “English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies (in one grade level between grades six and 12), and demonstrated proficiency in the use of computers (in one grade level between grades seven and 12)” | Notice of intent, initially and each subsequent year. Testing results must be submitted. 175 days. |
Maryland | Ages 5-16 | Portfolio review from a school system representative. | English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. | Request a homeschool info packet from DOE, submit forms, and approval required. |
Massachusetts | Ages 6-16 | May be required by local school officials. | Officials may ask about the curriculum, but no requirements are set. | Prior approval is a prerequisite before beginning to homeschool. |
Michigan | Ages 6-18 | None, but students can participate in the local school district testing. | “Reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.” | Reporting is not required unless parent is requesting special needs assistance. Parents that register their homeschools must have a bachelor’s degree unless their religious beliefs preclude teacher certification requirements. |
Minnesota | Ages 7-17 | Must test every year. | “Home schools are required to provide instruction in: 1) basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts; 2) mathematics and science; 3) social studies, including history, geography, and government; and 4) health and physical education.” | Must file a letter of intent. The homeschool program must be accredited or the parent must submit instructor qualifications.Also, in the first year of homeschooling and in the 7th grade, immunization records must be submitted to the local school district. |
Mississippi | Ages 6-17 | A homeschooled student transferring to a public school may be required to test. | Required to fill out a simple enrollment form and describe the curriculum used. “The parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a legitimate homeschooling program is required to complete a “certificate of enrollment” and return it to the school attendance officer where such child resides on or before September 15 of each year.” | |
Missouri | Ages 7-17 | None required. | Must offer 1,000 hours of instruction during the school year, with at least 600 hours in the basics, which will be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. At least 400 of the 600 hours shall occur in the home location. | Notification of homeschooling is requested but not mandated. “A parent who is homeschooling a child must maintain the following records: a plan book, diary, daily log, or other written record indicating the subjects taught and the activities engaged in with the student; a portfolio containing samples of the student’s academic work; and a record of evaluation of the student’s academic progress.” |
Montana | Ages 7-16 | None required | “Students must be given a study course that involves instruction in the subjects required of public schools” | Students must be enrolled and registered within the first week of the school term. Must maintain and provide attendance and immunization records, must school a minimum number of hours, must notify the local DOE superintendent. |
Nebraska | Ages 6-16 | “the Department may deem it necessary to conduct regular achievement testing.” | Must teach language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health | Considered exempt schools. Must register all students annually with identification, affidavit of intent to homeschool, and curriculum summary. Must school a minimum number of hours. Immunization requirements: “Each exempt school that is not exempt for religious reasons shall require each student to be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus prior to enrollment. On and after July 1, 2010, every student entering the seventh grade shall have a booster immunization containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and an acellular pertussis vaccine.” |
Nevada | Ages 7-18 | None required. | “English (including reading, composition, and writing), mathematics, science and social studies (including history geography, economics and government) as appropriate for the age and skill level of the child as the parent determines.” | File a notice of intent to homeschool with the Nevada standard form before beginning to homeschool, and compose an educational plan. |
New Hampshire | Ages 6-18 | Annual evaluation (several options, but it’s either testing or evaluation by a certified official). | “Science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the United States, and an exposure to and appreciation of art and music.” | Must submit written notification and identification to register with the commissioner of the department of education or resident district superintendent. Must keep a portfolio. |
New Jersey | Ages 6-16 | None required. | Academically equivalent to that provided in the local public school. | Can get a NJ state high school diploma by passing the GED, “or by completing 30 general education credits leading to a degree at an accredited institution of higher education and meeting current state assessment graduation requirements” |
New Mexico | Ages 5-18 | None required. | “Basic academic educational program, including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science” | Notify the state each year. Keep track of attendance (180 days), must have a diploma or GED, and keep immunization records. |
New York | Ages 6-16 | Annually only for high school | “Required courses for grades one through six are arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, the English language, geography, United States history, science, health education, music, visual arts, physical education, and bilingual education and/or English as a second language where the need is indicated. The required courses for grades seven and eight are English, history, geography, science, mathematics, physical education, health education, art, music, practical arts, and library skills. Grades nine through 12 required courses are English; social studies, including American history, government, and economics; mathematics; science; art and/or music; health education; physical education; and three electives.” | Submit letter of intent by July 1st annually, and a homeschool plan. Must school 180 days and send in quarterly reports as well as an annual assessment with the fourth quarter report. “If a child’s annual assessment does not comply with the requirements of 8 CCR-NY 100.10 (h), the home instruction program will be put on probation and the parent must submit a remediation plan.” |
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