Homeschooling in America
State-by-state guides to homeschool law, requirements, testing, diplomas, and getting started. Every guide is researched from the state statute and primary government sources, not secondhand summaries.
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Texas
Texas is a no-notice state. Homeschools count as private schools under Texas Education Code §25.086 and the 1994 Leeper ruling. No notification, no testing, no required days. Five subjects, a visual curriculum, and good-faith instruction.
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Florida
Florida requires a Notice of Intent, a contemporaneous portfolio, and one annual evaluation using one of five methods. No required subjects, no required hours. The FES-EO scholarship offers around $8,000 per child per year for education expenses.
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California
California families homeschool as home-based private schools by filing a Private School Affidavit with the California Department of Education each October. No notification to a local district, no portfolio, no testing requirement. Required subjects are listed in the Education Code. No teaching credential required. No state funding program.
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New York
New York runs on a fixed annual calendar under 8 NYCRR Part 100.10. Each year you file a Notice of Intent by July 1, submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan by August 15, complete four quarterly reports, and finish with an annual assessment. No teaching credential required. No state funding program.
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires an annual affidavit, a portfolio with a contemporaneous log and work samples, standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8, and a written evaluation from a qualified third-party evaluator by June 30. The supervising parent must hold a high school diploma. No state funding program.
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Illinois
Illinois homeschools operate as private schools under People v. Levisen (1950). No registration with ISBE, no notice to the district, no testing, no portfolio, no evaluator required. You teach six subject areas in English. No parent credential required. No state funding program.
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Ohio
Ohio is notification-only under ORC §3321.042 (as amended 2023). File a written notification with the district superintendent by September 1 each year containing your name and address, your child's name, and an assurance of instruction in the required subjects. No parent credential, no minimum hours, and no annual assessment are required. No state funding program.
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Georgia
Georgia requires a Declaration of Intent by September 1, at least 4.5 hours of instruction per day over 180 school days, five required subjects (reading, language arts, math, social studies, science), and an annual independent assessment. The teaching parent must hold a high school diploma. No state funding program.
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North Carolina
North Carolina home schools register with DNPE at ncdnpe.org and file a Notice of Continuing Operation by August 1 each year. No required subjects, no daily hour minimum. Operate for at least nine months per year and administer an annual standardized test. Scores stay on file with you; no submission to DNPE or the district. No state funding program.
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Virginia
Virginia requires an annual Notice of Intent with your school division superintendent by August 15, a parent qualification under one of four paths (baccalaureate degree, teaching license, Standards of Learning curriculum, or evidence of ability), and annual evidence of academic progress submitted by August 1. No required subjects, no required hours. No state funding program.
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Washington
Washington requires an annual Declaration of Intent with the local school district superintendent by September 15, an instructor who qualifies under one of four paths (45 quarter college credits, Washington teaching certificate, OSPI-approved course, or certificated teacher supervision), instruction covering 11 required subject areas, and an annual assessment with results filed with the district. Compulsory age begins at 8. No state funding program.
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Michigan
Michigan requires no registration, no notice to the school district, no standardized testing, and no parent credential. MCL §380.1561(3)(f) exempts home-educated children from compulsory attendance when a parent provides organized instruction in nine subject areas: reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18. No state funding program.
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Arizona
Arizona requires an annual affidavit filed with the county school superintendent within 30 days of starting and renewed by September 1 each year, plus instruction in five subjects: reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science. No testing, no portfolio, no parent credential. Arizona's universal Empowerment Scholarship Account provides approximately $7,000 per child per year for approved educational expenses. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 16.
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Colorado
Colorado requires written notice to the school district superintendent at least 14 days before beginning home-based education and at least 14 days before each subsequent school year (no fixed August 1 deadline), instruction in required subjects (including the US and Colorado constitutions) for at least 172 days per year at 4 hours per day, and an annual assessment starting at age 8 using one of four approved methods. No parent credential required. No state funding program.
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Indiana
Indiana treats home schools as non-accredited private schools under IC §20-33-2-17. No registration, no notice to any government body, no testing, no portfolio, and no parent credential required. The legal standard is instruction equivalent to that given in public schools. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 18. No state funding for non-accredited home school families.
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Tennessee
Tennessee recognizes three legal paths under Tennessee Code Annotated §49-6-3050: through your local education agency (annual notice by August 1, parent with a high school diploma, required subjects, standardized testing at grades 5, 7, and 9 by a licensed Tennessee teacher), through a church-related umbrella school (requirements set by the umbrella), or through an accredited correspondence or distance learning program. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 17. The Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS, 2025) provides funding, but independent LEA-path home schoolers cannot access EFS funds directly; enrollment in an EFS-registered nonpublic school is required.
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Minnesota
Minnesota requires annual written notice to the school district superintendent by October 1, instruction in required subjects by grade level, and an annual assessment conducted by or with a licensed teacher under Minnesota Statutes §120A.22. Parents without a Minnesota teaching license must involve a licensed teacher in the assessment process. Students scoring below the 30th percentile face six-month rather than annual evaluation cycles. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 17. No state funding for home school families.
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Missouri
Missouri requires no notice to any government body under Missouri Revised Statutes §167.031. Teach five required subjects (reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science) for a minimum of 1,000 hours per year (at least 600 hours in those subjects; at least 400 at a regular home location). Keep a private plan book, work samples portfolio, and assessment record for two years -- not submitted to the district. No testing, no evaluator, no parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 16. No state funding for home school families.
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New Jersey
New Jersey has no formal homeschool statute. N.J.S.A. §18A:38-25 requires children ages 6 through 16 to receive instruction and exempts those "elsewhere provided with equivalent instruction." No notice to the district is required, no subjects are mandated, no testing or portfolio is required, and no evaluator is needed. Some districts request curriculum approval or home visits that state law does not authorize. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 16. No state funding for home education families.
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Maryland
Maryland Code, Education Article §7-301 provides three paths for home instruction: under the county school system (notice to the county superintendent, required subjects, maintained portfolio, two portfolio reviews per year by a school official), through a church-related institution, or through a State Superintendent-approved correspondence program. Compulsory age begins at 5, earlier than most states, and runs through age 16. No state funding for home instruction families.
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin Statutes §118.165 governs home-based private educational programs (HBPE). File an annual statement with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by October 15 -- not your local school district. Provide a sequentially progressive curriculum in six required subjects (reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health) for at least 875 hours per year. No testing, no portfolio, no evaluator, no parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18. No state funding for HBPE families.
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Oregon
Oregon Revised Statutes §339.035 requires a one-time written notice to the local Education Service District (ESD) within 10 days of beginning home schooling (re-notify only if you move to a different ESD), instruction in required subjects (English, mathematics, science, social studies, health, and physical education), and standardized testing at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 only (by August 15; parent keeps results, not routinely submitted). Two consecutive testing periods below the 15th percentile in the same subject may trigger ESD review. No parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18. No state funding for home school families.
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South Carolina
South Carolina Code §59-65-40, §59-65-45, and §59-65-47 provide three paths for home schooling: through the local school district (annual approval, required subjects, 180 days, 4.5 hours per day, annual testing), through a state-approved home school association (association oversees testing and diploma issuance, no direct district involvement), or through a church or religious school (institution sets requirements). Compulsory age runs from 5 through 17. South Carolina has enacted school choice legislation; verify home school eligibility at ed.sc.gov.
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Alabama
Alabama Code §16-28-1 exempts children enrolled in a church school from the public school attendance requirement. Most families affiliate with an Alabama church school association, which provides the legal umbrella, sets its own curriculum and reporting expectations, and issues the high school diploma. No notice to the school district, no testing, no portfolio, and no evaluator required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 17. No state funding for home school families.
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Mississippi
Mississippi Code §37-13-91 requires a Certificate of Enrollment filed with the local school district superintendent by September 15 each year, plus 180 days of instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. No testing, no portfolio, no evaluator, and no parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 17. No state funding for home school families.
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Louisiana
Louisiana Revised Statutes §17:236.1 requires annual written notice to the city or parish superintendent by September 1, a teaching parent with a high school diploma or GED, at least 180 days of instruction, and an annual assessment: either a nationally standardized test or a portfolio evaluated by a Louisiana state-certified teacher. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 18. Verify current school choice eligibility at louisianabelieves.com.
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the only state where the right to home school is written into the constitution. The Oklahoma Constitution Article XIII Section 4 and Title 70 Section 10-105 protect home instruction as an "other means of education." No notice, no testing, no credential, and no curriculum approval required. Provide instruction for 180 days in good faith. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 18.
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Kentucky
Kentucky treats home schools as private schools under KRS §159.160. Notify your local superintendent within 10 days of your school year start, listing each child's name, age, and residence. Teach eight required subjects in English: reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, science, and civics. Provide at least 185 days and 1,062 instructional hours per year. Keep attendance and academic records available for KDE inspection. No testing, no parent credential, no curriculum approval. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18.
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Kansas
Kansas home schools operate as non-accredited private schools. Register your school's name and address with the Kansas State Department of Education (no fee, no approval). Instruction must come from a competent instructor, follow a planned and scheduled course, and run for a period comparable to public schools (186 days, about 1,116 hours for grades 1 through 11). No testing, no parent license, no curriculum approval. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 18.
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Idaho
Idaho is a no-notice state with no registration, no testing, and no parent credential requirement. Idaho Code Section 33-202 requires only that your child be comparably instructed in the subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 15 (turned 7, not yet 16). No state funding program.
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Montana
Montana requires annual written notice to the county superintendent before the first day of public school, attendance records kept on file and available on request, at least 180 days of instruction in an organized course of study, and a home school building that meets applicable health and safety standards. No testing and no parent credential required under Montana Code Annotated Sections 20-5-109 and 20-5-111. A 2025 change removed the immunization-record requirement. Compulsory age runs from 7 until 16 or completion of the eighth grade.
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Wyoming
Wyoming requires a basic academic program: a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, civics, history, literature, and science. As of July 1, 2025 (House Bill 46), you no longer submit a curriculum to the local board of trustees. No annual notice, no testing, and no parent credential required under Wyoming Statutes Sections 21-4-101 and 21-4-102. Compulsory age runs from 7 until 16 or completion of the tenth grade.
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South Dakota
South Dakota calls home schooling "alternative instruction" under Chapter 13-27. Since 2021 (Senate Bill 177), families file a one-time notification with the South Dakota Department of Education or their local district, then provide instruction in two required subjects: language arts and mathematics. No annual filing, no standardized testing, no portfolio, and no parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18.
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Utah
Utah simplified its home school law in 2025. The updated Utah Code Section 53G-6-204 replaced the old annual notarized affidavit with a one-time Notice of Intent. File it with your local school district, receive a Certificate of Exemption within 30 days, and you are done filing. No annual paperwork, no testing, no curriculum approval, and no parent credential. The Utah Fits All Scholarship can fund home education expenses. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18.
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New Mexico
New Mexico Statutes Section 22-1-2.1 requires you to notify the state Public Education Department within 30 days of establishing your home school and re-notify on or before August 1 each year. The person providing instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or equivalency. Teach five required subjects: reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Keep immunization records or an approved waiver. No standardized testing, no curriculum approval, no portfolio. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 18.
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Arkansas
Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 15 keeps home schooling light. File a Notice of Intent with your local school superintendent by August 15 each year; the window opens around June 1. No parent credential, no mandated subject list, no required hours, and no standardized testing for independent home schoolers. The LEARNS Act Education Freedom Account can fund home education, but participants must take an annual national norm-referenced test as a condition of the funding. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 17.
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Hawaii
Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 302A-1132 requires a one-time notice of intent (Form 4140) to your child's school principal before you begin, a record of your planned curriculum, and an annual progress report to the principal each year. In grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 the report must include a standardized achievement test score. In other grades, a test is one of several acceptable report formats. No parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 18.
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Nebraska
Nebraska home schools operate as exempt schools under Section 79-1601 and Department of Education Rule 13. File Form A, the Statement of Election and Assurances, with the Nebraska Department of Education when you begin and by July 15 each year thereafter. Affirm instruction in five subject areas: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health. No standardized testing, no curriculum approval, and no parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18.
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West Virginia
West Virginia Code Section 18-8-1 requires a one-time Notice of Intent to your county superintendent, a teaching parent with at least a high school diploma or equivalent, assurance of instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and an academic assessment submitted at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. No annual notice required after the first filing. The Hope Scholarship can fund home education. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 17.
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Nevada
Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 388D requires a one-time written Notice of Intent to your district superintendent, who provides a written acknowledgment. Prepare an educational plan covering English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and keep it in your records. No annual refiling, no standardized testing at any grade, no parent credential, and no curriculum approval. Districts cannot require information beyond what the statute lists. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 18.
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Vermont
Vermont Statutes Title 16 Section 166b runs home study on an annual cycle. File an enrollment notice with the Vermont Agency of Education each year, at least ten business days before your intended start date. Cover the minimum course of study in six required fields. File an annual assessment using one of three options: a report by a Vermont licensed teacher, a standardized achievement test, or an instructor report with a portfolio. The prior year's assessment travels with the next year's enrollment. No parent credential required. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 16.
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Alaska
Alaska Statutes Section 14.30.010 offers two paths. Independent home study exempts a child taught at home by a parent from compulsory attendance with no notice, no testing, no required subjects, and no parent credential. State and district correspondence programs enroll your child as a public school student, assign a certificated teacher, and provide an allotment for approved curriculum and materials in exchange for oversight and assessment. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 16. Verify current allotment rules at education.alaska.gov.
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Delaware
Delaware Code Title 14 Section 2703A treats home schools as nonpublic schools. Register with the Department of Education online, submit a fall enrollment count by early October reflecting enrollment as of the last school day in September, and file an attendance report by July 31 each year. No standardized testing, no portfolio, no parent credential. Provide instruction in the subjects taught in public schools; from grade 8 up include courses on the U.S. Constitution, the Delaware Constitution and government, and the free enterprise system. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 16.
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North Dakota
North Dakota Century Code Chapter 15.1-23 requires an annual statement of intent filed with the local superintendent at least 14 days before the school year begins, a supervising parent with a high school diploma or GED (or certified-teacher monitoring for two years without one), instruction of at least four hours a day for 175 days, and standardized testing in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10. A composite below the 50th percentile triggers continued monitoring. No curriculum approval. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 16.
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Maine
Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A Sections 5001-A and 5021 require a Notice of Intent filed within 10 days of starting, then by September 1 each year, with both your local school unit and the Maine Department of Education. Cover ten required subjects across at least 175 days. Submit an annual assessment using one of four options: a certified-teacher portfolio review, a standardized test, school unit testing by prior permission, or an advisory board review. No parent credential. Compulsory age runs from 7 through 17.
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Iowa
Iowa Code Chapter 299A offers two private instruction paths. Independent private instruction needs no notice, no assessment, and no minimum days; you teach four subjects and report only if the state requests it. Competent private instruction requires filing Form A with your district, at least 148 instructional days, and an annual assessment, which opens access to dual enrollment, driver's education, and other public school services. No parent credential required under either parent-supervised option. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 16.
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Connecticut
Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-184 requires equivalent instruction in the subjects taught in public schools. Connecticut does not require approval to home school, a notice of intent, standardized testing, or a portfolio review. The C-14 notice and annual portfolio review are voluntary State Board of Education guidelines, not law. Compulsory age runs from 5 through 18. Connecticut has considered new home education oversight legislation; confirm the current law before relying on this framework.
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New Hampshire
New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Chapter 193-A requires a one-time notification per child filed with the commissioner of education, your local school district, or a nonpublic school. Teach the required subjects, and have your child's progress evaluated each year. The evaluation stays in your records; you do not submit it. No parent credential, no curriculum approval, no annual refiling. New Hampshire has weighed making the notice and evaluation optional; confirm current rules before you file. Compulsory age runs from 6 through 18.
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