Colorado Revised Statutes §22-33-104.5 governs home-based education. File a written notice with your local school district superintendent at least 14 days before beginning home-based education, and at least 14 days before each subsequent school year. No parent credential required. Required subjects: communication skills (reading, writing, speaking), mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the US and Colorado constitutions. Provide at least 172 days of instruction per year at 4 or more hours per day. Beginning at age 8, complete an annual evaluation using one of four approved methods. No state funding for home-based education families.
Verified June 2026 · Colorado Revised Statutes §22-33-104.5 · Colorado Department of Education. Confirm current requirements at cde.state.co.us before relying on this for legal decisions.
| Requirement | What Colorado Requires |
|---|---|
| Annual notice | Written notice to school district superintendent at least 14 days before beginning, and at least 14 days before each subsequent school year (no fixed calendar deadline) |
| Parent credential | Not required |
| Required subjects | Communication skills (reading, writing, speaking); mathematics; history; civics; literature; science; US and Colorado constitutions |
| Annual instruction | 172 days minimum; 4 hours per day minimum |
| Annual assessment | Required starting at age 8; four approved methods |
| Assessment options | National standardized test; licensed psychologist evaluation; portfolio review by a licensed teacher; other assessment approved by the district |
| Assessment results | Kept on file; submitted to district upon written request |
| High school diploma | Parent-issued |
| State funding | No ESA or voucher program for home-based education families |
Colorado's Home-Based Education Law
Colorado Revised Statutes §22-33-104.5 provides the legal framework for home-based education. Colorado requires more structure than states like Michigan or Arizona, but less than New York or Pennsylvania. The four compliance pillars are: an annual written notice to your school district, instruction in specific subject areas, a minimum number of instruction days and hours per year, and an annual assessment beginning at age 8. Colorado does not require a teaching credential, does not specify which curriculum to use, and does not mandate that assessment results be submitted proactively. The district can request them, but you do not submit them automatically.
Colorado's compulsory school age runs from 6 through 17. Children outside that window are not subject to the attendance law, though most families continue home-based education through high school graduation. The law applies whether your child has been enrolled in a public school or has always been home educated.
The structure Colorado imposes is a reasonable one. Families who run a consistent, year-round program find the 172-day and 4-hour requirements easy to meet without changing how they teach. The annual notice and assessment add about two administrative tasks per year. Once those habits are built, Colorado's compliance burden is low.
Filing the Annual Notice
Before you begin home-based education, file a written notice of intent with the superintendent of your local school district. Colorado's statute requires notice at least 14 days before you establish the program, and at least 14 days before the start of each subsequent school year. There is no fixed calendar deadline such as August 1; the 14-day lead time before your school year starts is the requirement. The notice must include each child's name and age, the name of the person who will provide the instruction, and a list of the subjects you plan to teach.
The district records the notice and cannot require anything beyond it. You do not need approval before beginning instruction, and the district has no authority to evaluate or approve your curriculum or teaching approach. The notice is a declaration, not an application.
Keep a copy of every notice you file and any written acknowledgment from the district. If you move to a different school district during the year, file a new notice with the new district within 14 days. Start a reading assessment early in the school year so you know where your child stands before you finalize your curriculum plan for the year.
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Required Subjects
Colorado requires instruction in the following subject areas: communication skills (which the statute defines as reading, writing, and speaking), mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the constitutions of the United States and Colorado. The subject areas align closely with what most core curriculum packages cover, with two that stand out: literature named as a subject separate from reading, and explicit instruction in both the US and Colorado constitutions as part of civics.
Colorado does not specify textbooks, grade-level benchmarks, or instructional hours per subject. You decide how to allocate time, which materials to use, and how to sequence the content. The subject list defines the scope, and everything else is your decision.
The Colorado constitution requirement is the one that most surprises new families, but it is not difficult to satisfy. Any civics or government curriculum that includes state government will cover the relevant content. A dedicated unit on Colorado government and the state constitution can be woven into a broader social studies sequence at any point during the year. It does not need to be a separate course.
The 172-Day, 4-Hour Requirement
Colorado requires home-based education to be provided for at least 172 days per school year at a minimum of 4 hours per day. That works out to at least 688 instructional hours per year. The 172-day threshold is one of the more specific requirements in Colorado's law and the one that most often catches families off guard.
A school year of 36 weeks at 5 days per week is 180 days, which exceeds the minimum. Families who school 4 days per week, take extended breaks, or start late and finish early may fall short of 172 days if they are not tracking. The fix is a simple attendance log. From the first day of your school year, record each day instruction is provided and the approximate hours taught. This log serves two purposes: it confirms you are meeting the 172-day requirement, and it provides the documentation needed if the district ever makes a written request.
Colorado does not specify how the 4 daily hours must be structured or which subjects must be covered on any given day. A school day that includes language arts, math, reading, and science for a total of 4 or more hours satisfies the requirement. Field trips, educational outings, co-op days, and structured hands-on activities can count toward the instructional time, provided the instruction is genuine and the time is documented.
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The Annual Assessment
Starting at age 8, Colorado requires an annual evaluation of each home-educated student. The assessment must be completed each year and the results kept on file. You do not submit results to the district automatically, but the district may make a written request for the results and you must respond within 14 days.
Colorado gives four approved assessment options and you may use a different method each year. There is no minimum score requirement or "reasonable progress" threshold written into the statute. The assessment documents that evaluation is occurring, not that the child has reached a specific performance level.
Option 1: Nationally Standardized Achievement Test
The child takes a nationally standardized test. Colorado does not specify which test, so families can choose from the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test Series, CAT, and others. The parent may administer the test at home. Results are kept in the family's home education records.
Option 2: Licensed Psychologist Evaluation
A licensed psychologist evaluates the child's academic progress and provides a written report. This option is used most often by families whose children have learning differences or profiles that standardized tests do not capture well. It provides a personalized assessment with clinical context.
Option 3: Portfolio Review by a Licensed Teacher
A licensed teacher reviews the child's portfolio of work and provides a written statement documenting academic progress. This is the most common alternative to standardized testing for Colorado families who prefer an evaluator-based approach. Portfolios often include writing samples, math work, project documentation, and reading logs from the school year.
Option 4: District-Approved Assessment
The local school district superintendent approves any other method of evaluation. This option requires prior coordination with your district office and is less commonly used than the first three. Contact your district in the fall if you want to pursue this route so there is enough time to agree on a method before the assessment is due.
Withdrawing Your Child from a Colorado Public School
Send written notice of withdrawal to your child's school and file your notice of intent with the district superintendent within 14 days of beginning home-based education. The school updates its enrollment records. Keep copies of both documents.
If your child has an Individualized Education Program, mandatory special education services through the public school end at withdrawal. Colorado allows home-based education students with disabilities to access certain public school services on a voluntary basis, but the entitlements under an IEP end when the child leaves the public system. Talk with your district's special education office before withdrawing if your child currently receives services.
Colorado law also permits home-based education students to participate in extracurricular activities at their local public school, including sports, music, and clubs, subject to the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. Check with your specific district for the current process, since policies on access and paperwork vary.
High School, Transcripts, and Diplomas in Colorado
Colorado does not set graduation requirements or diploma standards for home-based education programs. You establish the graduation criteria, track credits through grades 9 to 12, and issue the diploma when the student meets your requirements. A parent-issued diploma and transcript from a Colorado home-based education program are accepted by Colorado's public universities, community colleges, employers, and licensing bodies.
The University of Colorado system, Colorado State University, and Colorado's other public institutions are experienced reviewing home-based education applications. Most ask for SAT or ACT scores from home-educated applicants alongside the parent-issued transcript. A well-organized transcript listing courses by name, credit hours, and grades by year is the standard document. Selective programs may ask for course descriptions or syllabi. Prepare those in advance if your student is applying to competitive schools.
Colorado community colleges offer concurrent enrollment for high school students, including home-based education students, under the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act. Eligibility and process vary by institution, so contact the specific college to understand what is required. The Homeschool Teacher Guide covers how to build a full high school plan that holds up to college review.
No State Funding for Colorado Home-Based Education Families
Colorado does not have an education savings account or voucher program for families providing home-based education under §22-33-104.5. All curriculum, assessment, and other educational costs are the family's responsibility.
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A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You
Colorado's requirements are manageable if you build the tracking habits in year one. The 172-day requirement sounds simple, but it slips past families who school casually or take long breaks without counting days. Get a simple calendar or spreadsheet going from day one and mark every school day. The 4-hour daily floor is easy to meet with any structured program, but much easier if you are not trying to reconstruct it at year end.
The annual assessment starting at age 8 is flexible in Colorado: you can use a test the parent administers, a portfolio review by a licensed teacher, or a licensed psychologist evaluation. There is no hard score floor the way there is in Virginia, which makes Colorado's assessment requirement less stressful than it sounds. The required subjects list is one of the more specific in the country, but the inclusion of the Colorado constitution is easy to satisfy with any government or civics unit. Colorado is a reasonable place to homeschool with real flexibility inside its structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do we File the Annual Notice to Homeschool in Colorado?
At least 14 days before you begin home-based education, and at least 14 days before each subsequent school year. There is no fixed calendar deadline such as August 1. The notice goes to the superintendent of your local school district and must include each child's name and age, the name of the person providing instruction, and the subjects you plan to teach.
How Many Days per Year Does Colorado Require for Home-Based Education?
A minimum of 172 days per year, at a minimum of 4 hours of instruction per day. Colorado does not specify how those hours must be allocated across subjects. Maintain a simple attendance log to confirm you meet the 172-day requirement.
What Subjects Are Required for Home-Based Education in Colorado?
Colorado Revised Statutes §22-33-104.5 requires: communication skills (reading, writing, and speaking), mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the constitutions of both the United States and Colorado. You choose the curriculum and instructional approach for each subject.
What Are the Annual Assessment Options in Colorado?
Colorado gives four options starting at age 8: a nationally standardized achievement test (parent may administer); evaluation by a licensed psychologist; portfolio review by a licensed teacher; or any other method approved by your district superintendent. Results are kept on file and submitted to the district only upon written request.
Does Colorado Offer Any Funding for Home-Based Education Families?
No. Colorado does not have an education savings account or voucher program for families providing home-based education under §22-33-104.5. All costs for curriculum, assessment, and other educational materials are the family's responsibility.
Sources
Colorado Revised Statutes §22-33-104.5, Home-Based Education (Colorado General Assembly)
Colorado Department of Education: Home-Based Education
HSLDA: How to Comply with Colorado's Homeschool Law