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This step-by-step homeschooling guide will show you how to homeschool your kids in the 2023 school year. Whether your child is in elementary, middle, or high school age, the steps to start homeschooling are the same.

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we support parents in a variety of ways.

To be clear, at HomeSchool ThinkTank, we’re not lawyers, but we’re here to help you get started with homeschooling your kids. This article is intended to help parents who want to homeschool their children in the United States. However, we have tried to be helpful in guiding families who live outside of the United States as well.

How to Homeschool Your Kids in the 2023 School Year

  1. Sign up for our homeschool support program: THRIVE.
  2. Join a local homeschooling group. Learn how in this workshop.
  3. Know your state or country’s homeschool requirements.
  4. Learn about homeschooling styles and terminology.
  5. Choose homeschool curriculum.
  6. Sign up for helpful homeschooling and parenting tips here.
  7. Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.

While we offer numerous resources on our blog and podcast, you will get the most support by joining THRIVE.

THRIVE is our ongoing support program that’s designed for homeschooling parents.

Inside THRIVE, we offer weekly Zoom meetups to guide you throughout your homeschooling journey.

If you have questions, you can book a one-on-one homeschool strategy call or join our free workshop.

THRIVE: Support and Coaching for Homeschool Parents at HomeSchool ThinkTank

Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast

Join parents from around the world to get helpful information about homeschooling, parenting, and mindset.

Each week, we share one episode that focuses on mindset and another that’s all about homeschooling and parenting.

Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The podcast episode below is the step-by-step guide you need to start homeschooling your children.

Homeschooling How To: Visit Your State’s Primary Homeschooling Website

If you want to homeschool your kids, we suggest locating the primary homeschool website for your region.

For example, if you live in the United States, you’ll want to conduct the following Google searches:

  • Homeschool and United States
  • Your State and the word Homeschool
  • Homeschool and Your Town

When you Google the word homeschool with your region, you’ll begin discovering a vast array of information that is relevant to your family.

State Homeschool Requirements and Laws

Know Your State Homeschool Requirements Before You Start Homeschooling

In the United States, there are some common homeschooling requirements.

The law varies state by state, so you will need to learn what the requirements are where you live.

Common Homeschooling Requirements to Consider

  • Register to homeschool where you live.
  • Record-keeping requirements.
  • Individualized home instruction plan.
  • Immunization records.
  • Reporting procedures.
  • Minimum number of days of school.
  • Number of hours per school day.
  • Specific subjects studied.
  • Mandated testing.
  • Compulsory school age.
  • Parent GED or high school diploma.

Please note that homeschool laws vary widely based on where you live. For details, please see this article about your state’s homeschool requirements.

Keep Up with HomeSchool ThinkTank!

When you sign up for HomeSchool ThinkTank Happenings, we’ll send helpful homeschooling and parenting information.

HomeSchool ThinkTank Happenings

Visit Your Public Education Website and HSLDA

Before you head to your state or region’s website, we recommend that you visit HSLDA’s website and the primary website about homeschooling where you live before heading to your government’s website. The primary reason for this is that a government website and a homeschooling website have different agendas.

A Government’s Education Website…

A government institution or website’s primary goal is to have your child enroll in public school.

In general, a public school system receives funds for each child that is enrolled in their system. If your child is not in the public education system, then the government does not receive funding for your child. For this reason alone, it is in your government’s best interest to discourage you from homeschooling and to encourage you to keep your kids in public school.

In addition, governments are able to teach mandated doctrine through the public education system. When children are not enrolled in a public education system, this inhibits a government’s ability to teach a set of beliefs that are passed through the public education system.

HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast: Homeschool Your Kids with Confidence

A Homeschool Website…

On the other hand, a homeschool website’s primary goal is to encourage you to homeschool your kids and to support you in the process.

At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we have three primary reasons for encouraging families to homeschool.

  1. It is our belief that homeschooling is good for many families.
  2. Homeschooling can be an excellent opportunity for both children and families.
  3. There are a variety of concepts that are taught (and that aren’t taught) through the public education system that we disagree with.

Every parent should read Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto. This book will help you better understand the impact that schooling has on children.

Are Schools Dumbing Us Down? Blog Podcast Video. Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.

How to Find Your Government’s Education Website…

Here is how you can find information about homeschooling where you live.

  • US Department of State. This website includes links to countries around the world and to individual states within the United States of America.
  • Conduct an online search. Type in Department of Education and Your State. If you live outside of the United States, type in the word education in your local language and your local region, province, or country.
Homeschool Your Kids with Confidence: Coaching with Jackie

Notes for Homeschoolers About Extra-Curricular Activities, Sports, & Doing Public School At Home…

  • Please note that doing public school (or publicly funded education) at home is not the same as homeschooling. See this article about the differences between doing Public School At Home & True Homeschooling.
  • Also note that if your child is participating in public school extra-curricular activities, sports, or dual-credit credit classes as a homeschooled student, there are likely steps that you will need to take with the public education system to participate in these programs.
Homeschooling Types Styles Methods

Register Your Child as a Homeschooled Student

While it is not mandated in every state, most states require parents to register homeschooled children with the state.

If you are required to register your child as a homeschooled student, you might be able to do so online, by mail, or in person.

Hopefully, you’ve checked with HSLDA and your local Department of Education. If you have, you should be armed with the knowledge you need to register your child as a homeschooled student.

To help protect all homeschool families’ freedoms, please share only the information you are required to provide by law.

When you provide more information than is lawfully required, then this begins setting a precedent of expectation that can eventually limit the freedom of parents and homeschool families at large.

Explore Homeschool Curriculum Options

When you’re looking for homeschool curricula, we’ll help you find what you need.

Curriculum for Homeschooling. Homeschool Curriculum. HomeSchool ThinkTank.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling

What subjects are required for homeschool students?

Frequently required subjects are reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science. For more information, visit this article to see how you can learn what is required where you live.

Who can homeschool my child?

Oftentimes, instruction must be given by a person possessing a high school diploma or equivalent. For more information, visit this article to see what the law is where you live.

When does my child have to start school?

Frequently, children must start school when they are five years old. However, school age can vary depending on where you live. For more information, see the links provided in this article.

How do I register to homeschool my child?

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have to notify your local government that you intend to homeschool your child. Some areas have a deadline for returning homeschool students while other areas require that you notify your local government within a specified time of the establishment of a homeschool. Please see this article for links that can help you understand how to register your child as a homeschooled student.

How many days a year do I have to homeschool my child?

You will want to check your state’s Compulsory School Attendance Law as this varies depending on where you live. Please visit this article for more details on how to find the information for your region.

Are You Still Thinking About Homeschooling Your Kids?

THINK HOMESCHOOL was written to help you decide if homeschooling is the right choice for your family.

This book will help you recognize both the pros and cons of homeschooling.

THINK HOMESCHOOL: Live & Learn Your Way. Front Cover. Read the book or Listen to the Audiobook at HomeSchool ThinkTank

When Can My Homeschooler Graduate From High School?

Commonly, a student must be in school until they are 18 or have graduated from high school or received a general educational development certificate (GED). For more information, see the links provided in this article. Also, look for other helpful links about homeschooling in high school near the bottom of this page.

How Will My Homeschooled Teenager Graduate From High School?

Your child can graduate with a high school diploma as a homeschooled student.

There are generally three ways for a homeschooled student to graduate.

1. Graduation by a parent or legal guardian.
2. Graduation by correspondence course, distance learning school, or homeschool program.
3. Take and pass the GED test. A student can take this test beginning at the age of 16.

Information about Graduating from High School as a Homeschooler: Articles from HSLDA

  1. Why Every Teen Needs A Transcript – And How To Get One
  2. What Information Goes On My Highschoolers Transcript
  3. How To Calculate A Grade Point Average – GPA
  4. Free High School Transcript Templates

GED Information for Homeschooled Students

Earning a GED is simply one option. As described above, there are other options for homeschooled students to earn a high school diploma.

Books About Homeschooling, Education, Parenting, and Mindset. Video, Blog, Podcast.

Helpful Articles, Videos, & Podcast Episodes about Homeschooling

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