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.
- Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.
- Sign up for our helpful newsletter.
- Register for our free homeschooling workshop.
- Join our support program for homeschooling parents.
- You can learn more about how we serve homeschool parents here.
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
- Sign up for our homeschool support program: THRIVE.
- Join a local homeschooling group. Learn how in this workshop.
- Know your state or country’s homeschool requirements.
- Learn about homeschooling styles and terminology.
- Choose homeschool curriculum.
- Sign up for helpful homeschooling and parenting tips here.
- 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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
- It is our belief that homeschooling is good for many families.
- Homeschooling can be an excellent opportunity for both children and families.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Why Every Teen Needs A Transcript – And How To Get One
- What Information Goes On My Highschoolers Transcript
- How To Calculate A Grade Point Average – GPA
- 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.
Helpful Articles, Videos, & Podcast Episodes about Homeschooling
- Homeschool Curriculum
- How Homeschoolers Make Friends
- Homeschool Styles & Methods
- Let’s Talk About Learning
- Helpful Resources on Our Blog
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