State Homeschool Requirements

If you’re thinking about homeschooling your children, then you are likely wondering what the state homeschool requirements are where you live.

Did you know that every state has its own laws around education and homeschooling?

Some states, like Texas, have very low regulations and are considered to be homeschool friendly. At the state level, places like New York, have very high regulations around homeschooling.

This is Not Legal Advice

Please note that we’re not lawyers, and this information should not be construed as legal advice. At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we strive to connect you with the information that you need as you homeschool your children.

We believe that a child’s education is always the responsibility of the parent. However, when you homeschool your children, then your child’s education is legally your responsibility. As a result, you’ll want to know your state’s homeschool law.

We’ve pulled together a list of links that you’ll find helpful as you try to understand your state’s homeschool laws.

Homeschool Regulations to Consider

Below you’ll find a list of regulations that many states have around homeschooling. Keep in mind the regulations in each state vary.

• Parental Education Requirements. At least one parent or legal guardian may be required to have a high school diploma or GED in order to homeschool their child.
• Letter of Intent or Declaration of Intent. This is a letter or form that you might need to submit to your state and/or local school district to inform them that you plan to homeschool your child. Take note of deadlines that are relevant where you live.
• School Age Children. Know the age that your state government requires children to participate in compulsory education.
• Calendar Year. Do you know when your state’s school calendar year begins and ends? Your “school” days might need to coincide with your state’s calendar year.
• Hours of Instruction. Be aware of how many hours a day you are required to teach your child.
• Number of Days. Understand how many days a year your state expects your child to be “in school.”
• Attendance Records. Your state may have a compulsory attendance law that might require you to keep record of attendance.
• Required Subjects. Know what core subjects your child is expected to study in your home state. Your state’s laws may require homeschooled students to complete grade-level requirements in specific subjects. Common subject areas include math, language arts, social studies, science, physical education, and fine arts.
• Annual Assessment. State law might require your child to participate in an annual assessment or achievement test.
• Language. Some states require that the curriculum be taught in the English language.
• High School Diploma. You will want to understand your state’s requirements to help your child earn their high school diploma.

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• Apple Podcasts
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• Learn more about the podcast here.

This podcast episode will help you understand your state’s homeschool requirements.

Homeschooling Organizations vs Government Organizations

When gathering information about homeschooling, be mindful that government organizations and most* homeschooling organizations have different agendas.

The government wants your kids to stay in school. When your kids are in school, your state’s education department receives funds for your child and can advance various agendas.

Please note, K12 Online Public Schools are not homeschooling, these programs are part of the public education system. If the public education system is funding your child’s education, then your child is attending public school and is not homeschooling.

Most* homeschooling organizations want to help you educate your children from home. When you homeschool your children, you are generally paying for your child’s school supplies and education. When you homeschool your child, you are legally responsible for your child’s education.

*Please note that there are a few organizations with the word homeschool in their name that exist to undermine homeschooling.

Are You Thinking About Homeschooling?

THINK HOMESCHOOL: Live & Learn Your Way was written to help parents decide if homeschooling is the right decision for them. It’s available as an audiobook, ebook, or paperback.

How to Search for Your State or Country’s Homeschooling Information

This article is a work in progress. If we don’t have all the information for your state yet, here is how you can find the information.

1. Home School Legal Defense Association. HSLDA shares a helpful map that shows the homeschool laws by state. When you click your state, it will show you what is required to legally homeschool in your state.
2. Your State Homeschooling Organization. Google your state + homeschooling organization or association.
3. U.S. Department of Education. Access any United States state, commonwealth, territory, or freely associated state. This website shares helpful information and includes links to your State Department of Education.
4. Your State Department of Education. After you click on the U.S. Department of Education website, click your state.
5. Discover Your State’s Laws for Homeschooling. Visit Congress.gov for a list of state legislature websites. Once you are on your state’s legislature website, look for a link to education and go from there. You can also do a search for homeschooling.
6. YouTube. Search homeschool + your state.
7. Sign Up for HomeSchool ThinkTank’s Email List. We send helpful homeschooling information and offer monthly support calls to member’s on our email list.

Search Tips

There are many terms that you will want to search for on your state’s education site. Try these terms for the best results.

• homeschooling
• home schooling
• home school
• homeschool
• home education
• alternative education
• private school
• charter school
• online education
• e-learning

Your State + Homeschooling Information Below

We are in the process of sharing helpful information about homeschooling for each state.

If your state isn’t listed yet, click here for directions on how to find the information you need about homeschooling.

States are listed in alphabetical order.

Alabama Homeschooling Information

• Homeschool Alabama. A long-standing, reputable, homeschooling organization in the state of Alabama.
• U.S. Department of Education for Alabama. This is a very helpful link with links to more information.
• Alabama Legislature. Find information about Alabama’s laws.
• Alabama State Department of Education: We didn’t find this link to be helpful for homeschoolers. However, we’re including a link to each state’s Department of Education. At the time this article was published, the word homeschooling did not come up in the search bar.
• Alabama Homeschooling Video. Watch this video for more information.

“Homeschool Alabama defines home education as parent directed, home based, and privately funded.”

Debbie Landry, Homeschool Alabama Executive Director

Alaska Homeschool Requirements

• Alaska Private and Home Educator’s Association. The Alaska Private and Home Educators Association has been serving homeschool families for more than 30 years. This homeschool group is a membership-based coalition of parents and others who have banded together for the furtherance of educational excellence through alternatives to the government-operated public schools.
• U.S. Department of Education: Alaska. This is a very helpful link with links to more information.
• Alaska Department Of Education And Early Development. This is a good State Department of Education website. You’ll find more information when you search the word “homeschooling.” We recommend checking out this link with homeschooling resources.
• Alaska Administrative Code. Links to Alaska’s statutes.
• Alaska State Legislature. Discover the bills, laws, and other information about Alaska.
• Alaska Homeschooling Video. Watch this video for more information.

Arizona Homeschool Resources

• Arizona Families For Home Education or AFHE. If you live in Arizona, this excellent homeschool organization is the place to go to get the support you need.
• U.S. Department of Education for Arizona. This is a very helpful link with links to more information.
• Arizona Department of Education. At the time of this writing, we could not find any information about homeschooling on this site. If you find information on this website, please contact us, and we’ll add the information to this section.
• Arizona State Legislature: You can find the online version of the Arizona Revised Statutes for Title 15 Education here.
• Arizona Homeschooling Video. Watch this video to learn more about the homeschooling laws in Arizona.

Video by Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE): Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool

Definition of a Homeschooler According to Arizona State Law

ARS §15-802 (G)(2) Homeschool means a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child or nonpublic instruction provided in the child’s home.

Homeschoolers are parents or legal guardians who choose to educate their own children at home in at least the required subjects of reading, grammar, math, science, and social studies pursuant to A.R.S. §15-802.

Arkansas Homeschooling Information

• Arkansas Definition of Home School. The state of Arkansas defines a home school as follows: “home school” means a school provided by a parent or legal guardian for his or her own child.
• Arkansas Homeschool. A homeschooling organization for the state of Arkansas.
• U.S. Department of Education for Arkansas. This is a very helpful link with links to more information.
• Arkansas Department of Education. You’ll find a summary of homeschooling requirements and information relevant to Arkansas residents at this link.
• Code of Arkansas Public Access: Chapter 15 Educational Standards and Quality Generally, Subchapter 5 — Home Schools. This is the direct link to Arkansas’s code around homeschooling.
• Code of Arkansas Public Access. This is a link to Arkansas’s codes.
• Arkansas State Legislature. Discover the bills, laws, and other information about Arkansas.
• How to Homeschool In Arkansas Video.

California Homeschool Resources

• California Homeschool Network
• Christian Home Educators Association of California
• Homeschool Association of California
• U.S. Department of Education for California. This is a very helpful link with links to more information.
• California State Department of Education. You’ll find more information when you search the word “homeschooling.” We recommend checking out this link with more homeschooling resources.
• California’s Legislative Information. Learn more about California’s state’s statutes, laws, regulations, and codes here. Learn more about California’s education laws here.
• California State Assembly. Discover the bills, laws, and other information about your state here.
• Video: How to Homeschool in California.

Colorado Homeschooling Information & Associations

• Christian Home Educators of Colorado
• Rocky Mountain Education Connection
• Homeschool Science Colorado
• Colorado Department of Education
• U.S. Department of Education for Colorado. Helpful information with links to more information.
• Colorado State Legislature. Learn more about Colorado’s bills, laws, and more.
• Video: How to Homeschool in Colorado

This Article is in Progress

We are continuing to work on this article to bring you the information you need. If we don’t have all the information that you need below, please see the directions at the top of this article to discover the information you need.

Helpful Information About Homeschooling

• How to homeschool your kids.
• Discover helpful resources on our blog.
• Different methods of homeschooling.
• Join our homeschool parenting group.
• Listen to the HomeSchool ThinkTank Parenting Podcast.