Homeschooling law is state law. That means a family’s paperwork, required subjects, attendance records, and progress reviews can look very different after crossing a state line. Begin with the requirements for the state where your child is physically living—not the rules a friend followed somewhere else.
Important: This article is a planning guide, not legal advice. Requirements and forms can change. Before withdrawing a student, filing anything, or relying on a deadline, verify the current rule and official form with your state education agency, legislature, or local authority when your state directs you to one.
Know the difference between requirements, standards, and curriculum
These three ideas work together, but they are not the same. Homeschool requirements are the legal rules for operating a home education program. They may cover notice, instructional time, subjects, records, assessments, or annual reviews. Academic standards describe skills and knowledge students are generally expected to develop by grade or course. Curriculum is the set of books, lessons, activities, and assessments you use to teach.
A state may require certain subjects without requiring that a homeschool use its public-school standards. Even where standards are optional, they can make a helpful checklist for deciding what to teach next.
Before you choose curriculum, answer these questions
- Do I need to file a notice, affidavit, or enrollment form?
- Is there a deadline before or after leaving public school?
- Which subjects, days, or instructional hours are required?
- What records, work samples, or attendance logs should I keep?
- Does my state require testing, an evaluation, or a portfolio review?
- Are there different options, such as an umbrella school or private-school route?
Find your state’s homeschool requirements
The links below go to a current, state-specific legal guide from HSLDA. Each page summarizes the state’s notice, subject, qualification, assessment, and recordkeeping considerations and points families toward the applicable law and procedures. Use it to orient yourself, then confirm the official state source before taking action.
Alabama
Alabama offers more than one legal route for learning at home, including home-based private and church-school options. Identify the route your family will use, then confirm its enrollment, attendance, and recordkeeping expectations.
View Alabama requirements →Alaska
Alaska recognizes parent-directed home education and also offers other at-home education arrangements. Start by distinguishing independent homeschooling from a correspondence or private-school option, since the requirements differ.
View Alaska requirements →Arizona
Arizona home education generally begins with an affidavit of intent filed with the county school superintendent. Review the required information and the state’s required instructional subjects before you begin.
View Arizona requirements →Arkansas
Arkansas families use a notice-of-intent process and should check the current filing window, withdrawal timing, and state rules for home schools. Keep the confirmation and any correspondence with the resident district.
View Arkansas requirements →California
California has several paths for educating at home, such as operating a home-based private school, using a private-school satellite program, or working with a credentialed tutor. Each path has different forms and records to consider.
View California requirements →Colorado
Colorado families can choose a home-based education program, an independent school, or a private-school option. The home-based route includes notice and evaluation or testing considerations, so choose the legal framework before planning the year.
View Colorado requirements →Connecticut
Connecticut’s statutes and local practices make it especially important to separate what is legally required from what a district may request. Review the current compulsory-attendance law and keep records that explain your child’s instruction.
View Connecticut requirements →Delaware
Delaware families typically use the state’s home-school or private-school reporting structure. Review the current enrollment, attendance, and annual reporting process before withdrawing a child from school.
View Delaware requirements →Florida
Florida’s home education program includes a notice of intent and an annual evaluation. Families should also review the withdrawal process, portfolio expectations, and the local superintendent’s current instructions.
View Florida requirements →Georgia
Georgia families file a declaration of intent and should understand the state’s instructional-day, subject, recordkeeping, and periodic assessment rules. Check the current state form and deadlines each year.
View Georgia requirements →Hawaii
Hawaii uses a notice process with the local public-school system and has progress-reporting expectations. Read the state guidance carefully before submitting your initial notice and plan how you will document progress.
View Hawaii requirements →Idaho
Idaho gives families substantial flexibility, but home instruction must address the subjects named in state law. Use the state requirements as a checklist and maintain your own clear course and progress records.
View Idaho requirements →Illinois
Illinois treats a homeschool as a private school when it meets the applicable legal standards. Families should review the required instructional branches, English-language instruction, and the records that demonstrate a bona fide private school.
View Illinois requirements →Indiana
Indiana does not use a standard statewide homeschool filing process, but state law sets instruction and attendance expectations. Plan for the required subjects and keep records that show consistent instruction.
View Indiana requirements →Iowa
Iowa offers more than one competent-private-instruction option, with different notice, assessment, and supervision rules. Select an option first, then follow that option’s exact procedures rather than combining requirements from another path.
View Iowa requirements →Kansas
Kansas home education is generally organized as a nonaccredited private school. Review current registration, instruction, and recordkeeping guidance, particularly if you are beginning a new home-based private school.
View Kansas requirements →Kentucky
Kentucky families notify the local board of education and operate as a private school. Confirm the annual notice process, required subject areas, instructional time, and recordkeeping practices for your county.
View Kentucky requirements →Louisiana
Louisiana offers home-study and home-based private-school approaches. Compare the registration or approval cycle, recordkeeping, and testing implications of each option before choosing one.
View Louisiana requirements →Maine
Maine families provide annual notice and document an annual assessment or review of progress. Check the required subjects, the current notice form, and the deadlines used by the local school administrative unit.
View Maine requirements →Maryland
Maryland requires a home-instruction notification and a review arrangement through the local system or an approved supervising organization. Learn which review path you will use and what portfolio materials it expects.
View Maryland requirements →Massachusetts
Massachusetts home education plans are commonly reviewed through the local school district, and procedures can vary by district. Request the current local process early and retain copies of your plan and communications.
View Massachusetts requirements →Michigan
Michigan allows parent-directed homeschooling with required subject areas and no routine statewide reporting for most families. Review the distinction between a homeschool and a nonpublic school, since the rules are not identical.
View Michigan requirements →Minnesota
Minnesota uses an initial reporting process and has instructional, teacher-qualification, and assessment provisions. Build a simple recordkeeping system before the year begins so notices and evaluation information are easy to retrieve.
View Minnesota requirements →Mississippi
Mississippi families obtain a certificate of enrollment through the local attendance officer. Confirm the local process and keep the certificate with your school records for the year.
View Mississippi requirements →Missouri
Missouri families have broad flexibility but must meet state instructional-hour and subject requirements. A course log, work samples, and attendance records make it easier to demonstrate compliance and track progress.
View Missouri requirements →Montana
Montana uses an annual notice and sets minimum instructional-time and subject expectations. Check the current notice procedure with your county superintendent and retain a copy of what you submit.
View Montana requirements →Nebraska
Nebraska’s exempt-school process requires families to choose and complete the appropriate filing path. Review the state’s current forms, required information, and exemption timing before you withdraw a student.
View Nebraska requirements →Nevada
Nevada families file a notice of intent and educational plan with their local school district. Learn the required components of the plan and keep the district’s acknowledgment with your records.
View Nevada requirements →New Hampshire
New Hampshire uses a notification process and expects an annual educational evaluation. Review the options for a participating agency, testing, or a portfolio review before selecting your approach.
View New Hampshire requirements →New Jersey
New Jersey does not generally require a standard homeschool filing, but home education must provide academically equivalent instruction. Keep a thoughtful plan and records that show the education you are providing.
View New Jersey requirements →New Mexico
New Mexico families file an annual notice and meet instructional-day and subject requirements. Check the current state portal or form and establish an attendance and course record from the first day.
View New Mexico requirements →New York
New York uses a detailed home-instruction process that includes a notice of intent, an individualized home instruction plan, quarterly reports, and an annual assessment. Start early and use your district’s current forms and deadlines.
View New York requirements →North Carolina
North Carolina requires a notice of intent before opening a home school and expects records such as attendance and nationally standardized test results. Check the state home-school office for the current filing process.
View North Carolina requirements →North Dakota
North Dakota home education rules include notification and may involve qualification, subject, and assessment provisions. Review the current state guidance and communicate with the appropriate local authority before you begin.
View North Dakota requirements →Ohio
Ohio families use an annual notification process and typically document academic progress through an assessment or portfolio evaluation. Confirm the current form, due date, and assessment options with the local superintendent.
View Ohio requirements →Oklahoma
Oklahoma recognizes parent-directed home instruction and gives families considerable discretion. Read the compulsory-attendance framework and keep a clear learning plan and records for your family’s needs.
View Oklahoma requirements →Oregon
Oregon requires notification when beginning home education and has testing provisions at specified grade levels. Check the local education service district’s current notice process and save all submitted records.
View Oregon requirements →Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a structured home-education process, including an annual affidavit, a portfolio, and an evaluation. Review the requirements well before the school year, especially for high-school documentation.
View Pennsylvania requirements →Rhode Island
Rhode Island home education is administered through the local school committee, so approval and reporting details can be local. Contact your district early for its current policy, calendar, and review process.
View Rhode Island requirements →South Carolina
South Carolina provides multiple legal options, including district, association, and accountability-association routes. Compare the notice, subject, recordkeeping, and assessment rules for the option you select.
View South Carolina requirements →South Dakota
South Dakota uses an annual notification and expects instruction in core subjects. Confirm the current local filing procedure and retain your acknowledgment and instructional records.
View South Dakota requirements →Tennessee
Tennessee offers independent home-school, church-related school, and accredited online-school options. The paperwork and assessment requirements depend on the option, so select your legal route before submitting forms.
View Tennessee requirements →Texas
Texas treats a homeschool as a private school when it is bona fide, uses a written curriculum, and covers the subjects required by law. Keep course descriptions and records that support your student’s future transitions.
View Texas requirements →Utah
Utah families file a one-time affidavit with their local school district and provide instruction in the subjects required by state law. Save the district’s exemption certificate and maintain your own learning records.
View Utah requirements →Vermont
Vermont uses an annual enrollment process with required information about your child’s education. Review the Agency of Education’s current form, curriculum information, and assessment requirements before each school year.
View Vermont requirements →Virginia
Virginia offers more than one home-instruction option, with different notice, qualification, curriculum, and assessment rules. Choose your option first and follow the matching procedures with your division superintendent.
View Virginia requirements →Washington
Washington families file an annual declaration of intent and meet instruction, qualification, and assessment requirements. Review the state and local district guidance before the school year and preserve your records.
View Washington requirements →West Virginia
West Virginia provides several home-education pathways, each with its own notice, assessment, and recordkeeping rules. Compare the options carefully and retain the documents required for the one you choose.
View West Virginia requirements →Wisconsin
Wisconsin families submit the annual PI-1206 report and provide the required hours of instruction in designated subjects. Complete the report accurately and keep your curriculum and attendance records for your own files.
View Wisconsin requirements →Wyoming
Wyoming gives families significant flexibility, but instruction must be provided in the subjects identified in state law. Use those subjects as a planning baseline and keep a clear record of the education you provide.
View Wyoming requirements →How ChalkDraft supports academic standards
ChalkDraft makes it easier to use standards when they are useful to your family’s plan. Standards alignment is optional: you can create a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, study guide, or other material from your topic alone, or select the exact standard you want the material to address.
For supported K–12 grade, subject, and course combinations, choose an academic standards system in the Create form, then pick an official standard. ChalkDraft shows the standard code, statement, and source link when available, so the material starts from a clear learning target.
California
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, History / Social Studies, Computer Science, Health Education, and English Language Development.
Texas
Mathematics, Science, English / Language Arts, Computer Science, Health Education, English Language Proficiency, and Social Studies.
Florida
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Health Education, English Language Development, and Social Studies.
New York
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, and History / Social Studies.
North Carolina
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Georgia
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, History / Social Studies, Computer Science, Health Education, and English Language Development.
Illinois
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Health Education, English Language Development, and Social Science.
Washington
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Health Education, and Social Studies.
Ohio
Mathematics, English / Language Arts, Science, Computer Science, Social Studies, and Financial Literacy through the Economics subject.
National frameworks
Compatible with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and with the Next Generation Science Standards* for Science.
A practical way to use standards: choose a subject and grade, scan the standards for the next group of skills, and turn that group into a few weekly topics. You do not need to translate an entire standards document into a day-by-day plan before you begin.
Build a simple, compliant plan
- Choose the legal homeschool option available in your state.
- Complete required notices or forms before the relevant deadline.
- Write down the subjects and documentation your state requires.
- Use state standards, if helpful, to map the next month or term.
- Keep copies of filings, correspondence, attendance, and progress records in one place.
- Revisit the requirements before every new school year and before a move to another state.
Turn your next learning target into a useful material.
Select a grade, subject, topic, and—when you want it—an official standard. ChalkDraft can help you build the lesson, practice, assessment, or study support you need next.
Create a material