Legal References

Alabama allows homeschooling through a church/private school enrollment option or by working with an approved church school. There is no state notification requirement if operating under a church umbrella school.

Alaska offers several homeschool options including a 'home school' option requiring annual notification to the local school district, and correspondence/state programs. Requirements are minimal and Alaska is considered one of the more permissive states.

Arizona has simple, permissive homeschool laws. Parents must file an affidavit with the county school superintendent, but there are no required standardized tests, curriculum mandates, or teacher qualification requirements.

Arkansas requires annual written notice to the local school district before the school year begins. There are no required standardized tests, no curriculum mandates, and no teacher qualification requirements.

Connecticut requires no formal notification or registration to begin homeschooling. Parents must provide instruction equivalent to that in public schools in required subjects. Connecticut is considered a low-regulation state.

Delaware allows homeschooling with low regulatory requirements. Families operate under one of three options and must notify authorities, but there is no required standardized testing and no teacher qualification requirements.

Georgia has a clear homeschool law requiring an annual declaration and standardized testing. Families file with the local school superintendent and must have children assessed annually.

Hawaii requires annual notification to the state Department of Education and annual assessment of student progress. There is no required standardized test format and no teacher qualification requirement.

Idaho is one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. There is no notification requirement and no required testing, though parents must cover state-mandated subject areas.

Indiana is highly permissive. Homeschools are treated as non-accredited private schools. There is no notification or registration requirement, no required testing, and no curriculum oversight.

Iowa offers several homeschool options with varying levels of oversight. Most families use the Competent Private Instruction (CPI) option, which requires annual assessment by a licensed teacher or standardized testing.

Kansas requires a first-year notification and periodic assessment, but otherwise has minimal homeschool regulations. There is no annual reporting requirement and no mandated curriculum, though periodic testing is required.

Kentucky requires notification to the local school district and instruction in state-mandated subjects. There is no required standardized testing and no teacher qualification requirements.

Louisiana offers two main homeschool options. Families using Option 1 (BESE-approved home study) must apply annually and have children assessed. There is no teacher qualification requirement.

Maine requires notification and annual assessment under its primary homeschool option. Maine has two pathways with differing requirements; one involves teacher qualifications for the instructing parent.

Maryland offers two main homeschool options: supervised by the local school district (with portfolio reviews) or enrollment under a church umbrella school. Requirements vary by option but are generally moderate.

Minnesota requires annual notification to the local school district and that the teaching parent meet certain qualification requirements (college degree or supervision by a licensed teacher). Standardized testing is also required.

Mississippi has minimal homeschool regulations. Families simply file a certificate of enrollment with the local school district each year. There is no required testing, curriculum, or teacher qualifications.

Missouri requires no notification but does require annual assessment and instruction in state-mandated subjects. Parents must maintain records, but there is no teacher qualification requirement.

Montana requires annual notice to the county superintendent and instruction in state-mandated subjects. There is no required standardized testing and no teacher qualification requirement.

Nebraska requires filing for exempt school status with the state Department of Education. Teacher qualification requirements apply, and instruction must be provided in required subjects. There is no required standardized testing.

Nevada requires annual notice of intent and instruction in state-mandated subjects. There is no required standardized testing and no teacher qualification requirements. Nevada is a low-regulation state.

New Hampshire requires annual notice of intent and an annual academic assessment. However, parents have flexibility in choosing the assessment method, and there is no required curriculum or teacher qualification requirement.

New Jersey is one of the very few states with no notice or registration requirement for homeschooling. Parents simply ensure their child receives equivalent instruction in required subjects.

New Mexico requires notification to the state Public Education Department, teacher qualification requirements for the instructing parent, and instruction in state-mandated subjects. There is no required standardized testing.

North Dakota has among the most stringent homeschool regulations in the nation, requiring parent qualifications, annual assessments, and approval-based oversight for families who do not meet the teacher qualification threshold.

Oklahoma is one of the most permissive homeschool states. There is no notification requirement, no required testing, no curriculum mandates, and no teacher qualification requirements.

Oregon requires annual notice to the local school district and standardized testing every other year beginning in grade 3. Oregon has moderate requirements compared to national averages.

Rhode Island requires notification and instruction in state-mandated subjects. Despite having some local approval steps, Rhode Island is classified as a low-regulation state. There is no required standardized testing.

South Carolina offers three main homeschool options with varying requirements, including direct approval through the local school district, accountability organization membership, or operating under a third-party association. Requirements vary by option.

South Dakota requires annual notification to the local school board and instruction in state-mandated subjects. There is no required standardized testing and no teacher qualification requirements.

Tennessee allows homeschooling through multiple options with varying requirements. Under certain options, annual testing applies; under others, it does not. Teacher qualification requirements apply. There are no state-mandated curriculum requirements.

Utah requires annual notice to the local school district and periodic assessment but is generally considered a permissive state. Utah also offers robust charter and alternative school options alongside traditional homeschooling.

Vermont requires annual enrollment notification to the state Agency of Education. An annual assessment by a qualified evaluator is required, but there is flexibility in how that assessment is conducted.

West Virginia requires annual notice to the county superintendent and an annual assessment, with results submitted to the school. West Virginia has moderate-to-stringent requirements relative to most states.

Wisconsin requires an annual home-based private educational program declaration filed with the state Department of Public Instruction. Beyond this simple filing, requirements are minimal — no required testing, curriculum, or teacher qualifications.

Wyoming is one of the most permissive homeschool states. No notification is required, there is no required testing, and no teacher qualification requirements. Parents must cover state-mandated subject areas.

Texas has some of the most permissive homeschool laws in the United States. There is no notification requirement, no required curriculum beyond five basic subjects, and no state oversight.

California allows homeschooling through several legal options, most commonly by filing as a private school (PSA). Requirements include filing annually and keeping attendance records.

New York has some of the most detailed homeschool regulations in the country, requiring annual notification, individualized home instruction plans (IHIP), quarterly reports, and annual assessments.

Florida is a homeschool-friendly state with straightforward requirements: file a notice of intent, keep a portfolio, and submit to an annual evaluation. No standardized testing is required if a portfolio review is chosen.

Pennsylvania requires annual affidavit filing, a detailed portfolio, standardized testing in specific grades, and a portfolio review by a certified evaluator — one of the more structured states in the Mid-Atlantic.

Illinois is a very low-regulation homeschool state. Homeschools are treated as private schools with no notification, registration, or testing requirements — parents simply educate their children at home.

Ohio requires annual notification to the local superintendent, documentation of 900 instructional hours, and an annual assessment — but offers several assessment options including portfolio review, making it moderately flexible.

Virginia allows homeschooling through a religious exemption or under the general homeschool statute, which requires annual notice, evidence of parent qualifications, and annual proof of academic progress.

Washington requires parents to declare intent to homeschool, meet qualification requirements, provide 1,000 hours of instruction including 2 hours/day of core subjects, and administer an annual assessment.

Colorado is a moderate-regulation state: parents must notify the local district, provide 172 days of instruction in required subjects, and have the child assessed every other year.

Michigan is a very permissive state for homeschooling — no notification, registration, or testing is required. Families have broad freedom in curriculum choice.

Massachusetts requires prior approval from the local school district before homeschooling begins — one of just a handful of states with an approval requirement. The standards for approval vary significantly by district.

North Carolina requires annual notice to the state, at least 9 months of instruction per year, and annual nationally standardized achievement testing — but has no required subjects beyond English and mathematics.

Homeschooling is effectively illegal in Germany. All children are required to attend a state-approved school, and families who attempt to homeschool face significant legal consequences.

Ontario allows homeschooling by filing a written notice of intent with the local school board. No curriculum or testing requirements exist at the provincial level, making Ontario one of Canada's most permissive provinces.

Home education is legal throughout the UK. Parents in England must deregister from school if previously enrolled and are not required to follow the national curriculum, use set hours, or have their children assessed.

Homeschooling is legal in all Australian states and territories, but requirements vary significantly by state. Most require registration with the state education authority and periodic home visits or portfolio assessments.

Homeschooling is not permitted in the Netherlands as a primary form of education. Compulsory attendance laws require children to attend a recognized school, though families may apply for a philosophical exemption in limited circumstances.

New Zealand has a well-established homeschooling framework. Families can apply for a Homeschooling Exemption Certificate from the Ministry of Education, and approved families receive a modest government allowance.

South Africa legally permits homeschooling, but parents must register their children with the provincial Department of Education and meet curriculum standards aligned with the National Curriculum Statement.

Ireland permits homeschooling but requires parents to apply to Tusla (Child and Family Agency) for an exemption from compulsory school attendance. Families must demonstrate that suitable education is being provided.

France dramatically restricted homeschooling in 2022, now requiring families to obtain prior authorization from local authorities. Approved cases are limited to specific circumstances such as health conditions.