COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL - PLEASE DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION - COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
Disclaimer: ICHER strives to keep this information updated on a regular basis, but these data do not constitute legal advice. In addition, interpretation and enforcement of written regulations sometimes vary due to regional and political context.
The abbreviation key for various codes (RSS, etc.) is provided at the bottom of the chart.
State-by-State
Regulations for Homeschooling[1]
|
STATE |
category
option(s)[2] |
notification
or registration with
state required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records[3] |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student
work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation[4] |
state
required to provide special education services[5] |
|
Alabama[6] |
RSS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
Y |
|
Alaska |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N
|
N
|
N |
|
Arizona |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
Arkansas |
HS |
Y |
Y[7] |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N
|
--
|
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
California |
HPS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
|
PSS |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Colorado |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
(3,5,7,9,11) or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
Connecticut |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Delaware |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Dist.
Columbia |
PI |
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y
|
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Florida |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N
|
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Georgia |
HS |
Y |
N
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
(3,6,9,12) + PR[9] |
Y
(DD) |
Y
|
Y |
|
Hawaii |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
ST
or PR[10] |
N |
N |
Y |
|
Idaho |
AI |
N |
-- |
N |
N
|
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Illinois |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Indiana |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
Iowa |
HS |
N |
N
|
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kansas |
HPS |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y(DD) |
Y |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Kentucky |
HPS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Louisiana |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
N |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
|
HPS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
Y |
|
Maine |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Maryland |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
PE[11] |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
RSS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
|
STATE |
category
option(s)2 |
notification
or registration
required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records3 |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student
work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation |
state
required to provide special education
services5 |
|
Massachusetts |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
N
|
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
negotiated[12] |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Michigan |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Minnesota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
|
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Mississippi |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Missouri |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Montana |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Nebraska |
HPS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Nevada |
HS |
Y7
|
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
New
Hampshire |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
-- |
Y |
Y |
N
|
|
New
Jersey |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
New
Mexico |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
New
York |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
(4,6,8,9-12)[14] |
N |
Y(DD) |
N |
|
North
Carolina |
HS |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
North
Dakota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
(4,6,8,10) |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y[15] |
|
Ohio |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
Oklahoma |
AI |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Oregon |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
(3,5,8,10) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
Pennsylvania |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
PE
|
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
|
RSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
Rhode
Island |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or other[16] |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
South
Carolina |
HS |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
and
PR |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
South
Dakota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
--
|
Y
(DD) |
Y
|
N |
|
Tennessee |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
(5,7,9) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
|
RSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
|
Texas |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
Utah |
HS |
Y |
N
|
N |
N
|
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Vermont |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
PE
or ST |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Virginia6 |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y
|
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
STATE |
category
option(s)2 |
notification
or registration
required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records3 |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student
work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation |
state
required to provide special education
services8 |
|
Washington |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
|
PSS |
N |
N |
N17 |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
West
Virginia |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
N |
Y |
|
Wisconsin |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
Wyoming |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
|
N |
key: RSS=religious school satellite; HS=home
school; HPS= home as private school; PSS=private school satellite; PI=private
instruction; AI=alternative instruction; ST(#)=standardized testing (if not
yearly, applicable grade levels for testing indicated); PE=portfolio evaluation
of student’s work by “qualified” person (see state code for qualifications);
PR=progress report at end of each year; HV=home visit; DD=district
discretion
[1] Since homeschooling regulations change
periodically and legal interpretations may vary, these data should be verified
with legal counsel as well.
[2] Private (including religious) schools
may be responsible for meeting certain state requirements themselves, but such
details are not reflected in this chart if the state does not require them
directly of homeschoolers. Also,
many states have additional “homeschooling” options not listed here that impose
further regulation (e.g., private tutoring that requires a certified instructor,
or state-approved correspondence curricula) and are thus less popular choices
for homeschoolers. In many
instances, however, these options have correspondingly fewer demands in terms of
assessment and ongoing state oversight.
Consult individual state statutes for
details.
[3] Unless indicated by PE (portfolio
evaluation), PR (progress report), or ST (standardized testing) in
“evaluation/assessment options” category, these records do not need to be
submitted regularly, but must be available for inspection (see specific state
statutes for details on what information is required and access
rules).
[4] Some states that allow many forms of
extracurricular participation will still restrict high school interscholastic
athletic competition to full-time students.
[5] In many states, however, districts can choose to offer special education services even when not required by law.
[6] State law includes a “religious freedom”
component which may allow qualifying families to avoid some or all homeschool
regulations.
[7] Notification must also include
information about intended curricula and planned instructional schedule
(Arkansas also requires information about educational qualifications of
parents).
[8] Also includes “suggested procedures” for
home instruction which include state notification and annual portfolio
review.
[9] While these assessments are mandated,
homeschoolers do not need to submit them (just have them available for possible
inspection).
[10] Standardized tests are required in
addition to portfolio evaluation for grades 3, 5, 8, and
10.
[11] Portfolio of “relevant materials” must
be available for review by local superintendent, who has the option to do so up
to three times per year.
[12] Home education plans—detailing proposed
curriculum, instructor competency, and proposed assessments—must be reviewed and
approved by local districts.
[14] An Individualized Home Instruction Plan
must be submitted to the school district at the start of each year, as well as
progress reports on a quarterly basis; during grades 1-3, 5, and 7, parents may
submit either standardized test results or a portfolio review by a “qualified”
person.
[15] Parents of children with developmental
disabilities in North Dakota must follow strict guidelines in order to be
permitted to homeschool them (15.1-23-14 and
15.1-23-15).
[16] Assessment is not mandated, but school
district has the option of requiring it; if so, parents may choose standardized
testing or some other form of assessment.
[17] Parents must be supervised by a certificated person.
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL - PLEASE
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION - COPYRIGHTED
MATERIAL