Every state allows homeschooling, but the rules vary widely. This guide breaks down what each state requires so you can start with confidence.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but there is no single federal law that governs it. Each state sets its own rules. Some states barely regulate homeschooling at all. Others require detailed notifications, specific subjects, standardized testing, and annual evaluations.
For new homeschool parents, this patchwork of state laws can feel overwhelming. The good news is that most states follow a similar framework. Understanding four key areas will cover the vast majority of what your state requires.
The rest of this guide walks through each area and shows you where your state falls. For full details on any single state, use the state directory below.
Homeschool advocacy organizations often group states into three categories based on how much the state regulates home education.
These states require little or no paperwork. In many cases, you simply begin teaching. There is no mandatory notification, no required testing, and minimal record-keeping obligations.
Examples: Texas, Alaska, Idaho, Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois.
These states require notification (usually a letter or online form) and may require you to teach specific subjects. Some require standardized testing or an annual assessment, but they typically offer multiple options for how to satisfy the requirement.
Examples: Florida, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Virginia.
These states require detailed notification, specific curriculum information, regular assessments, and ongoing reporting. Some require prior approval from your local school district before you begin.
Examples: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont.
"High regulation" does not mean homeschooling is difficult. It means there is more paperwork. Thousands of families homeschool successfully in New York and Pennsylvania every year. The key is knowing what your state expects and staying organized.
About 30 states require you to file some form of notification before you begin homeschooling (or within a short period after starting). The notification might go to your local school district, the state education department, or a county office.
Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas.
Most notification states fall into this category. You send a brief notice to your school district or state department of education. It typically includes your name, address, the children being homeschooled, and their ages. Examples include North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, California, and Ohio.
New York requires an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) that lists planned subjects and materials. Pennsylvania requires a notarized affidavit plus a detailed educational plan. Massachusetts and Rhode Island require local school committee approval.
Our free compliance checker tells you exactly what to file, where to send it, and when it's due.
Check Your StateMost states set a minimum number of school days per year. The range is typically 170 to 185 days. Some states count by hours instead of days. A few states set no specific attendance minimum at all.
Use our School Day Calculator to see your state's exact requirement and plan your school year calendar.
Many states list specific subjects that must be included in your homeschool curriculum. The core subjects that appear most often are reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies (or history). Beyond that, states vary considerably.
Even in states with no subject requirements, teaching a well-rounded curriculum is important for your child's education and for college readiness.
Assessment requirements are one of the biggest differences between states. Some states require annual standardized tests. Others accept portfolio reviews or professional evaluations. And many states require no assessment at all.
Texas, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Connecticut, New Jersey, Missouri, and others.
North Carolina requires annual testing with a nationally standardized test. Florida gives you a choice between testing and portfolio review. New York requires testing in specific grades (4, 6, 8).
Pennsylvania requires an annual portfolio review by a certified evaluator. Georgia requires a progress assessment every three years. Virginia offers multiple assessment options including standardized tests, evaluations, or portfolio reviews.
For a deeper dive into assessment options, see our guide on Homeschool Evaluations and Testing.
Good records protect you legally and make compliance painless. Even in states with no formal record-keeping requirement, maintaining basic documentation is a smart practice.
At a minimum, consider keeping:
For a complete walkthrough, see our guide on How to Keep Homeschool Records. You can also use our Binder Checklist Builder to create a personalized record-keeping checklist for your state.
Select your state for a complete breakdown of requirements, deadlines, and step-by-step filing instructions.
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Each state has its own laws governing how homeschooling works, but no state prohibits it. Requirements range from very minimal (like Texas, where you simply begin teaching) to more involved (like New York, which requires annual IHIPs, quarterly reports, and standardized testing).
States with the fewest requirements include Alaska, Idaho, Texas, and Oklahoma. These states require no notification, no standardized testing, and no specific subjects. You simply begin homeschooling. Other low-regulation states include Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and New Jersey.
It depends on your state. About 30 states require some form of notification, whether it's a simple letter to your school district, an online form, or a declaration of intent. Roughly 11 states require no notification at all. Check your specific state's requirements before you begin.
Not in most states. Around 20 states require some form of assessment, but only a few mandate a specific standardized test. Many states that do require assessment offer alternatives like portfolio review, teacher evaluation, or progress reports. States with no testing requirement include Texas, California, Michigan, and Illinois.
Yes. No state requires a teaching degree to homeschool your own children. A few states require a high school diploma or GED (such as Ohio, West Virginia, and Tennessee), and some states offer different compliance options based on the parent's education level (like North Dakota and Virginia). But a teaching certificate is never required.