Medium Regulation Homeschool States

Alabama does not have one simple direct homeschool filing path for every family. Most families homeschool by enrolling in a church school umbrella, while others use a private school setup or a certified private tutor. The rules depend on which option you choose.

California offers several legal ways to homeschool, including filing as a home-based private school, using a private school satellite program, or hiring a credentialed private tutor. The most common independent route is the private school affidavit option, which brings annual filing and basic private-school recordkeeping.

Colorado gives families real freedom over curriculum, but the standard homeschool statute comes with several rules: send a notice of intent, teach the required subjects for 172 days averaging 4 hours a day, keep records, and submit test or evaluation results in certain grades. The independent-school and certified-teacher options can work differently and may reduce some of those requirements.

Delaware allows homeschooling as a single-family homeschool, a multi-family homeschool, or a single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district. The usual single-family and multi-family options require annual reporting to the Delaware Department of Education, including enrollment at the start of the school year and attendance at the end of the year. Delaware does not require teacher certification or standardized testing for these homeschool options.

The District of Columbia requires a yearly notice of intent, a parent with a high school diploma or equivalent unless OSSE grants a waiver, instruction in a list of required subjects, and a portfolio showing thorough and regular education. Standardized testing is not generally required, but OSSE may request to review the portfolio up to two times per year if it has reason to question whether a thorough and regular education is being provided.

Georgia is fairly manageable for homeschoolers, but families do have to file a declaration of intent, teach the required subjects for the required time, keep attendance, write annual progress reports, and complete standardized testing every three years after a certain grade.

Hawaii has a direct homeschool process rather than a private-school-style workaround. Families generally notify the local public school principal, provide a structured educational program, and turn in an annual progress report showing the student made educational progress.

Iowa offers multiple homeschool pathways, including Independent Private Instruction, an opt-out route, homeschooling with annual assessment, homeschooling with a supervising teacher, and participation in a Home School Assistance Program. Some options require no routine filing, while others require Form A paperwork, at least 148 days of instruction, immunization documentation for first-time competent private instruction students, and sometimes assessment or teacher supervision.

Kentucky appears to treat a homeschool as a private school for legal compliance. The captured HSLDA source says families should send an annual private school notice of attendance, keep attendance and scholarship reports, teach at least 1,062 hours over at least 170 days, and cover specific subjects in English.

Louisiana has two different homeschool-style pathways with different rules. The BESE-approved home study option requires an application, annual renewal, a sustained curriculum of quality equal to public schools, and proof of progress at renewal. The nonpublic school not seeking state approval option appears lighter, but it still requires certain notices, annual attendance reporting, and a 180-day school year.

Maine has more paperwork than the least regulated states. Under the home instruction option, parents send a notice of intent when they begin, teach at least 175 days, cover listed subjects, and submit a continuation letter with an annual assessment by September 1 each following year. Maine also allows a private-school pathway, but the raw sources reviewed here give fewer details about how that option works in practice.

Maryland allows homeschooling through several legal pathways, including the portfolio option supervised by the local school system and umbrella-style options through certain nonpublic schools or church-related programs. The common direct route requires a notice of consent, regular instruction in the usual school subjects, a portfolio of work, and periodic reviews.

Massachusetts does not use a simple statewide notice form. Instead, parents usually submit a home education plan to the local superintendent or school committee and get approval before starting. Local districts can review the proposed curriculum, schedule, and method of evaluation, but they cannot impose every public-school rule on homeschool families.

Minnesota allows parents to homeschool directly, but it is not a no-paperwork state. Families generally need to notify the local superintendent, make sure the instructor is legally qualified, teach the required subjects, keep certain records, and complete yearly testing unless an accreditation-based exception applies.

Montana has a direct homeschool path, but it is more regulated than the lowest-regulation states. Families generally file a notice of intent each school fiscal year, keep attendance records, provide a set minimum number of instructional hours, and teach an organized course of study that includes the basic subjects required in Montana public schools.

Nebraska treats a homeschool as a private, denominational, or parochial school that elects not to meet state accreditation or approval requirements. Based on the raw sources reviewed here, families typically submit exempt-school paperwork to the Nebraska Department of Education, provide proof of the child's identity and age when first homeschooling, file annual assurance and parent-representative forms, report attendance, and provide a sequential program of instruction in language arts, math, science, social studies, and health.

New Hampshire requires parents to begin with a notice to the commissioner of education, the resident district superintendent, or the principal of a participating approved nonpublic school within 5 business days of starting. Families must teach the listed subjects, keep a portfolio, preserve it for 2 years after instruction ends, and complete an annual educational evaluation through one of several allowed methods.

New Mexico generally allows independent homeschooling if the parent has a high school diploma or equivalent, notifies the state within 30 days of starting and again each year by August 1, teaches the main required subjects, keeps immunization records, and provides instruction for about the same number of days as local public schools are in session.

North Carolina treats a homeschool as a type of nonpublic school. Parents generally file a notice of intent before starting, run the school on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months, keep attendance and immunization records, and give a nationally standardized test every year.

North Dakota allows direct homeschooling, but families generally need to file a yearly statement of intent, meet parent qualification rules, teach the required subjects, and provide a minimum amount of instruction each year. The state also recognizes a private school option for parents who are state-certified teachers.

Oregon law allows children to be educated at home by a parent, legal guardian, or private teacher, but the family must give written notice to the local education service district and follow the state's testing rules. Students are generally tested in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, with extra follow-up possible for low or declining scores. The statute also allows different evaluation handling for some students with disabilities.

South Carolina offers three homeschool pathways: district approval under Option 1, enrollment in SCAIHS under Option 2, or enrollment in a qualifying association with at least 50 members under Option 3. All three options require at least 180 instructional days and the core listed subjects, while Option 1 also includes district approval, semiannual reporting, record inspections on reasonable notice, access to library facilities, and annual testing.

Tennessee has multiple at-home education pathways. Independent home schools require annual notice to the local school district, a parent-teacher with at least a high school diploma or approved equivalency, and TCAP testing in grades 5, 7, and 9. Church-related umbrella programs do not use the district intent form, but the umbrella school handles its own record-keeping and testing requirements. Accredited online schools are private schools, not Tennessee home schools.

Vermont allows homeschooling through its home study law. Families generally file a Home Study Enrollment Notice each year, provide a minimum course of study, and submit an annual progress assessment for each enrolled student. The system is manageable, but it has more ongoing paperwork than the least regulated states.

Virginia offers several legal ways to educate a child at home, including the main home instruction option, which usually requires yearly notice and yearly proof of progress. Because the state has multiple legal pathways, the exact paperwork and qualification rules depend on which option a family uses.

Washington allows independent home-based instruction, but families must qualify to teach, file an annual declaration of intent, cover the required subject areas, provide an average of 1,000 instructional hours each year, and complete a yearly test or assessment.

West Virginia's home instruction statute requires a notice of intent to the county superintendent, assurance of instruction in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, evidence that the instructor meets the minimum educational qualification, and annual assessment. Assessment results must be submitted to the county superintendent at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. Parents must keep copies of each student's academic assessment for three years. County boards may also offer classes, textbooks, and other resources subject to availability and approval.