Homeschool law · all 50 states and DC
Homeschool laws by state
Homeschooling is legal in every US state, but the rules are set state by state. Some states ask nothing of you; others expect a yearly notice, a standardized test or a portfolio review. Find your state below for a plain-English guide linked to the statute and the state education agency.
Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice — laws change, so confirm with your state before you act. Leer en español
How states compare
13
No notice required
You don't have to tell the state you're homeschooling (you may still need to withdraw an enrolled child in writing).
17
Notice only
You send a notice — once, or each year — but there is no required testing or evaluation.
16
Notice plus assessment
You send a notice and your child's progress is checked, usually by a standardized test or a portfolio evaluation.
5
More requirements
Notice and assessment plus extra steps, such as approval of your plan, teacher qualifications or regular reports.
Groupings are our own plain-English summary of each state's main homeschool option. Many states offer more than one legal route (for example a private, church or umbrella school), each with different rules.
Homeschool requirements in every state
| State | Notice to the state | Testing or evaluation | Compulsory age | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | One-time church school enrollment form to local superintendent | None required by the state | 6 to 17 | Notice only |
| Alaska | None required under the homeschool statute | None under the homeschool statute | 7 to 16 | No notice required |
| Arizona | One-time affidavit to county school superintendent within 30 days | None required | 6 to 16 | Notice only |
| Arkansas | Annual notice of intent to district superintendent by August 15 | None required | 5 to 17 | Notice only |
| California | Annual Private School Affidavit to the CDE (Oct 1–15 window) | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Colorado | Annual notice to a school district 14 days before starting | Test or qualified-person evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 | 6 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| Connecticut | None for 2026–27; annual intent form due Oct 1 from 2028–29 | None required | 5 to 18 | No notice required |
| Delaware | Register with DDOE; annual enrollment and attendance reports | None required | 5 to 16 | Notice only |
| District of Columbia | Notice to OSSE 15 business days before starting; renew by Aug 15 | Portfolio kept; OSSE may review up to twice a year | 5 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| Florida | Notice of intent to county superintendent within 30 days | Annual evaluation (5 options, incl. teacher review or test) | 6 to 16 | Notice plus assessment |
| Georgia | Declaration of Intent to GaDOE within 30 days, then by Sept 1 yearly | Standardized test every 3 years from grade 3 (kept at home) | 6 to 16 | Notice plus assessment |
| Hawaii | One-time notice (Form 4140) to your designated school's principal | Annual progress report; standardized test in grades 3, 5, 8, 10 | 5 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| Idaho | None required | None required | 7 to 16 | No notice required |
| Illinois | None required (voluntary registration with ISBE) | None required | 6 to 17 | No notice required |
| Indiana | None required (optional enrollment report to IDOE) | None required; keep daily attendance records | 7 to 18 | No notice required |
| Iowa | None under IPI; Form A to district under CPI (optional for parents) | None required (CPI dual-enrolled students: annual assessment) | 6 to 16 | No notice required |
| Kansas | One-time registration of school name and address with KSDE | None required | 7 to 18 | Notice only |
| Kentucky | Annual notice to local school board within first two weeks | None required (keep attendance and report cards) | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Louisiana | Home study approval (renewed yearly) or annual enrollment submission | Home study renewals: work packet, test scores or teacher statement | 5 to 18 | Notice only |
| Maine | Notice within 10 days of starting, then yearly by September 1 | Annual assessment (test, teacher review or other approved option) | 6 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| Maryland | Notice to local superintendent 15 days before starting; yearly check | Portfolio review by local school system (or church-school oversight) | 5 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| Massachusetts | Advance approval of a home education plan by the local district | Progress evaluation agreed with the district (test or reports) | 6 to 16 | More requirements |
| Michigan | None required under the home school exemption | None required | 6 to 18 | No notice required |
| Minnesota | Initial report, then annual letter of intent by October 1 | Annual nationally norm-referenced test (results kept at home) | 7 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| Mississippi | Annual certificate of enrollment by August 15 | None required | 6 to 17 | Notice only |
| Missouri | None required (optional declaration of enrollment) | None required; keep a log, portfolio and evaluations | 7 to 17 | No notice required |
| Montana | Annual notice to the county superintendent of schools | None required | 7 to 16 | Notice only |
| Nebraska | Annual filing with the Commissioner of Education by July 15 | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Nevada | One-time notice of intent with educational plan to the district | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| New Hampshire | Optional since 2026 (HB 1268); previously a one-time notice | None required since 2026 | 6 to 18 | No notice required |
| New Jersey | None required | None required | 6 to 16 | No notice required |
| New Mexico | Notice to PED within 30 days of starting, then by Aug 1 yearly | None required | 5 to 18 | Notice only |
| New York | Annual notice of intent to the superintendent by July 1, plus IHIP | Annual test or narrative evaluation; quarterly reports | 6 to 16 | More requirements |
| North Carolina | One-time Notice of Intent to the Division of Non-Public Education | Annual nationally standardized test; results kept at home | 7 to 16 | Notice plus assessment |
| North Dakota | Annual statement of intent to the local school superintendent | Standardized test in grades 4, 6, 8 and 10 (some exemptions) | 7 to 16 | More requirements |
| Ohio | Notice to district superintendent on starting, then by Aug 30 yearly | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Oklahoma | None required | None required | 5 to 18 | No notice required |
| Oregon | Written notice to the local education service district | Standardized test at end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 | 6 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| Pennsylvania | Annual notarized affidavit to the district superintendent | Annual portfolio evaluation; tests in grades 3, 5 and 8 | 6 to 18 | More requirements |
| Rhode Island | School committee must approve an at-home instruction plan | None set by state; school committee may require assessment | 6 to 18 | More requirements |
| South Carolina | District approval or membership in a homeschool association | Annual state tests (Option 1); association records otherwise | 5 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| South Dakota | One-time notification to the state or school district within 30 days | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Tennessee | Annual Intent to Home School form to the local district | Standardized test in grades 5, 7 and 9 (independent) | 6 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| Texas | None required (withdraw in writing if enrolled) | None required | 6 to 19 | No notice required |
| Utah | One-time notice to the local school board | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Vermont | Annual enrollment notice to the Agency of Education | Annual assessment (several options), records kept by parent | 6 to 16 | Notice plus assessment |
| Virginia | Annual notice of intent to division superintendent by August 15 | Annual test (4th stanine or above) or evaluation by August 1 | 5 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| Washington | Annual declaration of intent to the district by September 15 | Annual standardized test or certificated assessment (kept) | 8 to 18 | Notice plus assessment |
| West Virginia | One-time notice of intent to the county superintendent | Assessment results due in grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 | 6 to 17 | Notice plus assessment |
| Wisconsin | Annual PI-1206 form filed online with DPI by October 15 | None required | 6 to 18 | Notice only |
| Wyoming | None required since July 1, 2025 | None required | 7 to 16 | No notice required |
Frequently asked questions
Is homeschooling legal in all 50 states?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in every US state and the District of Columbia. Each state sets its own rules, so what you must do — send a notice, teach certain subjects, test or keep records — depends on where you live.
Which states have the fewest homeschool requirements?
States where you don't have to notify anyone include Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. You still need to teach your child, and in most of these states you should withdraw an enrolled child from public school in writing.
Which states require homeschool testing or evaluations?
States that check progress through a standardized test, portfolio review or other evaluation include Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Many of them let you choose between a test and another kind of evaluation — see each state's guide for the options.
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool?
In most states, no. A few states set qualifications for some homeschool options (for example, a high school diploma, or a certified teacher for certain routes). Each state guide lists the teacher qualification rules.
What happens if I move to another state?
You follow the law of the state you live in. When you move, read the new state's guide, send any notice it requires and keep your records — transcripts, test results and work samples — so you can show what your child has covered.
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