Homeschooling in Ohio: the law and how to start

Yes. Ohio law defines home education as the education of a child aged 6 to 18 that is directed by the child's parent, and a child receiving it in the required subjects is exempt from compulsory school attendance.

The current rules came from the 2023 state budget (HB 33), effective October 3, 2023. It replaced the old system — where families asked the superintendent to excuse their child, filed a curriculum outline, promised 900 hours of instruction and submitted an annual test or portfolio assessment — with a simple notice. The superintendent acknowledges the notice but doesn't approve or reject your plans.

Other routes families use include:

• Home education under § 3321.042 — the route most Ohio homeschoolers use and the focus of this guide.
• A nonchartered, non-tax-supported (NCNT) school — a private school that, because of truly held religious beliefs, chooses not to be chartered by the State Board of Education. These were previously known as "08 schools" and file a report with the state each year.
• Enrolling in a chartered private school or an online public school (e-school) that lets your child learn at home. Students in these programs are school students, not home-educated students.

• Write your notice. It needs your name and address, your child's name, and an assurance that your child will be taught English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government and social studies. Many districts post a notification form, but a letter with the same information works.
• Send it to your district superintendent within five calendar days of starting home education, moving into a new district, or withdrawing your child from a public or private school.
• Withdrawing from school. Tell your child's school in writing that you are withdrawing them for home education, and send your notice to the superintendent at the same time. Keep copies of both and a record of when you sent them.
• Watch for the acknowledgment. The superintendent must send you a written acknowledgment within 14 calendar days. Keep it — it is also your proof of home education status for things like the state tax credit.
• Renew each year by August 30. Send a new notice before each school year while you continue to homeschool.

Ohio requires home education in six subject areas: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government and social studies. You choose the curriculum, materials and teaching approach, and you don't submit a curriculum outline or book list.

The law no longer sets a minimum number of hours or days. Plan a schedule that works for your family and lets your child make steady progress.

There is no state testing or evaluation requirement for home-educated students in Ohio. The annual standardized test or portfolio assessment that families once had to submit was dropped in 2023.

Even so, it's wise to keep your own records: copies of each year's notice and the superintendent's acknowledgment, a simple log of what you cover in each subject, work samples, and any tests you choose to give. These help if you later re-enroll your child in school, apply for college or claim the home school tax credit.

As a home-educating parent, you decide when your teen has completed high school and you can issue your own diploma and transcript. Keep course descriptions, grades and credits as you go.

Home-educated students in grades 7 to 12 can take part in College Credit Plus, Ohio's dual enrollment program, which lets them earn high school and college credit at the same time. Home-educated students apply for state funding for the program separately and must notify the Department of Education and Workforce of their intent to participate; funding depends on what the General Assembly allocates each year, so check the deadlines early.

Ohio has an equal-access law for extracurricular activities. Under § 3313.5312, the superintendent of the district where your child is entitled to attend must give a home-educated student the opportunity to take part in any extracurricular activity offered at the school they would otherwise be assigned to, including interscholastic sports.

Your child must meet the same non-academic and financial requirements as other participants (such as fees, conduct rules and physicals). A student who takes part in an activity through their home district can't take part in the same activity at another school they aren't entitled to attend. If your district doesn't offer an activity, another district's superintendent may choose to let your child join.

If you think your child has a disability, contact your local school district. Districts must locate and evaluate children with disabilities who live in the district, including home-educated children, though the services offered afterwards can vary.

• Home school expenses tax credit. Ohio offers a state income tax credit for parents of home-educated children, equal to the lesser of $250 or what you actually spent on qualifying expenses such as books, supplies and software (computers and other electronic devices don't count). Keep receipts and your superintendent's acknowledgment. The 2025 state budget (HB 96) expanded the credit to apply to each student; check the current Ohio Schedule of Credits for the exact rules for your tax year.
• EdChoice scholarships are for private schools only. They pay tuition at participating chartered private schools and can't be used for home education. A child using EdChoice is a private school student, not a home-educated student.

As of the 2026–27 school year, Ohio has no education savings account that funds independent home education.

Ohio has a large homeschool community, including a statewide association (Christian Home Educators of Ohio) and many local support groups and co-ops. Public libraries, museums and park districts across the state offer programs that suit homeschoolers.

For questions about your notice, contact your district superintendent's office; the Department of Education and Workforce's home schooling page explains the state rules.