Online school vs homeschooling in Texas: what's the difference?

• Virtual public school: your child is enrolled in a Texas school district or open-enrollment charter school and is a public school student, even though classes are online. TEA says students in TXVSN online schools are public school students who are not required to be on campus during instruction.
• Homeschool: under the Leeper decision, a Texas homeschool is a private school when it is run in a bona fide manner, using a written curriculum that covers reading, spelling, grammar, math and good citizenship. TEA does not regulate, monitor, approve, register or accredit homeschools.
• Private online school: your child is enrolled in a private school that happens to teach online. It is not run or regulated by TEA.

Which one your child is in decides who chooses the curriculum, whether they take state tests, and what happens if you want to switch.

Senate Bill 569, passed in 2025, repealed the old Texas Virtual School Network law (Education Code Chapter 30A) and created a new chapter, Chapter 30B, for virtual and hybrid education in public schools. TEA's guidance describes three formats:

• Individual virtual or hybrid courses that districts and charters can offer.
• Full-time virtual or hybrid programs inside an existing campus, which don't need separate TEA approval while they make up less than half of the campus's enrollment.
• Full-time virtual or hybrid campuses, which need TEA authorization. TEA has said it is still writing rules for this process.

Districts and charters can't require a student to enroll in virtual or hybrid courses, except in limited cases set out in the law. Virtual and hybrid courses must also meet the needs of students receiving special education or other accommodations.

Existing TXVSN courses and full-time online schools can continue under the old rules through the 2026–27 school year while the new system is set up. Under those rules, students generally had to be enrolled in a Texas public school the year before to join a full-time online school, with some exceptions, and individual schools may add their own requirements. Check with the school or district for the current year's eligibility.

Because a virtual public school student is a public school student, the usual public school rules apply:

• STAAR: all students in Texas public and open-enrollment charter schools in grades 3–8 and certain high school courses must take STAAR. Students who earn high school credit through distance learning, such as TXVSN, must pass the end-of-course tests to meet graduation requirements.
• Attendance: the school tracks attendance and participation under TEA's rules for virtual and hybrid programs, and your child must meet the compulsory attendance law through that school.
• Curriculum and grading: the school sets the courses, assignments and grades, and awards credit and diplomas under the state graduation program.

A homeschool has none of these requirements. Texas homeschoolers don't take STAAR, don't report attendance, and the parent decides the curriculum, credits and when the student graduates.

• Virtual public school: publicly funded, with no tuition for eligible students. Families may still provide a quiet workspace, internet access and adult support at home.
• Homeschool: you pay for whatever curriculum and activities you choose. Some families spend very little; others spend more on courses, tutors and co-ops.
• Private online school: usually charges tuition.

Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) can help with some homeschool and private school costs for families who receive an award. See the TEFA section below.

The Texas Virtual School Network has offered a statewide catalog of online courses, mainly for high school, taken through a participating district or charter. Students take catalog courses through their district rather than signing up directly, and the course cost is usually paid by the district, though parents pay in some situations.

Some homeschool families have used catalog courses for individual subjects. Access for homeschoolers depends on the district, and the system is changing under SB 569, so ask your local district and TXVSN what is available, who pays, and whether taking a course affects your child's homeschool status.

A private online school is a private school. TEA does not regulate private schools; some are accredited by private organizations and many are not. The school sets its own curriculum, requirements and fees, and may issue its own transcripts and diploma.

Many Texas families use online courses as part of their homeschool, in which case the parent is still running the homeschool and decides what counts toward graduation. Others enroll their child in a private online school, which then takes on those decisions. Read the enrollment agreement so you know which one you're choosing.

Before enrolling, ask whether the school is accredited and by whom, how it handles transcripts and diplomas, and what reporting it expects from you.

TEFA: Texas Education Freedom Accounts can fund approved costs for homeschool and private school students who receive an award. A child can apply while enrolled in public school, but can't receive TEFA funding while enrolled in a Texas public or charter school, and enrolling in one ends participation. A virtual public school is part of the public school system, so check with the TEFA program before enrolling a TEFA student in one. Online private schools can take part only if they are approved TEFA providers.

Switching from virtual public school to homeschool: send the school a written notice that you're withdrawing your child to homeschool, and keep a copy. Some districts ask for a letter of assurance.

Switching from homeschool to virtual public school: check the program's eligibility rules, which may include prior public school enrollment, and keep good records. Districts may assess students coming from a homeschool to decide grade placement or credit.