Reference
Homeschool Requirements by State
Homeschooling is legal in every U.S. state, but what you must file, track, and prove varies enormously — from Texas (nothing at all) to New York and Pennsylvania (annual plans, quarterly reports, evaluations). This page is a high-level orientation: find your state, understand its tier, then verify the details with your state's education department before you file anything.
The four tiers, in plain language
- No notice — You simply begin. No filing, no reporting. Keeping records anyway is wise (moves, disputes, college applications).
- Low — A notice or affidavit, usually annual or one-time, and basic records. Miss the filing window and you're out of compliance, so the deadline is the whole game.
- Moderate — Notice plus ongoing proof: attendance, instruction hours, standardized tests, or an annual evaluation.
- High — Substantive oversight: education plans approved in advance, portfolios reviewed, quarterly reporting. Entirely manageable — with a system.
All fifty states at a glance
| State | Regulation | What's required (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Low | Enroll in a church school or use a private tutor; attendance records kept. |
| Alaska | No notice | No notification, testing, or qualification requirements. |
| Arizona | Low | One-time affidavit of intent; no ongoing reporting. |
| Arkansas | Low | Annual notice of intent to the local district. |
| California | Low | File a Private School Affidavit (PSA) each October, or use a PSP/charter; keep attendance and course records. |
| Colorado | Moderate | Notice of intent; 172 days/4 hrs avg; test or evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. |
| Connecticut | No notice | No filing required in practice; equivalent instruction expected. |
| Delaware | Low | Register as a homeschool and report enrollment and attendance annually. |
| Florida | Moderate | Notice of intent; keep a portfolio; annual evaluation or test. |
| Georgia | Moderate | Declaration of intent; attendance; annual progress report; test every 3 years (kept private). |
| Hawaii | Moderate | Notice; keep records; testing at grades 3, 5, 8, 10. |
| Idaho | No notice | No notification or reporting requirements. |
| Illinois | No notice | Homeschools operate as private schools; no registration required. |
| Indiana | No notice | No notice required; keep attendance records; equivalent instruction. |
| Iowa | Low | Optional reporting; requirements depend on the option chosen (IPI/CPI). |
| Kansas | Low | Register as a non-accredited private school (one-time); competent instruction. |
| Kentucky | Low | Annual letter to the district; attendance and scholarship reports kept. |
| Louisiana | Moderate | Apply for approval or register as a private school; annual renewal with evidence. |
| Maine | Moderate | Notice of intent; annual assessment (test, portfolio review, or evaluation). |
| Maryland | Moderate | Notice; portfolio reviewed by the district up to 3x/year, or use an umbrella. |
| Massachusetts | High | Advance approval of your education plan by the local district; progress reports as agreed. |
| Michigan | No notice | No notice required under the homeschool statute. |
| Minnesota | Moderate | Annual notice; annual nationally normed test; instructor qualifications listed. |
| Mississippi | Low | Simple certificate of enrollment each September. |
| Missouri | No notice | No notice; keep records and log 1,000 instruction hours. |
| Montana | Low | Annual notice; attendance records; 720-1080 hours by grade. |
| Nebraska | Low | Annual exemption filing (Rule 12/13). |
| Nevada | Low | One-time notice of intent; educational plan on file. |
| New Hampshire | Moderate | One-time notice; annual evaluation or test, kept by the parent. |
| New Jersey | No notice | No notice, testing, or reporting requirements. |
| New Mexico | Low | One-time notice; attendance; instructor needs a high school diploma/GED. |
| New York | High | Annual notice, IHIP (individualized plan), quarterly reports, and annual assessment. |
| North Carolina | Moderate | One-time notice; attendance and immunization records; annual nationally standardized test. |
| North Dakota | Moderate | Annual notice; qualifications; testing in grades 4, 6, 8, 10 (with exemptions). |
| Ohio | Moderate | Annual notice to the district; 2024 law simplified assessments. |
| Oklahoma | No notice | Constitutionally protected; no notice or reporting. |
| Oregon | Moderate | One-time notice; testing at grades 3, 5, 8, 10. |
| Pennsylvania | High | Notarized affidavit, objectives, portfolio, evaluator sign-off, and district filing each year. |
| Rhode Island | High | Approval by the local school committee; attendance; terms vary by town. |
| South Carolina | Moderate | Join an association (Option 3 most common) or district approval; records and 180 days. |
| South Dakota | Low | One-time notification; annual attendance not required since 2021. |
| Tennessee | Moderate | Notice; attendance; testing in grades 5, 7, 9 (independent option) or use an umbrella school. |
| Texas | No notice | Homeschools are private schools; no notice, registration, or testing. |
| Utah | Low | One-time signed affidavit; district issues exemption. |
| Vermont | Moderate | Annual enrollment notice with minimum course of study; year-end assessment. |
| Virginia | Moderate | Annual notice; evidence of progress (test or evaluation) each August; religious exemption available. |
| Washington | Moderate | Annual declaration; parent qualification; annual test or assessment kept privately. |
| West Virginia | Moderate | One-time notice; annual academic assessment; results filed in grades 3, 5, 8, 11. |
| Wisconsin | Low | Annual online enrollment report (PI-1206); 875 hours of instruction. |
| Wyoming | Low | Annual notice with curriculum plan to the local board. |
| Washington, D.C. | Moderate | Notice; parent holds diploma; portfolio available for review. |
This summary is for orientation only and is not legal advice. Homeschool statutes change — several states have amended theirs in the last few years — and details (ages of compulsory attendance, subject lists, evaluator qualifications) matter. Verify current requirements with your state department of education or a state homeschool association before filing. Pandisha tracks the requirements and deadlines for your state inside the app and reminds you before every filing window.
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