Check Your State’s Requirements

States differ quite a bit when it comes to homeschool requirements. Some have a very flexible approach, while others require more paperwork and regular oversight.

Possible requirements include:

• Parent qualifications (some states require a high school diploma or GED)
• Filing a Notice of Intent to homeschool (a letter sent to your school district or state)
• Teaching required subjects (like math, reading, science, social studies)
• Tracking attendance or hours of instruction
• Yearly evaluations, standardized tests, or portfolio reviews

Keep Good Records

Even if your state doesn’t require it, it’s a good idea to keep track of:

• Log days/hours of instruction
• Keep a portfolio of completed work, grades, or test scores
• Save any communication with your school district

It might feel like extra work now, but it will make things so much easier if you ever move to a new state, decide to put your child back in public school, or need transcripts down the road for high school or college.

Don’t Let Legal Worries Scare You

A lot of new homeschoolers feel nervous about the legal stuff at first, but once you learn your state’s requirements and get in the habit of keeping a few simple records, it really does become part of your routine. Thousands of families follow these rules every year while homeschooling successfully, and you will too!