Laws by State
Click your state on the map, or pick it from the list, to get straight to the official sources: the full law, your Department of Education, and charter or online public-school options. Requirements range from "just start" to notice, testing, and portfolio reviews, and only your state can tell you which.
One of the first questions every new family asks is also one of the most stressful: is this even legal, and what do I have to do? The good news is that the answer to the first part is always yes. The second part is what this page is here to help with.
As you look at your state, most rules come down to a few common questions. Do you need to notify anyone, like filing a letter of intent? What records should you keep, such as attendance or samples of work? Are there assessments or periodic testing? And are certain subjects required? Start with those four and the rest tends to fall into place.
Two honest reminders before you click through. First, rules change, so treat anything you read, here or anywhere, as a starting point and confirm the current details with your state's official source. Second, this is information, not legal advice. I'm a homeschool parent sharing what I've learned, not an attorney. For anything you're unsure about, your state's Department of Education or a homeschool legal organization is the right place for a definitive answer.
And please don't let the paperwork scare you off. In most states the requirements are far lighter than new families fear. The forms take an afternoon; the homeschooling is the part that lasts.
Or pick a state