If you’re thinking about homeschooling, you likely have a few questions on your mind. One of them should be, “What are my state’s homeschool laws?” Obviously, you found yourself here after reading these previous posts of mine:
- What It Takes to Homeschool
- What You Need to Know When Starting Preschool
- Top 6 Homeschool Room Must-Haves
- And so much more! Check out the homepage, I am growing every week!
You know what, I will just wait right here for you while you check those out…(Jeopardy music plays in the background.) Ahh, now that you’re all caught up, we’ll move right into this next post.
WHAT ARE MY STATE’S HOMESCHOOL REQUIREMENTS?
When I started homeschooling I did ask myself “What are my state’s homeschool laws?” I found the website HSLDA.org to be a great resource. However, each state is different, so looking into your state’s homeschooling laws is definitely worth a look.
Homeschooling Laws Regulation Levels
Altogether there are four levels of regulations for homeschooling within the United States.
- High Regulation
- Moderate Regulation
- Low Regulation
- No Notice, Low Regulation
Some states have more strict regulations for homeschooling families. Some of these requirements are generally as follows
- Firstly, documents to be filed
- Secondly, subjects that must be studied
- Lastly, testing to be done
I live in a “no notice, low regulation” state, Indiana. This is comparatively an easier state to homeschool in. Here, I am required to keep a record of the days we do schooling, in case the superintendent were to ask for them. I am required to teach for 180 days because this is the same as the public schools here. However, I can count whatever I, as a parent, deem appropriate as curriculum.
For instance, if my children participate in volunteer work, and maybe they are doing a small bit of public speaking, I can count that as one of my 180 days. I count this along with the bookwork that we do. I am not required to register for my homeschooling, Additionally,I do not have to have my child assessed annually.
States with Highly Regulated Homeschool Laws
Altogether, there are five states that have High Regulations. What does this mean? This means that there are stricter requirements to homeschool than in other states. Also, check out the website HSLDA.org it has valuable resources that can help you.
States with Moderately Regulated Homeschool Laws
Altogether, there are twelve states that have Moderate Regulations. Generally, these states are in between strict, and low regulations.
- Hawaii
- Maine
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
States with Low Regulation Homeschool Laws
Additionally, there are twenty-two states that have Low Regulations for homeschooling. The states are the following listed below with a helpful video from HSLDA.org for each state listed.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
No Notice, Low Regulation Homeschooling Requirements
Lastly, there are currently eleven states that have No Notice or Low Regulation of Homeschooling Laws
How Should I View My State’s Regulations?
Finally, while you should follow the laws that govern your state, don’t be intimidated. If you live in a state that has stricter regulations, indeed, you may see this as a great guide to help you keep your child where they need to be. You don’t have to scour the internet to learn what should be taught, because you have it all there.
If you live in a state that is more lenient on its homeschooling laws you will have more freedom to make up your own curriculum. Most still have a requirement for days to be completed. No matter what state you live in you can have the freedom to teach in a style that is unique to your family.
Great blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like
Wordpress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Any ideas? Kudos!
Know what you want to write about, take your time, and learn what you can as you go! It will catch on soon! I have enjoyed WordPress!