COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL - PLEASE DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION - COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
Disclaimer: The following information was gathered from regulations in effect at the start of 2008, and efforts have been made to keep up with regulatory changes since then (although the locations of state statutes in the final column are likely outdated), but these data should be confirmed by another source as well.
The abbreviation key for various codes (RSS, etc.) is provided at the bottom of the chart.
State-by-State
Regulations for Homeschooling[1]
|
STATE |
category
option(s)[2] |
notification
or registration with
state required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records[3] |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation[4] |
state
required to provide special education services[5] |
state
statutes located within these code sections |
|
Alabama[6] |
RSS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
16-28 |
|
Alaska |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
14.20-14.45 |
|
Arizona |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
15-802,
15-828 |
|
Arkansas |
HS |
Y |
Y[7] |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
(3-9) |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
6-15,
6-18 |
|
California |
HPS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
48200-48410, |
|
|
PSS |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
51745-51749 |
|
Colorado |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
(3,5,7,9,11) or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
22-33-104 |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Connecticut |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
10-184,
10-220[8] |
|
Delaware |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
Y
(DD) |
N |
14.1.27.2703A |
|
Dist.
Columbia |
PI |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
38.202-38.205 |
|
Florida |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N
|
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
N |
1002-1003 |
|
Georgia |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
(3,6,9,12) + PR[9] |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
20-2-690 |
|
Hawaii |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
ST
or PR[10] |
N |
N |
Y |
8-12,
302A-1132 |
|
Idaho |
AI |
N |
-- |
N |
N
|
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
33-202 |
|
Illinois |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
105
ILCS 5 |
|
Indiana |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y |
Y |
20-33-2 |
|
Iowa |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
299A,
281-31 |
|
Kansas |
HPS |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y(DD) |
Y |
72-53, |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
72-1101-1111 |
|
Kentucky |
HPS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
158-159 |
|
Louisiana |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
N |
Y
(DD) |
N |
17.221-17.268 |
|
|
HPS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
Y |
|
|
Maine |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
20-A
5001-A |
|
Maryland |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
PE[11] |
N |
N |
N |
7-301(a), |
|
|
RSS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
13A
10.01 |
|
STATE |
category
option(s)2 |
notification
or registration
required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records3 |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation |
state
required to provide special education services5 |
state
statutes located within these code sections |
|
Massachusetts |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
negotiated[12] |
Y |
Y |
Y |
76-1 |
|
Michigan |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y
(DD) |
N |
380.1561-380.1578 |
|
Minnesota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
|
N |
Y |
Y |
120A.22-120A.26 |
|
Mississippi |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
37-13-91 |
|
Missouri |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
167.031 |
|
Montana |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
20-5 |
|
Nebraska |
HPS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
79-201,
79-1601 |
|
Nevada |
HS |
Y7
|
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
385,
392 |
|
New
Hampshire |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
N
|
193A |
|
New
Jersey |
HS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
18A:38-25 |
|
New
Mexico |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
22-1-2 |
|
New
York |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
(4,6,8,9-12)[14] |
N |
Y(DD) |
N |
100.10,
3204-3212 |
|
North
Carolina |
HS |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST |
Y (DD)
|
Y
(DD) |
N |
115C-547-1115C-565 |
|
North
Dakota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
(4,6,8,10) |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y[15] |
15.1-23 |
|
Ohio |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
3321.04,
3301-34 |
|
Oklahoma |
AI |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y (DD)
|
N |
70
10-105(A) |
|
Oregon |
HS |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
(3,5,8,10) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
N |
339.030,
581-021 |
|
Pennsylvania |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
(3,5,8) and PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
24
PS 13-1327 |
|
|
RSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Rhode
Island |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or other[16] |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
16-19 |
|
South
Carolina |
HS |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
ST
and PR |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
59-65 |
|
|
PSS |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
|
|
South
Dakota |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
(2,4,8,11) |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
13-27 |
|
Tennessee |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
(5,7,9) |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
49-6 |
|
|
RSS |
N |
-- |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
|
|
Texas |
HPS |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
Y |
25.086(a)(1) |
|
Utah |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
53A--11 |
|
Vermont |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
PE
or ST |
Y |
Y |
N |
16
11(a)(21), 16 166b |
|
Virginia6 |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
22.1-254 |
|
STATE |
category
option(s)2 |
notification
or registration
required |
annual
notification required |
parent/instructor educational
requirements |
minimum instruction
time |
required
to keep attendance records |
required
to submit attendance recs. regularly |
state-mandated subjects |
required
to maintain curriculum records3 |
required
to maintain test scores and/or student work3 |
evaluation/assessment
required by state |
evaluation/assessment
options |
eligible
for part-time public school enrollment |
eligible
for public school extracurricular participation |
state
required to provide special education services8 |
state
statutes located within these code sections |
|
Washington |
HS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y |
Y |
N |
28A.225.010, |
|
|
PSS |
N |
N |
N17 |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y |
Y |
Y |
28A.200.010 |
|
West
Virginia |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
Y |
N |
N |
-- |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
ST
or PE |
Y
(DD) |
N |
Y |
18-5,
18-8 |
|
Wisconsin |
HS |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
(DD) |
N |
118.15,
118.165 |
|
Wyoming |
HS |
Y |
Y7 |
N |
Y |
N |
-- |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
-- |
Y
(DD) |
Y
|
N |
21-4-101,
21-4-102 |
key: RSS=religious school satellite; HS=home
school; HPS= home as private school; PSS=private school satellite; PI=private
instruction; AI=alternative instruction; ST(#)=standardized testing (if not
yearly, applicable grade levels for testing indicated); PE=portfolio evaluation
of studentÕs work by ÒqualifiedÓ person (see state code for qualifications); PR=progress
report at end of each year; HV=home visit; DD=district discretion
[1] Since homeschooling regulations change
periodically and legal interpretations may vary, these data should be verified
with legal counsel as well.
[2] Private (including religious) schools
may be responsible for meeting certain state requirements themselves, but such
details are not reflected in this chart if the state does not require them
directly of homeschoolers. Also,
many states have additional ÒhomeschoolingÓ options not listed here that impose
further regulation (e.g., private tutoring that requires a certified
instructor, or state-approved correspondence curricula) and are thus less
popular choices for homeschoolers.
In many instances, however, these options have correspondingly fewer
demands in terms of assessment and ongoing state oversight. Consult individual state statutes for
details.
[3] Unless indicated by PE (portfolio
evaluation), PR (progress report), or ST (standardized testing) in Òevaluation/assessment
optionsÓ category, these records do not need to be submitted regularly, but
must be available for inspection (see specific state statutes for details on
what information is required and access rules).
[4] Some states that allow many forms of
extracurricular participation will still restrict high school interscholastic
athletic competition to full-time students.
[5] In many states, however, districts can choose to offer special education services even when not required by law.
[6] State law includes a Òreligious freedomÓ
component which may allow qualifying families to avoid some or all homeschool
regulations.
[7] Notification must also include
information about intended curricula and planned instructional schedule
(Arkansas also requires information about educational qualifications of
parents).
[8] Also includes Òsuggested proceduresÓ for
home instruction which include state notification and annual portfolio review.
[9] While these assessments are mandated,
homeschoolers do not need to submit them (just have them available for possible
inspection).
[10] Standardized tests are required in
addition to portfolio evaluation for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.
[11] Portfolio of Òrelevant materialsÓ must
be available for review by local superintendent, who has the option to do so up
to three times per year.
[12] Home education plans—detailing
proposed curriculum, instructor competency, and proposed assessments—must
be reviewed and approved by local districts.
[14] An Individualized Home Instruction Plan
must be submitted to the school district at the start of each year, as well as
progress reports on a quarterly basis; during grades 1-3, 5, and 7, parents may
submit either standardized test results or a portfolio review by a ÒqualifiedÓ
person.
[15] Parents of children with developmental
disabilities in North Dakota must follow strict guidelines in order to be
permitted to homeschool them (15.1-23-14 and 15.1-23-15).
[16] Assessment is not mandated, but school
district has the option of requiring it; if so, parents may choose standardized
testing or some other form of assessment.
An earlier version of this chart is presented in Kunzman, R. (2008). Homeschooling and the law. In K. Lane, M.A. Gooden, J.F. Mead, P. Pauken, & S. Eckes (Eds.), The principal's legal handbook (4th ed., pp. 189-204). Dayton, OH: Education Law Association.
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL - PLEASE DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION - COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL