What an NOI is, what's usually in it, and how filing generally works — your state's specifics live on its page.
In many states, the one piece of paperwork that makes your homeschool official is a notice of intent — often called an “NOI.” It sounds bureaucratic; it's usually a short form. Here's what it is and how filing generally works. (For your state's exact form, recipient, and deadline, see your state's page — those specifics vary and change.)
What a notice of intent is
A notice of intent is a formal statement, filed with your school district or your state's education department, that you intend to educate your child at home rather than in a public or private school. Its job is simple: it puts you on record so you're not flagged for truancy, and it establishes your homeschool as legally recognized.
What's usually in it
The form is typically short. Most ask for some combination of the parent's and child's names, the child's birthdate and grade, your address, and sometimes the last school attended. Some states layer on a little more — an assurance you'll teach certain subjects, or a parent-qualification statement — but the core is identifying information, not an essay about your philosophy.
Where states differ (so check yours)
The variables are who it goes to (a local district vs. the state), when it's due (within a window of starting, or by a fixed annual date), and whether you re-file every year or just once. Several states require no notice at all. This is exactly the part not to guess at — pull your state's current rule rather than copying a neighbor's.
After you file
In most states, filing is the end of the interaction, not the start of oversight — you file, keep your own records, and carry on. A handful of higher-regulation states add follow-ups like assessments or reviews, but those are the exception.
A missed deadline is the most common avoidable hiccup — so About Time carries it for you. Where your state requires a notice of intent, About Time files it with your district on your behalf, keeps track of when you'll need to refile, and reminds you in good time before it's due — so the date never sneaks up on you.