How to read your state's requirements

Every state's homeschool law comes down to a handful of categories. Here's how to decode yours.

Homeschool law is set state by state, and the rules range from “do essentially nothing” to “notify, test, and keep a portfolio.” It can look intimidating, but almost every state's requirements break down into the same five categories. Once you know what to look for, any state's rules get a lot less scary.

1. Notification — do you have to tell anyone?

Some states require you to file a notice of intent (often an “NOI”), sometimes every year; others require nothing. Check whether notification is required, who it goes to (usually a district or the state), and by when.

2. Required subjects — what must you teach?

Many states list subjects you're expected to cover — commonly reading, math, language arts, science, and social studies, sometimes more. Others leave it entirely to you. A subject list is usually broad, not a detailed scope-and-sequence.

3. Assessment — does progress have to be demonstrated?

This is what varies most. A minority of states require some demonstration of progress — typically standardized testing or a review of your child's work by a qualified evaluator — at certain grade intervals. Many require nothing. Look for whether assessment is required, in which grades, and what counts.

4. Record-keeping — what should you keep?

Even where little is formally required, keeping records protects you. The usual items are an attendance or days log, a list of subjects and materials, and samples of your child's work. Some states specify what to retain and for how long; others don't — but a tidy record is your shield if anyone ever asks.

5. Compulsory age — when do the rules apply?

Each state sets the age range during which a child must be receiving an education. Outside that range — a young child, or a teen past the upper bound — many requirements simply don't apply yet.