More families are turning to homeschooling for the flexibility, safety, or the chance to build a more personalized learning journey for their kiddos. In fact, Magnet ABA reports that around 3.7 million children in the US were homeschooled in 2024, which is more than double the number from 2019.
But homeschooling in the US looks a little different everywhere you go. Each state has its own rules and expectations, from filing paperwork and keeping records to fulfilling state testing guidelines.
Our guide brings it all together with simple overviews of homeschool laws by state, helping you see what homeschooling looks like in your part of the country.
Getting started with homeschooling in Maine is fairly easy. Families file a notice with their local superintendent within ten days of leaving school and turn in an annual assessment every year. You have the flexibility to teach your kiddo in any style and curriculum, as long as you cover the core subjects, like reading, writing, math, and social studies.
Hours: 175 days per year
Testing: Annual assessment
Recordkeeping: Copies of notice and assessment
ESA/Stipend: Not available
New Hampshire offers a flexible, low-stress process for homeschooling families. You have to file a one-time intent to homeschool and maintain a portfolio of your child’s work. There is a mandatory yearly evaluation or assessment to track learning growth, but the records stay with your family, not the state. Qualifying families can also apply for an Education Freedom Account (EFA) for educational expenses.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Annual evaluation or test
Recordkeeping: Yearly portfolio
ESA/Stipend: EFA program available for eligible homeschool students
Vermont has a few more steps for homeschooling than most states, but the process is relatively straightforward. You must submit a yearly notice of intent and a “Minimum Course of Study” outlining the subjects you’ll teach. Every year, you’re also required to provide an end-of-year progress report or evaluation to show your kiddo’s academic growth.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Annual progress report or evaluation
Recordkeeping: Yearly notice and course of study
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In Massachusetts, homeschooling works like a partnership with your local district. You’ll share a simple education plan for approval that lists subjects, learning goals, and how you’ll track progress. After that, families have the flexibility to teach in their own way while checking in once a year with a progress report or test.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Annual assessment or progress review
Recordkeeping: Education plan and yearly report
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Families need approval from their local school district in Rhode Island before getting started with homeschooling. Once approved, parents are required to teach their kiddos core subjects and provide regular progress updates. Specific homeschool requirements for Rhode Island vary by district. Some districts ask for an annual report and attendance record, while others allow families and school committees to decide together how to track learning progress.
Hours: 180 days per year
Testing: Not required statewide (may vary by district)
Recordkeeping: Attendance and progress records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Connecticut gives families a lot of freedom when homeschooling. You can start teaching right away, without approval or formal registration. Most families file a simple notice of intent, though that’s optional. Core subjects like reading, writing, spelling, math, geography, and civics must be included in the curriculum, but parents have the freedom to choose how and when to teach them.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Optional but recommended
ESA/Stipend: Not available
New York is one of the most regulated states for homeschooling. You need to submit an annual notice of intent and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) outlining subjects, materials, and goals. You’re also required to report quarterly progress, and your child completes a yearly standardized test or evaluation to show academic progress. Lessons must include math, English, science, and social studies, and you’ll need to meet the annual hour homeschooling requirements for each age group.
Hours: 900 or 990 hours annually, depending on the grade
Testing: Annual assessment
Recordkeeping: Quarterly reports and annual evaluations
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In New Jersey, parents can choose to homeschool their children without any formal registration or approval process. The state law permits “instruction elsewhere than at school” as long as students receive an equivalent education to public schools. However, the statute doesn’t list specific subjects, testing, or minimum instructional time. So, families have full control over curriculum, schedule, and teaching style.
Hours: No set daily or annual hours required
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Not required by law, though recommended for future transitions
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling in Pennsylvania requires a bit more structure than what you’ll find in other states’ homeschool requirements. You must file an affidavit, vaccination record, and subject outline each year. Families are also required to keep a portfolio that includes work samples, reading logs, and attendance for annual evaluation. Students in grades three, five, and eight take standardized tests in reading and math to track progress.
Hours: 180 days or 900 (elementary) / 990 (secondary) hours per year
Testing: Standardized testing in grades three, five, and eight
Recordkeeping: Annual portfolio and evaluation
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In Delaware, families homeschool by registering as a nonpublic school (NPS) and submitting annual attendance and enrollment reports. After that, you have a lot of flexibility for shaping your kiddo’s learning experience, as there are no mandated subjects, fixed hours, or required assessments.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Portfolio of materials
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Maryland offers several options for homeschooling. You can homeschool under your local school district, a church umbrella program, or an approved private organization. Start by submitting a notice of intent to your local district. After that, choose which oversight option best fits your family’s needs.
Lessons still need to cover the basics, but you decide how those lessons look. There’s no testing requirement or set number of hours.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Portfolio review required in some cases
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In Virginia, you’re required to submit a notice of intent each year and share proof of progress through a standardized test or an evaluation at the end of the school year. Homeschooling should cover the same length of time as a public school year (around 180 days), but you decide how to structure your days. You can also homeschool under a religious exemption or certified tutor option, depending on what fits your family best.
Hours: Equivalent to 180 days
Testing: Annual assessment
Recordkeeping: Yearly documentation
ESA/Stipend: Not available
West Virginia has a clear path for homeschooling. Families need to file a notice of intent each year and teach the usual subjects. Students take a standardized test or portfolio evaluation in grades three, five, eight, and 11 to show learning progress. There’s no fixed schedule, but families should provide about 180 days of instruction per school year. Eligible students can also apply for the Hope Scholarship to help cover educational expenses.
Hours: 180 days per year
Testing: Grades three, five, eight, and 11
Recordkeeping: Test results or portfolio
ESA/Stipend: Hope Scholarship available for eligible students
It’s relatively easy to set up and run a homeschooling program in North Carolina. Families choose to operate as either a religious or nonreligious homeschool and file a one-time notice of intent with the Division of Non-Public Education.
Homeschools must operate regularly for at least nine months each year and maintain attendance and immunization records. Children with disabilities may be eligible for the state’s ESA+ program.
Hours: No set daily or annual hours
Testing: Annual standardized test
Recordkeeping: Attendance and immunization records
ESA/Stipend: ESA+ program available for eligible students with disabilities
There are three paths for homeschooling in South Carolina: under the local school district, through the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS), or by joining a homeschool association with at least 50 member families.
You’ll need to cover the core subjects and teach for about 180 days each year, but recordkeeping looks a little different depending on your path:
Hours: 180 days per year
Testing: Varies by option
Recordkeeping: Attendance, lesson plans, and progress
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Once you complete a few simple steps, homeschooling in Georgia is relatively straightforward. Parents file a one-time declaration of intent with the Georgia Department of Education and must provide instruction for 180 days per year, with at least four and a half hours of learning each day.
Families design their own curriculum, as long as they cover core subjects. Students must be tested every three years starting in the third grade, but results don’t need to be submitted to the state.
Hours: 180 days per year, 4.5 hours per day
Testing: Standardized testing in grades three, six, and nine
Recordkeeping: Annual progress reports
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Florida is one of the most homeschool-friendly states. The state offers clear guidelines and multiple paths for families. Once you register with your local school district, there’s minimal oversight.
After filing a one-time notice of intent with the local district, families maintain a learning portfolio and complete a yearly evaluation through standardized testing or a certified teacher. K-12 students not enrolled full-time in a public or private school are eligible for PEP, which provides ESA funds for educational materials and support.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Annual educational evaluation
Recordkeeping: A portfolio for two years
ESA/Stipend: Education Savings Account available for eligible students (PEP program)
Homeschooling in Alabama is a little more restrictive, as you’ll need a third party involved. Families choose from three main options: enrolling in a church school, a private school, or with a certified private tutor. Most families choose the church or private school option because it’s simpler, with no set hours or state testing requirements. Private tutors must have a state teaching certificate and teach for 140 days each year.
Hours: 140 days per year (for private tutor option)
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Attendance
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Mississippi is one of the most relaxed states for homeschooling. You only need to submit a certificate of enrollment each year to your local attendance officer, and that’s it! There are no specific subject requirements, testing, or hourly minimums, so parents have complete freedom to design their own curriculum and schedule.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Yearly certificate of enrollment
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Louisiana gives homeschool families two options: registering as a home study program or as a home-based private school. The home study option is state-approved, but the private school route offers more independence.
If you choose a home study program, you must apply to the Louisiana Department of Education each year and provide test scores or work samples as evidence of learning progress. Families under the private school option only need to keep attendance and enrollment records.
Hours: 180 days per year
Testing: Tests or work samples required for home study
Recordkeeping: Attendance and enrollment records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Like most homeschool-friendly states, Arkansas requires homeschooling families to submit notice of intent each year to the local superintendent. Then, you’re free to design your own curriculum. The law only asks that you cover the basics like reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. No testing or recordkeeping is required.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Optional but recommended
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Families can homeschool in one of three ways in Tennessee: an independent homeschool, a church-related school (CRS), or an accredited online school. Independent homeschoolers must file a notice of intent each year and keep attendance and immunization records. Students in grades five, seven, and nine take standardized tests to show progress.
If you go through a church-related school, reporting and paperwork are handled directly through the school. Families in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga may also qualify for ESAs.
Hours: Four hours per day, 180 days per year
Testing: Grades five, seven, and nine (independent option)
Recordkeeping: Attendance and immunization records
ESA/Stipend: ESA program available for select districts
In Kentucky, homeschooling is very flexible. You simply send a letter of intent each year to your local district and are considered a private school under state law. Parents teach core subjects like reading, writing, math, history, and civics for about 185 school days a year. There’s no testing requirement, but you’ll need to keep basic attendance and progress records.
Hours: 185 days per year
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Attendance and progress reports
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling in Texas is widely practiced. It’s one of the most relaxed and least regulated states for homeschooling. Families can run their home as a private school, with no registration or approval process. Your kiddo can even join classes or activities in public schools.
Lessons must include reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship, but parents decide how deeply to teach beyond these basics. Testing is not mandated unless your child is enrolled in a public or charter-based independent study program.
Starting in the 2026–27 school year, Texas will roll out an Education Savings Account (ESA) program, allowing families to receive up to $2,000/year for eligible educational expenses. Those who join the ESA program will need to meet testing and reporting requirements to receive funds.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Not required by law
ESA/Stipend: ESA program begins 2026–27
Few places make homeschooling easier than Oklahoma. You don’t have to file paperwork or report to the state, and there are no tests, reports, or curriculum requirements. The law just says parents must provide an education equivalent to public schools. Most families follow a typical 180-day year and teach the core subjects.
Hours: 180 days per year (recommended)
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Optional
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling in Ohio is pretty flexible once you file your annual paperwork. Families must notify their local superintendent each year and include a brief outline of subjects to be taught. As long as students complete at least 900 instructional hours annually, parents have full control over lesson structure. You’ll also need to submit an annual academic assessment or standardized test to show progress.
Hours: 900 hours per year
Testing: Annual assessment or standardized test
Recordkeeping: Curriculum outline and yearly notification
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Michigan offers serious flexibility and freedom when it comes to homeschooling, and that’s reflected in the growing number of families choosing this path across the state. According to the Johns Hopkins Institute of Education Policy Homeschool Hub, 6.58% of Michigan students were homeschooled in 2023-24. This is among the highest rates nationally.
Under the homeschool statute, parents don’t need to report their homeschooling and can do so with little state regulation.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Not required by law under homeschool statute
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Indiana is another state that keeps homeschooling simple. You don’t need to register with the state or submit a notice of intent, though the Indiana Department of Education offers an optional enrollment form. Parents keep attendance for 180 days and make sure learning is similar in scope to what children learn in public schools. There’s also no state testing or reporting requirements.
Hours: 180 days per year
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Attendance
ESA/Stipend: Not available
With minimal regulations, Illinois is considered one of the most flexible states for homeschooling. The state considers homeschools a form of private schooling, which gives you full freedom to design your own curriculum without registration or reporting requirements.
While you need to provide instruction in English covering the same core subjects taught in public schools, there are no specific hour, testing, or recordkeeping requirements.
Hours: No hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Not required by law
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling families in Wisconsin need to file the PI-1206 form annually with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). There’s no testing or reporting required beyond the annual form. But you are required to teach for at least 875 hours per year, using a sequential curriculum covering reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, and health.
Hours: 875 per year
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Recommended
ESA/Stipend: Not available
While there’s some structure to homeschooling in Minnesota, it’s still flexible and family-friendly. Each year, you’ll send a letter of intent to homeschool to the local district by October 1, listing who’s teaching and which subjects will be covered.
Families are expected to provide an education that’s equivalent to what public schools offer in the state, which is roughly 165 days per year. You’ll need to keep attendance and assessment records for your own files, but annual standardized tests are kept private.
Hours: 165 days per year
Testing: Annual standardized test
Recordkeeping: Attendance and test records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling in Iowa is flexible, with a few different options depending on how much oversight you want. You can choose from: Competent Private Instruction (CPI), Independent Private Instruction (IPI), or a private school program.
If you pick the CPI option with a supervising teacher, you’ll submit basic reports and progress updates each year. The IPI route gives you more independence, with no testing or reporting required, given that you teach the core subjects for about 148 days a year.
As for the private school program, your family will follow the school’s supervision and comply with its standards.
Hours: 148 days per year (IPI)
Testing: Varies by option
Recordkeeping: Required for supervised CPI
ESA/Stipend: Not available
An homeschool-friendly state, Missouri is flexible, but a bit more specific about instructional hours. You don’t need to file a formal notice of intent, but you must make sure your kiddo receives at least 1,000 hours of instruction per school term. At least 600 of those hours must cover core subjects, and at least 400 must take place at the home school location.
You should keep a plan book, a portfolio of the child’s work, and a record of evaluations, though these records are only submitted if a legal review is needed.
Hours: 1,000 hours per school term (600 in core subjects; 400 taught at home)
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Plan book, portfolio, and record of evaluations
ESA/Stipend: Not available
North Dakota has a bit more structure than most states, but the homeschooling process is still very doable. Each year, you’ll submit a statement of intent to your local superintendent by September 10th.
You can still teach without a teaching license, but a licensed teacher will monitor your homeschool for the first two years. Kids have to take standardized tests in grades four, six, eight, and 10, and instruction is expected to last about 175 days each year.
Hours: 175 days per year
Testing: Grades four, six, eight, and 10
Recordkeeping: Statement of Intent and test results
ESA/Stipend: Not available
It’s easy to get started with homeschooling in South Dakota. You’ll turn in a short notification form to your local district, and then you have the freedom to teach at home. Language arts and math need to be covered in the curriculum and taught for 175 days per year. Your kiddo is required to take standardized tests in grades four, eight, and 11 to track progress.
Hours: 175 days per year
Testing: Grades four, eight, and 11
Recordkeeping: Notification and test records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Nebraska homeschooling runs under what’s called the “exemption” option for families who choose not to participate in a standard school approval and accreditation process. Parents file Form A (Parent/Guardian Exempt School Statement) and Form B (Information Summary) with the Nebraska Department of Education every year.
You must teach the basic subjects for at least 1,032 hours per year for elementary students or 1,080 hours for secondary school. There are no testing or reporting requirements.
Hours: 1,032 hours (grades K–8); 1,080 hours (grades 9–12)
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Forms A and B filed annually
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschools in Kansas register once as non-accredited private schools, and after that, no annual paperwork, testing, hourly minimums, or required subjects are needed. You decide your own schedule and curriculum, though most families follow a traditional 186-day year for consistency. Just keep attendance records and make sure instruction is consistent and planned to help your kiddo stay on track.
Hours: No set hours (186 days recommended)
Testing: None required
Recordkeeping: Attendance recommended
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Montana has a straightforward homeschooling process with very little red tape. You’ll file an annual notice of intent with your county superintendent and keep attendance and immunization records on file. Basic subjects should be taught for at least 720 hours per year for grades one through three and 810 hours for grades four through 12. There are no testing or evaluation requirements.
Hours: 720 hours (grades1–3); 810 hours (grades 4–12)
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Attendance and immunization records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Wyoming gives homeschooling families plenty of breathing room. You need to turn in a curriculum plan to your local district outlining what their kiddos will learn, and you’re free to design your schedule and lessons. There’s no testing or extra reporting required; just be sure to cover the basics like reading, math, science, civics, and history, for around 175 school days a year.
Hours: 175 days per year
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Annual curriculum plan
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In Colorado, homeschooling families need to file a Notice of Intent 14 days before starting, then once each year after that. Schedules should include around 172 days a year and about four hours daily focused on core academics. Kids take a standardized test or professional evaluation every other year starting in 3rd grade. But beyond that, families have complete freedom to design their day-to-day program.
Hours: Four hours per day, 172 days per year
Testing: Grades three, five, seven, nine, and 11
Recordkeeping: Attendance, test results, and immunization records
ESA/Stipend: Not available
In Utah, families just need to file a one-time affidavit with their local district, and they’re good to go. There’s no state testing, no mandatory subjects, and no hourly minimum, so you can tailor your kiddo’s education however you like.
Starting in 2025, Utah even offers a “Utah Fits All” scholarship program to help with learning expenses for families who opt in.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: One-time affidavit
ESA/Stipend: Utah Fits All program
There’s a lot of freedom for homeschooling in Idaho. You don’t need to register with the state, file paperwork, or follow specific hour or testing requirements. All parents need to do is make sure their child receives an education in subjects commonly taught in public schools, such as math, language arts, and science, but how you teach that is entirely up to you.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: None required
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Home education in Nevada starts with one simple step: filing a notice of intent with your local district, along with a brief educational plan outlining the subjects you'll teach. No yearly renewal is needed. Nevada also doesn’t require testing or specific hours. Right now, ESA funds are only accessible through approved private scholarship or microschool programs; they’re not for independent homeschool families.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: One-time Notice of Intent and educational plan
ESA/Stipend: Limited ESA access for eligible students
In true Arizona fashion, even homeschool rules are wide and open. Families file a one-time Affidavit of Intent and a birth-certificate copy with their county superintendent, and then they have full autonomy. The only guideline is that you must cover the core subjects: reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science.
Arizona even offers an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which allows eligible students to receive a portion of the state’s per-pupil funding for approved educational expenses.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: One-time affidavit and birth certificate
ESA/Stipend: Empowerment Scholarship Account available for eligible families
Homeschooling in New Mexico is easy to navigate once you know the steps. You’ll send a notice of intent to the Public Education Department within 30 days of starting and renew it by August 1st each year. Parents need a high school diploma or GED to teach, and lessons should cover the basic subjects. There’s no required testing and no set number of hours.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Not required
Recordkeeping: Annual intent form and immunization or waiver records
ESA/Stipend: None available
There are four homeschool programs in California: private school, satellite, private tutor, and independent study programs. Homeschooling in California is generally moderate to relaxed, especially for families who choose the private-school route. They must file an annual notice in October, teach core public-school subjects, and keep basic attendance records.
If you go with the private tutor route, a credentialed teacher must handle at least 175 days of instruction each year. Independent study programs through public or charter schools include enrollment, written agreements, and regular check-ins.
Hours: No set hours (except 175 days for tutor route)
Testing: Not required under PSA/PSP
Recordkeeping: Attendance, faculty list, and courses of study
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Oregon makes it simple for homeschoolers; just give a one-time notice of intent to your local Education Service District when you start homeschooling. You’re not required to teach specific days, hours, subjects, or curriculum, but your kiddo must complete a standardized test in grades three, five, eight, and 10.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Grades three, five, eight, and 10
Recordkeeping: Test results and your notice of intent
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Homeschooling in Washington takes a little paperwork but comes with lots of flexibility. You’ll send in a short declaration of intent to your district every year, then plan for roughly 180 school days or 1,000 hours of learning. Parents qualify as teachers by either completing a short course, having college credit, or working under a certified teacher’s supervision. Your kiddo is also required to take an annual assessment or standardized test.
Hours: 180 days or 1,000 hours per year
Testing: Annual standardized test or assessment
Recordkeeping: Annual test results
ESA/Stipend: Not available
Alaska is another relaxed homeschooling state. You have several routes to choose from, ranging from fully independent to district-supervised programs. Depending on what your family needs, you can choose to teach independently, join a district-run correspondence program, or partner with a certified teacher. The independent homeschool option gives you total freedom, with no mandatory hours, testing, or subject list.
Hours: Not required
Testing: Not required under the independent route
Recordkeeping: Optional
ESA/Stipend: Not available statewide; varies by correspondence program
Homeschooling is flexible in Hawaii once you get the paperwork out of the way. Submit a notice of intent (Form 4140) or a signed letter to the principal of their local public school, and then you get the freedom to create your kiddo’s learning plan. Students in grades three, five, eight, and 10 take a standardized test or alternative evaluation to show yearly progress, and parents must file the results with their local school.
Hours: No set hours
Testing: Required for grades three, five, eight, and 10
Recordkeeping: Parent-filed curriculum plan and test results
ESA/Stipend: Not available
At bina, learning knows no borders. As a fully accredited online global school, bina brings together the best of the US, UK, and Australian systems into our curriculum.
Live, interactive lessons span three time zones, including EST, so families across the US and the world can join real-time lessons that fit their lifestyle. Small class sizes of up to eight kiddos keep learning intimate and engaging. And, with precision education, students enjoy a structured learning path with a personalized approach. Teachers use microcredentials to track student progress and adjust lessons in real time based on their needs.
At bina, you’re never on your own! Our learning success team partners with your family, offering guidance and insights to support your kiddo’s learning journey every step of the way. bina is also an ESA-approved school, so you can use ESA funds to help cover tuition costs.
