Have you followed the news articles from other countries, where homeschoolers have been jailed or had their children taken away just because they homeschool? We are fortunate here in North America, because homeschooling is completely legal in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Still, homeschool laws by state vary and can be confusing, causing immobilization due to fear of regulation. Beginners will ask “Where do I get the curriculum?” or “Where do I join Home School?” And yet there is no single curriculum, or a single “school” that homeschoolers must join. In order to begin homeschooling, you need to know the laws that apply, and then work to educate your children.
Before we dive into specific homeschool laws by state, I want to reassure you that - unlike your other possible encounters with the law - this one does not need to be scary. In fact, there are only three easy steps to get through unscathed.
State laws vary, but each state will allow parents to educate their children at home, in a way that will uniquely fit the family and the child. State law may provide general guidance or requirements, but it’s always the parent who can choose the particulars. We can choose the homeschool methods and curriculum to perfectly fit our children and situation.
Many laws are written specifically for public school students. These laws do not apply to private schools or homeschools. Frequently, homeschoolers do not have to follow the law for public school children, any more than private school students must comply with laws meant for other organizations. We need to understand and comply with state homeschool law. Look up your homeschool laws by state, province, or territory, using the list below.
As you are reading the law, remember what it does not say. Searching for the law that applies to “high school” may not give you the information you need. The public school law may be reported in the newspaper, but that doesn't mean it applies to you. And even though it may specify requirements for public school graduation, that doesn’t necessarily equate to a quality education. Always keep in mind when looking over laws and educational requirements for your area, that public high school requirements are not usually enough for college admission. Many homeschoolers exceed the expectation of public schools, because they are invested in the academic success of their children.
I encourage you to follow your local homeschool law. This will allow maximum flexibility after high school. We have put together a handy dandy list of links for laws all across North America for you!
Alabama
Alabama Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Alabama State Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Alaska
Alaska Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Alaska Homeschool Law - HSLDA
Arizona
Arizona Homeschool Law: Arizona Statutes Regarding Education - AFHE.org
Arizona Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Arizona Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Arkansas
Start Home Schooling: Step1, Basic Requirements - ArkansasHomeschool.org
Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Home School - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Arkansas Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
California
California Homeschool Law - Homeschool Association of California
Homeschooling Law in California - A2ZHomeschooling.com
California Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Colorado
Colorado Homeschool Law - CHEC.org
Colorado Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Colorado Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Connecticut
State of Connecticut Guidelines for Homeschooling - TeachCT.org
Legal Requirements - CTHomeschoolNetwork.org
Connecticut Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Delaware
Delaware Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Delaware Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Florida
Florida Homeschool Law - FloridaHomeschooling.org
Florida Legal Requirements - FPEA.com
Florida Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Georgia
Georgia Homeschool Law - GHEA.org
Georgia Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Georgia Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Hawaii
Hawaii Education Code For Homeschooling - HawaiiHomeschoolAssociation.org
Hawaii Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Idaho
Idaho Homeschool Laws - HomeschoolIdaho.org
Idaho Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Idaho Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Illinois
Illinois Law on Homeschooling - ICHE.org
Illinois Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Illinois Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Indiana
State and Local Homeschool Laws - SWIHE.org
Indiana Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Indiana Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Iowa
Homeschooling Options in Iowa - HomeschoolIowa.org
Iowa Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Iowa Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Kansas
Is Homeschooling Legal in Kansas? - KansasHomeschool.org
Kansas Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Kansas Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Kentucky
Kentucky Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Kentucky Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Louisiana
Louisiana Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Louisiana Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Maine
Maine Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Maine Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Maryland
Maryland Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Maryland Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Homeschool Law - AHEM.info
Massachusetts Homeschooling Law - MHLA.org
Massachusetts Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Michigan
Home Education Options Under Michigan Law - INCH.org
Michigan Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Michigan Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Minnesota
Minnesota Homeschooling Laws and Forms - Homeschoolers.org
Minnesota Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Minnesota Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Mississippi
Mississippi Laws Regarding Homeschooling - MHEA.net
Mississippi Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Mississippi Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Missouri
Missouri Law - FHE-MO.org
Missouri Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Missouri Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Montana
Montana's Homeschool Law - MTCHE.org
Montana Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Montana Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Nebraska
Nebraska Homeschool Laws - NCHEA.org
Nebraska Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Nebraska Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Nevada
Nevada Homeschooling Laws - NevadaHomeschoolNetwork.com
Nevada Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Nevada Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
New Hampshire
Legal Requirements - NHHomeschooling.org
New Hampshire Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
New Hampshire Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
New Mexico
New Mexico Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
New Mexico Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
New York
New York State Homeschooling Regulations - Homeschool New York (LEAH.org)
New York Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
New York Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
North Carolina
Law and Policy; Government Relations - NCHE.com
North Carolina Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
North Carolina Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
North Dakota
North Dakota Home Education Law - Homeschool-Life.com
North Dakota Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
North Dakota Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Ohio
Ohio Home Education Law - Ohio Laws and Rules
Ohio Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Ohio Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Law Affecting Home Education - HomeschoolOklahoma.org
Oklahoma Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Oklahoma Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Oregon
Complying with Oregon Homeschool Law - OHEN.org
Summary of Homeschool Law - OCEANNetwork.org
Oregon Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Oregon State Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Home Education Law - HomeschoolPennsylvania.org
Quick Start Guide To Homeschooling in Pennsylvania - CHAP
Pennsylvania Home School Laws - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Pennsylvania Homeschool Law - HSLDA
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Rhode Island Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
South Carolina
Homeschool Laws in South Carolina - CarolinaHomeschooler.com
South Carolina Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
South Carolina Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
South Dakota
South Dakota Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
South Dakota Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Tennessee
Tennessee Homeschool Information - MTHEA.org
Tennessee Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Tennessee Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Texas
Texas State Law Requirements Regarding Home Schooling - THSC.org
Texas Homeschool Law - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Homeschool Law in Texas Information - HSLDA
Utah
Utah's Homeschooling Laws - UHEA.com
Utah Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Utah Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Vermont
Vermont Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Vermont Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Virginia
Virginia Homeschool Law and Policies - VAHomeschooler.org
Virginia Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Virginia Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Washington
Washington Homeschool Laws - WASHHomeschool.org
Washington Homeschool Law - ChristianHeritageOnline.org
Washington Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
West Virginia
Legal Requirements - WVHEA.org
West Virginia Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
West Virginia Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Homeschool Law - Wisconsin Parents Association
Wisconsin Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Wisconsin Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Wyoming
Wyoming Home Education Law - HomeschoolersofWY.org
Wyoming Education Code For Homeschooling - A2ZHomeschooling.com
Wyoming Homeschool Law Information - HSLDA
Alberta
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Alberta - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Home Education in Alberta - AHEAonline.com
British Columbia
BC Homeschool Law - BCHEA.ca
Canada Homeschool Laws: British Columbia - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Manitoba
Manitoba Law - MACHS.ca
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Manitoba - HomeschoolCanada.ca
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Homeschooling Laws - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Getting Started: New Brunswick Law and Application Process - HENB.ca
Newfoundland
Newfoundland & Labrador Homeschooling Laws - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Homeschool Laws - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Nova Scotia
Homeschooling in Nova Scotia: Getting Started - HomeschoolinginNovaScotia.com
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Nova Scotia - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Nunavut
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Nunavut - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Ontario
Legal Issues in Home Education - OntarioHomeschool.org
Homeschooling Laws in Ontario - OCHEC.org
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Ontario - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Prince Edward Island
Canadian Homeschool Laws: PEI - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Quebec
Québec Homeschooling Laws - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Saskatchewan
Getting Started - SHBE.info
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Saskatchewan - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Yukon Territory
Canadian Homeschool Laws: Yukon Territory - HomeschoolCanada.ca
Mexico
Legal Information: Mexico - HSLDA
Homeschooling in México - HomeschoolingMexico.com.mx
Learn how to identify and avoid the big blunders repeated by countless homeschool parents!
The First Mistake may cripple your plans if your child ever changes their mind (and what teenager doesn't!) The Second Mistake may leave your child unprepared for college! The Third Mistake may result in the loss of thousands of dollars in financial aid! The Fourth Mistake may cause your child to be lost in the crowd during college admission. The Fifth Mistake may render your kid unable to gain admission to the college of their dreams!
Learn why "old-fashioned" homeschooling is still your best bet for growing passionate learners! Homeschool independently and take your life back! Instead of a "one-size-fits-all" assembly-line education, choose the freedom to teach your children at their pace and consistent with your values. Pursue happiness while homeschooling, instead of pursuing the busyness so common in our society.
In this book, you will learn how to identify and eliminate sources of educational dependence, how to regain your peace of mind, and how to rekindle your children's love of learning.
If you are a beginner at homeschooling high school, consider the High School Solution, which provides detailed training on homeschooling, from middle school through senior year. The resources included give specific help for all stages, from getting started and planning high school courses, to understanding high school testing and college admission and scholarships.
Get complete instruction for choosing curriculum, encouraging delight directed learning, and teaching advanced subjects through training classes for parents, all with handouts or workbooks plus articles and templates.