State Homeschool Guidelines

Anyone starting or considering a homeschool program needs to be aware of the requirements for their home state. There is a new category in subjects here at the BellaOnline Homeschooling page, titled "Homeschooling in Your State" which provides you with several links for each state that have information on the laws, resources available and support group listings. I have personally evaluated each link for it's authenticity, and if you encounter any problems or find a link broken please feel free to let me know via email-homeschooling@bellaonline.com.

Here is a quick overview of the states and their requirements, in general. These are subject to revision, of course, and you should always check with your local state and county government for exact requirements.

****Most Requirements- The states listed below require the following: Notification or letter of intent to homeschool, a professional evaluation each year to assess progress made or testing, and prior approval of curriculum being used to teach at home.

1.Vermont
2.New York
3.Massachusetts
4.Rhode Isand
5.Pennsylvania
6.North Dakota

***More Requirements/Not Most- The states below have less requirements then the states listed above, but they still need a yearly evaluation for your homeschooled child. This can be a professional evaluation, done by a certified teacher or a psychologist. Testing is also an option in lieu of an evaluation. Also, these states need a letter of intent to homeschool, usually filed with your county.

7.Louisiana
8.Arkansas
9.Tennessee
10.Florida
11.Georgia
12.North Carolina
13.South Carolina
14.Virginia
15.West Virginia
16.Maryland
17.Ohio
18.Washington, DC
19.Colorado
20.Iowa
21.Minnesota
22.South Dakota
23.Oregon
24.Washington
25.Hawaii
26.Maine
27.New Hampshire

**Minimal Requirements- The following states only require a letter of intent to homeschool your child. Check with your local county or town government on how to file your letter.

28.Mississippi
29.Alabama
30.Kentucky
31.Delaware
32.Wisconsin
33.Kansas
34.Nebraska
35.Wyoming
36.Montana
37.New Mexico
38.Arizona
39.Utah
40.Nevada
41.California

*No Requirements- These states have no requirements to homeschool your child:

42.Texas
43.Oklahoma
44.Missouri
45.Indiana
46.Alaska
47.Illinois
48.Michigan
49.Idaho
50.Connecticut
51.New Jersey

Please check out the "Homeschooling in your State" subject area to view specific area information.