What are the easiest states to homeschool in?
Deciding to start homeschooling is no walk in the park for anyone, but it makes it much easier to start homeschooling when you know the law before starting. All 50 states are not equal when it comes to the law of homeschooling. Depending on the state you live in and your own education background this may become an easier or more difficult process.
Some states make it significantly easier for families to homeschool than some stricter high regulation states. But, what states are the easiest to homeschool in? Well, that depends. I’m going to break down those states according to these categories:
Which states have low regulation and no notice?
Which states have low regulation?
What is moderate regulation and which states have these policies?
Which states are the hardest to homeschool in due to high regulation?
Where in the United States is homeschooling legal?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Hawaii and Guam with 4 different regulations throughout:
low regulation with no notice
low regulation
moderate regulation
high regulation.
But, what is the difference between these regulations? Let’s dive in.
Which states have low regulation with no notice?
Homeschooling in a state with low regulation with no notice means that you have the option to start homeschooling your child without notifying the government officials. According to hslda.org,
“Parents have both a statutory and constitutional right to educate their children at home, and they are not required by law to initiate any contact with government officials before they begin to homeschool.”
This means that you are not mandated to file a letter of intent or attend an annual portfolio review depending on the school district that you live in. However, the school district can still request these forms to be completed when you withdraw your child from public school.
These are the states in the united states that have low regulation no notice for homeschooling:
Depending on the state you live in you will be required to homeschool for 180 days and may have to teach certain subjects in line with the public school system. In some low regulation no notice states you aren’t told which subjects you need to teach.
Something else to keep in mind is that the age to start homeschooling varies from each state. So, where some states require you to start school at age 5, others don’t expect you to start school until they are 7.
Also, keep in mind that in some states there are different options under homeschooling - sometimes 3 or 4 different ways that you can homeschool legally. It is recommended to look at your state department of education website regarding their homeschool policies, as well as your school district.
Also, there are sometimes other policies within the law that your state may have if you decide to start homeschooling, such as; teacher qualifications, state mandated subjects, assessment requirements, and immunization requirements.
Which states have low regulation?
So, what's the difference between low regulation and low regulation with no notice? In a low regulation state you may be required to be a qualified teacher, immunize your child, notify your state superintendent of starting homeschooling, teach required subjects, and/or teach a required number of days.
These states require notification within a certain time frame from either time you withdraw your child from public school to starting homeschooling. These are the states with low regulation:
These states aren’t too difficult to start homeschooling in. You may want to check your state department of education on any other policies that they may have regarding homeschooling. For example, in some states online education is not considered accredited for K-12 homeschool. This is definitely something you want to find out before you start choosing a curriculum.
Keep in mind that there are many different resources that you can check to find out the fine details of the state you live in. I suggest starting with https://hslda.org/legal, then check your state department of education, followed by the board of education in your school district. You want to make sure you are homeschooling legally with all three.
Reading all of the information on your state’s Department of Education website regarding homeschooling regulations and laws before you fully commit is always a great idea.
Which states have moderate regulation with homeschooling?
What does moderate regulation mean exactly? Well, depending on the state they may require that you complete testing to assess your child. These states do require a notification to start
homeschooling. Some of these states require that you become a certified teacher, as well as meet the other policy requirements that were listed previously.
States with high regulation for homeschooling
Not only are these states more strict when it comes to their homeschool policies, but it can be burdensome on some parents to get started with homeschooling with tighter restrictions. These states have about 4 out of 6 of the regulations that a parent would need to keep in mind before attempting to homeschool their child. However, this doesn’t stop a parent who is determined to homeschool.
Regardless of the state that you live in it is a good idea to keep a homeschool portfolio for your child. I have created a FREE homeschool portfolio checklist to assist you with keeping all of your documentation in order. Click here to get your free portfolio checklist now.
It’s a good idea to keep a portfolio because your school district can request a portfolio review, but also if you have a portfolio you can keep track of your child’s progress through the years. Remember, you can always get legal advice regarding homeschooling through the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, and I also have resources listed on my blog to help you along your homeschool journey.
Good luck on your homeschool journey! Comment below what state you are homeschooling in and whether the regulations made it easy or difficult for you.
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