Homeschooling is legal in all the states of the USA but the laws can vary substantially. Parents will have to study the laws of the specific state they live in, before they start homeschooling their children.
In certain states the regulation of homeschooling is extremely high and in others there are virtually no specific laws regarding homeschooling. States that have very specific laws include Utah, Nevada and Washington while states like Texas, Oklahoma and Indianapolis have very little regulation.
It is interesting to note that the amount of regulation by the state have no influence on the academic performance of homeschooled children. On average homeschooled children score in the 86th percentile regardless if they live in a highly regulated area or not. This information raises the question if state regulation is at all necessary.
The following are a few of the areas where certain states have specific requirements.
Compulsory School Age
In some states it starts at 5 years of age and in others it can be later depending on certain circumstances.
Subjects
Certain states are very strict about the subjects being taught. In these states the subjects have to be same as the ones taught in public schools. Other states have no requirements about subjects and parents are allowed to choose any subject matter the child shows interest in.
Qualifications
The higher regulated states require specific qualifications such as teaching qualifications or tertiary qualifications from parents before they are allowed to homeschool their children. In some of these states evaluation by a certified teacher is necessary if the parents don’t have the qualifications required.
Notice
Notice must be given to the state if you intend to homeschool a child. In lesser regulated states it is enough to let them know once when you start homeschooling. In states with more specific regulations you might need to inform them at the start of each school year. There are also states where no notice is required.
Testing
States require children to be tested but reporting the results again differ between states. Some require testing but not any reports while others require regular reports and follow up plans where specific scores where not achieved.
These are just a quick overview of some of the regulations. The state you live in might not be restrictive at all which will allow you the freedom to homeschool in your preferred way. If you live in a state with high restrictions you will have to study the requirements to make sure your method complies with the needs from the state.
