It is wise for families considering homeschooling to be aware of their local, state, or territory regulations that govern homeschooling. For example, in the United States, regulations vary by state and by grade level. Be sure to check the regulations listed for your state; you can find some of them listed on the Home School Legal Defense Association websiteopens in new window.
Consider what your state or local government requires. Are there regulations related to any of the following issues?
- Do you need to provide formal notification of the decision to homeschool?
- Is there a mandatory age when students must enroll in some form of schooling?
- Do parents need to meet teacher qualifications to provide homeschooling?
- Are parents required to include specific subjects in their homeschool curricula?
- Is there a minimum number of hours of instruction per week?
- Do parents need to conduct regular assessments to monitor children’s academic progress? If so, are you required to share these results with the government?
- Are homeschooled children required to complete standardized tests? If so, how often?
- Are homeschooled children eligible for participation in extracurricular activities?