A homeschool notice of intent is the shortest piece of legal paperwork most families ever write. Five required fields, one page, ten minutes of work. Here's the template plus the state-by-state quirks.

Some states recognize homeschooling as its own legal category; others classify it as private school enrollment. The distinction affects NOI requirements, attendance rules, evaluator letters, and what programs your family qualifies for.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states — but the rules vary dramatically. Here's how to read your state's regulatory posture (low / moderate / high regulation), what each tier actually requires, and where to find the specifics for where you live.

A homeschool portfolio is part scrapbook, part transcript, part state-compliance documentation. Here's what every portfolio should contain, the states that require formal review, the digital vs. paper tradeoffs, and how to curate without drowning in archive overload.