Colorado vs Texas: Homeschool Laws Compared

Colorado is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Texas requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Colorado to Texas

Once you are a Texas resident you homeschool under Texas's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. There is no notice to file in Texas. Before you leave, send Colorado's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. Texas sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. Texas's required list adds spelling, grammar, and good citizenship and drops writing, speaking, history, civics, literature, science, and constitution compared with Colorado's. Match Texas's wording in your records.
4. Texas requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Colorado's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-19 in Texas against 6-17 in Colorado, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Texas runs Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA). Check whether your family qualifies; Colorado had no comparable program.

Moving from Texas to Colorado

Once you are a Colorado resident you homeschool under Colorado's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Colorado resident. Texas did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Start logging from your first day: Colorado counts 688 hours over 172 days a year, and Texas set no minimum.
3. Colorado's required list adds writing, speaking, history, civics, literature, science, and constitution and drops spelling, grammar, and good citizenship compared with Texas's. Match Colorado's wording in your records.
4. Colorado requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels. Texas had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Colorado against 6-19 in Texas, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Colorado has no ESA program. Texas's Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) is for Texas residents, so budget without it.

What stays the same

Colorado and Texas match on the portfolio, progress reports, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Colorado nor Texas takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs Texas 4 rules differ
• Arkansas vs Texas 3 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• California vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Florida 7 rules differ
• Colorado vs Kansas 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Nebraska 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs New Mexico 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Oklahoma 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Utah 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Wyoming 6 rules differ
• Florida vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs Texas 5 rules differ
• Louisiana vs Texas 5 rules differ
• New Mexico vs Texas 5 rules differ
• New York vs Texas 7 rules differ
• Tennessee vs Texas 4 rules differ
• Texas vs Washington 6 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table