Homeschool laws by requirement
States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent
Notice is the most common homeschool requirement in the country, and the least uniform: some states want a letter to the district, some a form to the state, and a few want both.
Start tracking freeThe short answer
36 of the 50 states plus DC require notice before homeschooling. 18 file with the local school district, 18 with the state or both. 15 states require no notice at all.
- File with the district
- 18
- File with the state
- 12
- File with both
- 1
- Also require testing
- 16
The 36 states, side by side
Tap a state for the full rule, what counts, the deadlines, and the sources it was verified against.
| State | File with | Also required |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Local school district | — |
| Arizona | Required | — |
| Arkansas | Local school district | — |
| California | State education department | — |
| Colorado | Local school district | 688 hours over 172 days, Testing, Reports |
| Delaware | State education department | Reports |
| District of Columbia | State education department | Portfolio |
| Florida | Local school district | Testing, Portfolio, Reports |
| Georgia | State education department | 810 hours over 180 days, Testing |
| Hawaii | Required | Testing, Reports |
| Kansas | State education department | 1116 hours over 186 days |
| Kentucky | Local school district | — |
| Louisiana | State education department | 180 days |
| Maine | District and state | 175 days, Testing, Reports |
| Maryland | Local school district | Testing, Portfolio |
| Massachusetts | Local school district | — |
| Minnesota | Local school district | Testing |
| Mississippi | Required | — |
| Montana | Required | 720 hours |
| Nebraska | State education department | 1032 hours |
| Nevada | Local school district | — |
| New Mexico | State education department | 1140 hours |
| New York | Local school district | 900 hours over 180 days, Testing, Reports |
| North Carolina | State education department | Testing |
| North Dakota | Local school district | 700 hours over 175 days, Testing, Reports |
| Ohio | Local school district | — |
| Oregon | Required | Testing |
| Pennsylvania | Local school district | 900 hours over 180 days, Testing, Portfolio, Reports |
| Rhode Island | Local school district | 990 hours over 180 days |
| South Dakota | State education department | — |
| Utah | Local school district | — |
| Vermont | State education department | 175 days, Testing |
| Virginia | Local school district | Testing, Reports |
| Washington | Local school district | 1000 hours over 180 days, Testing |
| West Virginia | Local school district | Testing, Reports |
| Wisconsin | State education department | 875 hours |
Figures are Homeschool Fox's verified compliance data, the same numbers on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before relying on a figure.
Grouped by how the rule works
Filed with the local school district (18)
Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Nevada New York North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Utah Virginia Washington West Virginia
Filed with the state education department (12)
California Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Kansas Louisiana Nebraska New Mexico North Carolina South Dakota Vermont Wisconsin
Filed with both (1)
States that require no notice (15)
You can begin homeschooling in these states without telling anyone. A child already enrolled in public school still needs a written withdrawal so the district closes its attendance record.
Alaska Connecticut Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Michigan Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Wyoming
File the notice, then keep the records it implies
Generate your state's letter of intent for free, then let Homeschool Fox track the hours, subjects, and reports your notice commits you to.
Each state's figures were verified between September 2026 and September 2026 against that state's own published requirements. The state page lists the sources and the date.
Legal minimums only. Where a state publishes a recommendation rather than a rule, it is not counted here. Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Other requirements, state by state
- States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements 19 states
- States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation 16 states
- States Where You Can Homeschool Without Filing Notice 15 states
- States That Require a Homeschool Portfolio 6 states
- States That Require Homeschool Progress Reports 10 states
- Required Homeschool Subjects by State 31 states
- Homeschool Laws by State All 51 jurisdictions, least to most regulated.
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