Start here
Is Homeschooling Right for My Family?
Eight honest questions to help you decide — without the cheerleading or the fear. The right place to start if you're still in the "are we even doing this?" phase.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Resources
- How to Homeschool Beginner's guide for first-time families
- State Requirements All 50 states + DC
- Free Tools Calculators & generators
- Curriculum Directory 54 reviewed programs, side-by-side
- Compare Apps Homeschool Fox vs other trackers
- Blog Guides & homeschool tips
- Help Center Docs & tutorials
- View all resources
Homeschool Fox Resources
Everything we know about homeschooling,
written down.
Free guides, tools, and state-by-state requirements — written by a homeschool family for homeschool families. No fluff, no upsells, no algorithm bait.
01 Decide & start
Trying to figure out if homeschool is right for you
Eight guides for the decision-stage family. Start with the eight-questions piece if you only read one.
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
An honest look at the real advantages and the genuine challenges. We don't pretend it's all upside.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can I Homeschool My Child?
Yes — in all 50 states. Here's what your state requires and who legally qualifies.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Do Homeschooled Kids Do Better?
What the research actually shows about academic, college, and social outcomes.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
A real-world breakdown — and how to keep it under $200/year per child.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Start Homeschooling
Withdraw, file your notice, set up records, and run your first week — in that order.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
What Age Should You Start Homeschooling?
Compulsory ages by state, kindergarten timing, and the best windows for transitioning from public school.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Deschool a Child
After withdrawing, most families need 4–8 weeks of decompression before academics resume.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Withdraw From Public School
The exact paperwork sequence — withdrawal letter, notice of intent, records request — and the timing that minimizes friction.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Homeschool Kindergarten
Sixty to ninety minutes a day. Phonics, math, read-alouds. What 5- and 6-year-olds actually need.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Homeschool vs Public School
An honest comparison of cost, academics, socialization, schedule, and college readiness — without cheerleading either side.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
02 Daily homeschool
Once you're in: methods, curriculum, and the rhythm of the day
The "what does this actually look like Monday morning" cluster — schedules, subjects, multi-child rhythms, burnout prevention.
Curriculum directory
Find the right curriculum for your family
Browse parent-reviewed programs by subject, method, and grade, compare them side by side, or take the 2-minute quiz for personalized picks.
The complete guide
How to Homeschool
A complete beginner's guide — methods, curriculum, scheduling, and the legal steps. The closest thing we have to a single canonical pillar.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Homeschool Curriculum for Beginners
How to choose without overwhelm — approaches, subjects, free options, first-year advice.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How Many Hours a Day?
Less than you think. What's typical by age and what your state actually requires.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Best Schedule for Homeschool
Block, loop, rotation, four-day weeks.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Homeschool Multiple Children
Charlotte Mason morning time + staggered subjects. Scales 2–6+ kids.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach Reading
Systematic phonics is the research-backed way.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach Writing
Copywork through composition. Curriculum picks for different writers.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach Math
Mastery vs spiral curricula, when to switch, the upper-math handoff to dual enrollment.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach History
Chronological 4-year cycle, living books over textbooks, primary sources, and how to teach hard history honestly.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach Science
Observation in elementary, structured curriculum in middle school, lab science (often outsourced) in high school.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Teach a Foreign Language
Earlier is better. Stick with one language. Add native-speaker exposure. Reach AP-level by 11th–12th.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Homeschooling While Working Full Time
Scheduling models, self-paced curricula, and co-op arrangements that make it possible.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Handle Homeschool Burnout
Real, common, recoverable. Signs to watch for and the prevention practices that work.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Most-asked question
Homeschool Socialization: The Honest Answer
The most-asked homeschool question — and the one that rests on the weakest assumption. What the research shows, where homeschoolers actually socialize, and how to make sure your kid is getting what they need.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Homeschool Methods Compared
Classical, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, Unschooling, Eclectic — the six dominant approaches, head-to-head.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Method deep-dives: Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, Waldorf, Unschooling, and Unit studies.
Homeschool Record Keeping
What to track, by state, paper vs digital, retention periods. Stop reconstructing in May; log as you go.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
03 High school & college
Transcripts, diplomas, credits, and college admissions
The paperwork side of high school for homeschool graduates. Yes, you can do all of this without enrolling them anywhere.
College admissions
Do Homeschoolers Need a Transcript for College?
Yes — every U.S. college expects one, and the parent is usually the legal issuer. Here's what colleges actually look for and how to build one that gets read.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Do Homeschoolers Need a Diploma?
A parent-issued diploma is legally valid in all 50 states.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How Many Credits to Graduate?
Subject-by-subject breakdown, state minimums, and what colleges expect.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can Homeschoolers Take Dual Enrollment?
Yes — and it's one of the strongest college-prep paths available.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can Homeschoolers Take AP Exams?
Yes — register through any participating high school.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can Homeschoolers Take the SAT or ACT?
Yes — same registration as every other student.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Make a Homeschool Transcript
Step by step: what to include, how to assign credits and GPA, formatting, and a free template.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Write Course Descriptions
What to include, how long they should be, a sample, and how to draft them fast for college applications.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Homeschool High School
Credits, transcripts, college planning, and outsourcing — the full 4-year plan from 9th-grade course design through senior-year applications.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Pairs well with the Transcript Template and GPA Calculator. Applying to college? See the Common App guide, the standardized testing comparison, UC admission, and Christian college admissions.
04 Activities & social
Sports, prom, and the social side
What's open to homeschool families and how to plug in.
Athletics
Can Homeschoolers Play Public School Sports?
Tim Tebow laws make it possible in 35 states. Here's where it's allowed, what's required to be on the roster, and what to do if your state isn't on the list.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can Homeschoolers Go to Prom?
Most schools allow it as a guest. Plus the homeschool-organized formals.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
05 Family situations
Edge cases on who can homeschool
Mixed-enrollment families, grandparent caregivers, and the situations that don't fit a one-size script.
Who can teach
Can Grandparents Homeschool?
Yes — when they have legal custody, guardianship, or kinship-care status. And in dual-caregiver families, grandparents can do most of the actual teaching.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
Can You Homeschool One Child and Not Another?
Yes — many families have one child in homeschool while siblings attend public or private school.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
06 Special needs
When the standard homeschool playbook doesn't fit
ADHD, dyslexia, gifted, twice-exceptional. Each needs a different approach — and homeschool can be the right environment for all of them with deliberate structure.
Special needs
How to Homeschool a Child With ADHD
Short focused blocks, movement breaks built in, hardest subjects when attention is peak. The structural advantages homeschool gives ADHD kids — and the structure parents have to provide.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Homeschool a Child With Dyslexia
Orton-Gillingham-based instruction is the research-backed path. Curricula, diagnosis path, and the multi-year intervention timeline.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
How to Homeschool a Gifted Child
Acceleration vs enrichment, twice-exceptional overlap, avoiding the under-challenge trap.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Guide
07 Free tools
Calculators, generators, and templates
Free, no signup, no email required.
Most-used
Hours Calculator
See how many hours per day you need to log to meet your state's annual requirement.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Tool
Notice of Intent Generator
Create your state-specific Notice of Intent letter in under 2 minutes.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Tool
School Year Planner
Map out start dates, break weeks, and daily hour targets.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Tool
Transcript Template
Editable homeschool transcript template with all required fields. Free download.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Tool
GPA Calculator
Calculate weighted and unweighted homeschool GPA from your course list.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Tool
08 State requirements
Homeschool law varies state by state
Find your state for notice rules, assessment requirements, ESA programs, umbrella schools, and tax credits. New here? Start with homeschool laws by state, then go deeper on ESAs, umbrella schools, tax credits, and special-needs services.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
09 Compare apps
How Homeschool Fox compares to other tools
Honest, founder-written comparisons against the other planners, trackers, and spreadsheets homeschool families use.
- Homeschool Fox vs Google Sheets
- Homeschool Fox vs Homeschool Hall
- Homeschool Fox vs Homeschool Manager
- Homeschool Fox vs Homeschool Minder
- Homeschool Fox vs Homeschool Planet
- Homeschool Fox vs Homeschool Tracker
- Homeschool Fox vs Lessontrek
- Homeschool Fox vs My School Year
- Homeschool Fox vs Notion
- Homeschool Fox vs Scholaric
- Homeschool Fox vs Transcript Maker
10 Keep reading
The blog and the help center
Beyond the core guides and tools.
The Homeschool Fox blog
Practical guides, curriculum reviews, scheduling tips, and stories from real homeschool families.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Reading
Help & feature docs
Step-by-step docs for every Homeschool Fox feature — from logging activities to compliance reports.
By Alyssa Leverenz · Help
Looking for something specific? Browse the full site index — every guide, tool, comparison, state, and help article in one place.