Homeschooling in the US: what each state asks of you

How homeschooling works in the US

Homeschooling means parents take responsibility for their child’s education at home instead of sending the child to a public or private school. The National Center for Education Statistics gives a working definition it uses in its surveys: children are counted as homeschooled if their parents report them being “schooled at home instead of at a public or private school,” and their enrollment in public or private schools does not exceed 24 hours a week, and they were not being homeschooled only due to a temporary illness.

That is a statistics definition, not a legal one. What a parent must actually do is set by the state where you live. The nine official pages we read below describe quite different systems. One state asks only that you teach a course of study. Another wants a notice of intent. Another tells you to check your district’s policy on which forms to file. Another asks for a signed state form and regular reviews of your child’s work. The practical lesson is simple: do not rely on what a friend in another state did.

Three questions will tell you most of what you need to know about any state:

1. Do I have to tell anyone before I start, and who?
2. Are there required subjects, or required reports, tests or reviews each year?
3. What do I do if my child is in school now and I want to take them out?

Your state’s department of education page, or your local school district’s page, usually answers all three.

What nine states ask of homeschooling parents

The table below quotes or closely follows each state’s own official page, read on 2026-11-14. It is a snapshot, not a full list of every duty in each state. Your state may not be here. If not, search for “home education” or “home instruction” on your state department of education website.

A few notes on reading this table.

Texas is a good example of why “no registration” does not mean “no rules.” The agency does not register you, but the page still describes a course of study and says a district may ask for a letter.

New Jersey shows the opposite pattern. The state’s FAQ says the law “does not require or authorize the local board of education to review and approve the curriculum,” yet it still explains when parents must tell the board. Read the question on that page about when notice is required, not just the headline.

Pennsylvania and Maryland both put real paperwork on the parent, and both route it through the local district. In Maryland the timing matters: the FAQ warns that a parent “can be held responsible for unexcused absences when a child has been withdrawn from public school but the notice of consent has not been filed and instruction has not been initiated.”

Ohio and Georgia both ask for something every year, with a fixed date: 30 August in Ohio, 1 September in Georgia. Put those dates in your calendar now.

Illinois and Michigan sit at the light end. Neither asks you to file anything to homeschool, but both list the subjects you must teach. In Michigan, registering with the state only matters if your child will use public school services, such as special education or a class at the local school.

Steps to take before you pull your child from school

1. Find your state’s official home education page. Use the department of education site, not a blog or a store.
2. Read the page twice. Write down every deadline, form and name of the office or person who receives it.
3. Look up your local school district’s policy page too, because Pennsylvania and New York both route filings through the district.
4. If your child is currently enrolled, do not stop sending them until you know what your state requires for withdrawal. Maryland’s page, for example, ties absences to the timing of the filing.
5. Send what is required, keep a dated copy, and note how you sent it. Email with a read receipt, certified mail or a portal confirmation all work as proof.
6. Set a calendar reminder for any yearly step. Several states described above ask for something every year.
7. Start a simple records folder on day one (see below).

If you are brand new, our guide on how to start homeschooling walks through the first weeks after the paperwork is done.

Islamic studies alongside state requirements

Many families who homeschool as Muslims want Quran, Arabic, salah and Islamic studies to be part of the day, not squeezed in at the end. The paperwork side and the faith side do not conflict, but they do need to be planned together.

Here is a simple way to do it.

• Know your required subjects. Some states list subjects, some only ask for a course of study. Write the list out for your child’s grade.
• Map Islamic studies on top. If your state lists reading, math and citizenship, Quran and Arabic sit alongside them. They do not replace them. Ask your state’s page whether a particular subject is mandatory before you drop it.
• Count Arabic and history honestly. Reading Arabic, memorizing surahs, and studying seerah are real instruction. In states that ask for a portfolio or an evaluation, they belong in your records. Where a subject like history or language arts is required, ask your district or evaluator how Islamic history and Arabic reading can be shown within it.
• Plan around prayer times. Our daily routine guide shows how to build a day around the five prayers, and the schedule builder lets you try different layouts.

On the religious question itself, scholars give different answers on schooling choices, and we do not issue rulings. One example: Ustadha Shazia Ahmad of SeekersGuidance, in an answer published on islamqa.org, said “Homeschooling might work, especially if there is a homeschooling co-op in your community.” Read is homeschooling allowed in Islam for the range of named views.

Records to keep

Even in a state that asks you to file nothing, keep your own records. They protect you if a district asks a question, and they help if your child later enrolls in school, a college or a program that wants to see prior learning.

A basic set:

• A copy of every notice, affidavit, declaration or consent form you sent, with the date and proof of delivery.
• A list of subjects taught each year, including Quran, Arabic and Islamic studies.
• A weekly log, even a short one: date, subject, what was done.
• Samples of work, such as writing, math pages, photos of projects, and recitation recordings if you wish.
• Any evaluations, test results or portfolio review notes, where your state asks for them. Maryland’s page, for instance, describes portfolio reviews at the end of each semester.
• Reading lists, with the title and author of each book.

Keep the records in one place and back them up. A paper folder and a cloud folder are both fine.

Finding Muslim co-ops and community

Homeschooling is easier with other families. Co-ops let children learn together, share costs of a teacher, and make friends who share their faith. Start with our page on Muslim homeschool co-ops, which explains what co-ops do and how to find or start one. Your local masjid or Islamic center may also host a weekend program or know families who homeschool. Ask at the education committee.

Choosing between homeschooling and a full-time Islamic school is a separate decision. See homeschool vs Islamic school if you are still weighing it.

Families in other countries can read the rules for the UK, Canada and Australia.

Before you rely on this page

Rules change, and local districts add their own steps. Every state page we cite lists its own contacts. Use those, confirm today’s requirement on the official page, and talk to your school district if something is unclear. If your situation is complicated, for example a child with an IEP, a custody order, or a move between states, ask a qualified education lawyer. This page is general information, not legal advice.