Homeschool Connects

← Back to Learn

Homeschool Requirements by State + DC

Understand your state's (and Washington DC's) homeschool laws, notification requirements, and compliance guidelines.

Understanding Difficulty Levels

Low Regulation

Minimal or no notification required. Few restrictions on curriculum or testing.

Medium Regulation

Notification required. May require testing or portfolio reviews.

High Regulation

Strict notification, approval process, regular testing, and portfolio requirements.

Select Your State or DC

AL

Alabama

AK

Alaska

AZ

Arizona

AR

Arkansas

CA

California

CO

Colorado

CT

Connecticut

DE

Delaware

DC

District of Columbia

FL

Florida

GA

Georgia

HI

Hawaii

ID

Idaho

IL

Illinois

IN

Indiana

IA

Iowa

KS

Kansas

KY

Kentucky

LA

Louisiana

ME

Maine

MD

Maryland

MA

Massachusetts

MI

Michigan

MN

Minnesota

MS

Mississippi

MO

Missouri

MT

Montana

NE

Nebraska

NV

Nevada

NH

New Hampshire

NJ

New Jersey

NM

New Mexico

NY

New York

NC

North Carolina

ND

North Dakota

OH

Ohio

OK

Oklahoma

OR

Oregon

PA

Pennsylvania

RI

Rhode Island

SC

South Carolina

SD

South Dakota

TN

Tennessee

TX

Texas

UT

Utah

VT

Vermont

VA

Virginia

WA

Washington

WV

West Virginia

WI

Wisconsin

WY

Wyoming

Popular States

Texas
Low regulation - Very homeschool friendly
  • No notification required
  • No testing required
  • Minimal requirements

~358,000 homeschoolers

Florida
Medium regulation - Notification required
  • Notification required
  • Annual evaluation
  • Multiple evaluation options

~156,000 homeschoolers

California
Medium regulation - Multiple options
  • File private school affidavit
  • No testing required
  • Flexible requirements

~245,000 homeschoolers

Quick Reference Table
Overview of requirements and statistics across all states
StateDifficultyNotificationTestingPortfolioHomeschoolers
Alabama
Medium		RequiredNoNo32,000
Alaska
Low		NoOptionalNo8,500
Arizona
Low		YesNoNo52,000
Arkansas
Low		RequiredYesNo24,000
California
Medium		OptionalNoNo245,000
Colorado
Low		RequiredYesNo48,000
Connecticut
Medium		RequiredNoYes21,000
Delaware
Medium		NoNoNo5,200
District of Columbia
Medium		RequiredYesNo2,800
Florida
Medium		RequiredYesYes156,000

Showing 10 of 51 states

* Homeschooler population estimates based on 2023-2024 data from state departments of education, HSLDA, and Coalition for Responsible Home Education. Actual numbers may vary as not all states track homeschoolers.

Legal Resources

HSLDA

Home School Legal Defense Association

Coalition for Responsible Home Education

State law database

Find Local Support

Connect with other homeschool families in your state who understand local requirements.

Find Local GroupsBrowse Organizations