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Homeschool laws in Colorado

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 6 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Colorado to-do

For “Nonpublic home-based educational program”. 2 other legal ways below.

  1. Send the notice of intent First year
    14 days before you start the home-based program.
  2. Send the yearly notice of intent Every year after
    Each year after the first while the program continues (the law sets no date).
  3. Test or evaluate and send the results Every year Grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
    In grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (the law sets no date).

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android

What Colorado asks

Most Colorado home schools run a home-based education program: send a notice to a school district 14 days before starting and every year after, teach 172 days averaging 4 hours a day, keep permanent attendance, test and immunization records, and test or have the child evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. A child may instead be enrolled in an independent or parochial school for at least 172 days, or be taught at home by a Colorado-licensed teacher.

School age: Ages 6–16. Children who are 6 on or before August 1 and under 17 must attend school. For a home-based program, the notice is not needed until the child is 6, the program need not start until 7, and neither is needed after 16.

Colorado has 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Nonpublic home-based educational program

C.R.S. 22-33-104.5; 22-33-104(2)(i)(II) · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: 14 days before you start the program, then each year while it continues: a written notice to any Colorado school district with each child's name, age, place of residence and hours of attendance (notifying your own district too helps avoid truancy action).
The state's form
Time
172 days a year, 4 hours a day
At least 172 days of instruction, averaging 4 instructional contact hours a day (an average, not a daily minimum).
Subjects
  • reading, writing and speaking (communication skills)
  • mathematics
  • history
  • civics
  • literature
  • science
  • the U.S. Constitution
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: Grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11: a nationally standardized achievement test, or an evaluation by a qualified person (a licensed teacher, a teacher at an independent or parochial school, a licensed psychologist, or someone with a graduate degree in education). Not the state CMAS tests.
The law sets no date; results go to the district that got your notice, or to a Colorado independent or parochial school (then tell the district its name).
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • attendance data
  • test and evaluation results
  • immunization records
  • kept permanently; shown to the notified district on 14 days written notice if it has probable cause
Teacher
The parent or an adult relative the parent designates; no teaching license needed.

Deadlines

  • Send the notice of intent: 14 days before you start the home-based program.
  • Send the yearly notice of intent: Each year after the first while the program continues (the law sets no date).
  • Test or evaluate and send the results: In grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (the law sets no date).
A test score at or below the 13th percentile (after a chance to retest) or an evaluation showing not enough progress means the child must attend a public, independent or parochial school until the next testing period.
A child who was habitually truant in the last 6 months of school needs a written description of the curriculum sent with the notice.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, Year-end summary, High-school transcript.

Another option: Enrollment in an independent or parochial (umbrella) school

C.R.S. 22-33-104(2)(b) · Level 3: Moderate

All the details and notes
Notice
No notice to file
Time
172 days a year
Subjects
  • reading, writing and speaking (communication skills)
  • mathematics
  • history
  • civics
  • literature
  • science
Assessment
Set by your school or school district
Portfolio
Set by your school or school district
Reports
Set by your school or school district
Records to keep
Set by your school or school district
Teacher
Set by your school or school district
Colorado law treats non-public schools and home study separately; the school, not the state, decides how home instruction works.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Instruction at home by a Colorado-licensed teacher

C.R.S. 22-33-104(2)(i)(I) · Level 1: Very light

All the details
Notice
No notice to file
Time
No set number of days or hours
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
A teacher licensed in Colorado (article 60.5 or 61 of title 22).

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Colorado Department of Education.

Keep your Colorado records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Colorado asks for.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android