How to start homeschooling
Five steps. Start with what your state asks; the rest is simpler than it looks.
See what your state asks
Every state is different. Some ask for nothing; others want a notice, set days or hours, a test or a portfolio. Your state's page lists its to-do with dates and official sources.
If your child is in school, do the first step before you stop
Some states ask for a notice, an affidavit or an approval before you start, and a few have steps for leaving a school. Do these first so the days you teach count.
Find your state's first stepChoose what to teach
Start simple: a few subjects a day. Use a curriculum you like, or our free starter plan for each grade, and change it as you go.
See plans by gradePlan your school year
Pick your first day, the days of the week you teach and your breaks. If your state counts days or hours, see what that means per day.
Count days and hoursKeep simple records as you go
Start with a line a day: what you did, and for how long, plus a few samples of work. Your state page says if it asks for more.
Print an attendance sheet
Let Homepen keep the records
Plan each child's week, tick lessons, and Homepen counts the days and hours, reminds you of your state's dates and makes the reports.
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Questions
Do I have to tell the state?
It depends on the state. In our checked data for the 50 states and DC, 14 ask for no notice for their main way to homeschool; the others ask for a notice, an affidavit or an approval. Your state's page says which, with the source.
How many days or hours do we need?
18 of 51 set days or hours for their main way to homeschool; the rest set no number. The hours calculator turns your state's rule into hours a day.
Will my child have to take tests?
In 29 of 51, the main way to homeschool has no required test or evaluation. Where one is required, your state's page lists the grades and the deadline.
Do I need a curriculum?
You choose what to teach. Any curriculum works, or start with our free plan for your child's grade and adjust it.
General information, not legal advice. Each state page shows its official sources and the date we checked them.