Homeschooling is on the rise. During COVID-19, nearly all families found themselves educating from home. For some families, learning from home was a short-term necessity. But, others have discovered that homeschooling is a great match for their needs.
So, what is homeschooling? It’s the process of parents educating children in the home. Many families choose to collaborate via tutorials, co-operatives, and extracurricular leagues to enhance the home education experience.
You may hear a lot of terms like online school, remote learning, and homeschooling thrown around interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different school choices! Read our explainer on the differences.
Importantly, all types of families homeschool for all sorts of reasons. Some may feel unsafe in a traditional learning environment, some may simply desire to learn together as a family, and others may be looking for a unique, personalized curriculum. Homeschooled students have become actors, artists, inventors, civic leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and more.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but rules and regulations surrounding homeschooling differ by state. If you’re wondering whether homeschooling would be a good fit for you, we’re sharing answers to questions about how to switch to homeschooling and what resources are available.
How to switch to homeschooling…
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Homeschool: Starting Out
If you’re just getting started, here are the steps you can take to switch to homeschooling:
1. Review state guidelines
First, review your state’s guidelines for homeschooling. While families can homeschool in all 50 states, each state has different legal options under which you can homeschool. In Texas, for instance, there is just one legal option: all homeschooling families are considered private schools. Meanwhile, in Virginia, there are four different legal options parents can choose from: the home instruction option, a religious exemption, a certified tutor, or a private school option.
You can look to your state’s Department of Education website, or find your state on the Home School Legal Defense Association’s map to read about your legal options for homeschooling.
If you want to know what special education services will be available for your child as a homeschool student, check the state-by-state resources we’ve put together at “How to Continue Your IEP, Even if You Start Homeschooling.”
In some cases, homeschool families may be eligible for grants or scholarship funding. For example, the Home School Legal Defense Association offers a limited number of curriculum grants, disaster relief grants, and homeschool group grants for families in need. And in some states, homeschool families can participate in state-run scholarship programs.
2. Withdraw and inform
Second, if you are already enrolled in a public or private school, it is recommended that you send a withdrawal letter to your school district. You can find a sample withdrawal letter from Midwest Parent Educators. It is a good idea to keep a copy of the withdrawal letter you send, in case any questions arise. Also, you may want to ask for transcripts from your child’s school when you withdraw.
Many states also require that you submit a notice of your intent to homeschool to the state and/or your school district. You can find detailed information at the Home School Legal Defense Association on who should receive your notice of intent.
3. Choose how you’ll learn
Next, develop your plans for what learning will look like in your home. What time will you start in the morning? How often will you learn through outings during the week? There are many curriculums you can choose from if you’d rather not start from scratch. One place to get started is the Homeschool Resource Roundup, which has put together PDFs summarizing hundreds of different curriculum options by grades offered, subjects offered, worldview, and more. Make sure you’re familiar with what subjects are required learning in your state.
4. Keep track
As you start to homeschool, do your best to keep track. Use a planner or syllabus to record what you work on each week with your child. Don’t forget to follow your state guidelines for testing and assessments!
Homeschooling in the United States
Homeschooling is becoming a popular school choice option among families this year, with 32% of school-searching parents indicating that they have considered homeschooling their child. Additionally, the number of students learning at home nationwide has grown over the past decade. In 2023, over 1.7 million students across the country were homeschooled. Recent surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau also reveal homeschooling growth across all races and income levels.
All 50 states permit parents to educate their children in the home. However, homeschooling regulations vary from state to state. While all states allow parents to educate their children at home, the specific requirements and regulations can differ significantly. Some states have stricter requirements regarding curriculum, testing, and reporting than others.
Explore your state’s school choice guide or scroll down to use our tool to learn about homeschooling near you.
Homeschool Resources in Your State
Ready to explore your local school options? Use our free “Schools Near Me” tool to search through more than 131,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools.
Our tool enhances the information we offer on school choice options in your state. With this tool, you can access information on more than 132,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools across the United States. You’ll be able to view essential information about each school, such as its address, phone number, and website.
The information in this guide is designed to help families who are considering homeschooling in their decision-making process. Our mission is to provide families with the information they need about all the school options available – traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and at home – so they can choose the right fit for their child. Read more guides about choosing other types of schools.