Homeschooling Laws

Each state has different homeschooling laws. Some states have many regulations, some have none, with many others in between..

State Laws and Regulations For Homeschooling

Homeschooling IS legal in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights do not mention education. There is a federal Department of Education, but education is a matter of state's rights and is regulated at the state level.

The requirements for registration, testing, and reporting vary from state to state. Some states, like Texas and Michigan, are considered "homeschool friendly" because they do not require parents to initiate contact with the state before homeschooling. Others states, like New York and North Dakota, are highly regulated and require extensive reporting. Most states fall between these two extremes.

Make sure you are familiar with the requirements for your state.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Associaion (HSLDA) has an excellent website dedicated to helping you navigate the legal waters of home educating in your state including information on homeschool testing requirements. Click here to open HSLDA's website in a new window.

Homeschool and Public School Sports

One of the disadvantages of homeschooling for families with athletic children is the lack of "team" homeschool sports programs. The fact is, some states have laws granting equal access for homeschoolers to participate in extra curricular activities (sports and other clubs) at the public schools.

According to the HSLDA: "Eighteen states currently force public schools to allow homeschoolers access to classes or sports. These include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. In both Arizona and Oregon, the law only requires school districts to allow access to “interscholastic” activities. Yet the effect of the laws in these two states generally allows homeschoolers to participate in any activities they choose."

In other states, like mine, the decision is left up to the school district.

Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida and now Denver Bronco quarterback, was able to play high school football at Nease High School in Ponte Vedre Beach, FL as a full time homeschool student because of Florida's law. Many parents in other states are now trying to get their state legislature to pass similar homeschooling laws to make public school sports programs available to their children.

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