| Each state has its own general requirements | | | | homeschooling. These states general |
| for homeschoooling students. There are four | | | | requirements for homeschooling stipulate |
| categories of legal options for | | | | parents have to send notification or |
| homeschooling. The four categories are: | | | | achievement test scores, provide professional |
| states requiring no notice, states with low | | | | evaluations of student progress as well as |
| regulation, moderate regulation and high | | | | provide a written curriculum that needs to be |
| regulation. | | | | approved by the state, teacher qualification |
| | | | of the parents and on some occasions visits |
| Many of the regulations include parental | | | | by state officials to check the student's |
| notification, test scores, professional | | | | progress. These states include Washington, |
| evaluation of student progress and curriculum | | | | Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, West Virginia, |
| approval. Families shouldn't be scared off | | | | Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Maine, Rhode |
| by the general requirements for | | | | Island and Massachusetts. These states have |
| homeschooling. There may be some initial | | | | few requirements for the Kindergarten level |
| paperwork to handle but as long as the | | | | but the regulations become stricter at each |
| teaching parent can keep good records there | | | | subsequent grade level. |
| shouldn't be andy fear of the state stepping | | | | |
| in and ordering your child back to public | | | | A parent is considered competent to operate a |
| school. | | | | homeschool if they follow the individual |
| | | | state's regulations; they do not need to have |
| The states that have no requirements for | | | | teacher certification. The parents need to |
| homeschooling do not require the parents to | | | | file a notice at their local school that they |
| initiate any contact. These states include | | | | intend to homeschool in the low to highly |
| Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, | | | | regulated states. Those that fall within the |
| Indiana, Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey | | | | medium to highly regulated states will also |
| and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. | | | | need to keep attendance records, file |
| Parents are not obligated to contact the | | | | quarterly reports and a grade narrative for |
| school districts to notify them that they | | | | each of the subjects taught. Highly |
| will be homeschooling their children. | | | | regulated states may require an annual |
| | | | assessment at the end of the school year. |
| States that have low general requirements for | | | | |
| homeschooling require the parents to notify | | | | The general requirements for homeschool vary |
| the school district that they are | | | | greatly from state to state. The parents |
| homeschooling their children and nothing | | | | should be well versed in the legal aspects of |
| else. These states include California, | | | | homeschooling before they decide to attempt |
| Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New | | | | it. Most parents will find that the red tape |
| Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, | | | | at the beginning is well worth it. |
| Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Delaware, | | | | |
| Washington D.C. and the territory of the | | | | To stay abreast of the current trends, |
| Virgin Islands. | | | | information and resources available for |
| | | | homeschool parents, teachers and students |
| Moderately regulated states require parents | | | | subscribe to Homeschool Success News. |
| to send notification, test scores and provide | | | | |
| a professional evaluation of the student's | | | | If you need an online tutor, courseware or |
| progress. The states in this category | | | | wish to offer your services as a paid online |
| include Oregon, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, | | | | tutor contact our website. Magic Learning |
| Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, | | | | Systems also provides excellent products to |
| Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, | | | | enhance the homeschool experience for |
| Georgia, Florida, Maryland and the | | | | teachers and students. For additional |
| territories of American Samoa and Northern | | | | information visit the Homeschool Success News |
| Mariana Islands. | | | | website. |
| | | | |
| States with the highest regulations may be | | | | Dr. J. |
| the most troublesome to parents contemplating | | | | |