HOME SCHOOLING IN CONNECTICUT AND OTHER STATES

OLR Research Report


January 16, 2002		2002-R-0036
HOME SCHOOLING IN CONNECTICUT AND OTHER STATES

By: Judith Lohman, Chief Analyst

You asked for a comparison of Connecticut's regulation of home schooling with that of other states. You also asked how many students are home-schooled in the United States and Connecticut and how the number has increased.

SUMMARY

Connecticut is the only state that does not have a state statute covering home schooling, according to a 1996 survey by the Education Commission of the States. Instead, its procedure for home instruction is embodied in a 1994 State Board of Education (SBE) policy. The procedure, which is published in an education commissioner's circular letter, is suggested rather than mandatory and is offered as a method for parents and school boards to ensure that home-schooled children receive an education that is "equivalent" to that offered in the public schools, as required by the state's compulsory education law.

According to a state-by-state compilation of state home schooling requirements published by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), 29 states, including Connecticut, and the District of Columbia have one level of regulation for all types of home school operations, while 21 have varying requirements depending on the type of home school.

The most common state requirement on home schools, imposed by 44 states, including Connecticut, is that students receive instruction in specified subjects. Other common requirements are that parents notify local or state school authorities that they will be providing home instruction, that students attend for a minimum number of days per year, and that home schools keep certain records.

Twenty-three states impose minimum teacher qualifications for home instruction. But several apply them only to hired instructors acting as private tutors. The most common requirement for parents teaching their own children is a high school diploma or GED. Eleven states require home-schooled students to take statewide achievement tests.

Two states, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, require all home schools to be approved in advance by local school authorities.

There is a wide disparity in estimates of the number of children in the United States who are educated at home. Two recently published totals for 1999-2000 differ by more than 100% (850,000 versus 1. 7 million). But estimates agree that the national number of home-schooled children grew in the 1990s. Home-schooled students appear to represent about 1. 7% to 3% of all U. S. students aged five to 17.

The reported number of home-schooled students in Connecticut also grew every year over the last 12, increasing by about 622% from 1990 to 2001, according to State Department of Education (SDE) figures. Home- schooled students represent about 0. 3% of all public and private K-12 students in the state.

CONNECTICUT'S REGULATION OF HOME SCHOOLING

State Law

Connecticut law requires parents and others having control of any child aged five to 15 (17 starting July 1, 2002) to send him to public school in the district where he lives, unless they can demonstrate he is receiving "equivalent instruction" somewhere else. If the child is five, a parent may sign a form at the local school district office that he is holding the child out of school until age six or, if the child is six, until age seven.

Parents must instruct their children or have them instructed in reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, and United States history and citizenship, including the study of federal, state, and local government (CGS § 10-184). Local school boards must make sure that school age children living in their districts are taught "in accordance with the provisions of § 10-184" (§ 10-220(a)).

According to the SBE, children may be educated at home as long as their parents show they are receiving an education program equivalent to that specified in the law. (Circular Letter to School Superintendents from the Education Commissioner, #C-14, 1994-95 Series, July 15, 1994).

SBE Policy

The 1994 circular letter suggests procedures for parents and local school boards to follow when parents educate children at home. Under the suggested procedure, parents file a form with the local school superintendent stating their intention to teach their child at home and providing basic information about their educational program. The information on the form includes the teacher's name, the subjects to be taught, the days of instruction, and what the teacher's assessment methods will be. The notice remains in effect for one year. The school district makes sure the form is complete and retains it as part of its permanent records. School officials hold an annual portfolio review with parents to determine if they have given the legally required instruction.

The circular letter states that, if the suggested procedure is followed, the requirements of Sections 10-184 and 10-220(a) will be satisfied. By filing the form, the parent acknowledges full responsibility for the child's education according to the law. By receiving the form, the school district does not signify its approval of the content or effectiveness of the home instruction. The children of parents who refuse to file the form or to participate in the annual portfolio review may be declared truant.

Local boards must report the number of home-schooled children in their districts annually to the SDE along with other required education statistics.

HOME SCHOOLING REGULATION IN OTHER STATES

All states allow home schooling and all regulate it to some extent. Some states have different requirements depending on how the home schooling is delivered and some prescribe how a home school must be organized in order to be legal. In states that specify more than one legal home schooling option, requirements may apply only to some options. The summaries and tables in this report are taken from HSLDA's website. They cover legal home schooling options and requirements for attendance, subjects, teacher qualifications, notice, records, and student testing and evaluation.

States With Multiple Home Schooling Options

Twenty-one states specify more than one legal method for home schooling and impose different levels of regulation depending on the method used. The states with more than one legal home schooling method are listed in Table A.

Required Attendance

Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia require home-schooled students to be taught for a minimum number of days or hours per year. Some also require a minimum number of hours per day (see Table B). Connecticut is one of 11 states that have no specific attendance requirements. The other 10 are: Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont.

Required Subjects

Forty-four states, including Connecticut, either require home-schooled students to be taught particular subjects or impose some other curricular requirements (see Table B). Six states and the District of Columbia have no subject or curriculum requirements. The six states are: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oregon.

Teacher Qualifications

Twenty-three states impose minimum educational requirements for at least some kinds of home-school teachers, such as hired private tutors or home-schools operating under the supervision of school authorities (see Table B). Many of these same states also allow home school options that require no special teaching qualifications, such as home schools in which parents teach their own children.

Twenty-seven states, including Connecticut, require no special qualifications for any home-school teachers. The others are: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The District of Columbia also imposes no requirements in this area.

Notice

Forty-one states and the District of Columbia require some notice when a parent intends to instruct a child at home. Some states require annual notice. The District of Columbia requires notice only if the child is being removed from public school, not if he never starts. States vary in whether the notice must go to the local superintendent or the state (see Table C). Nine states, including Connecticut, do not require notice. The other eight are: Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.

Records

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia require some or all kinds of home schools to maintain records on their students, such as attendance records and records of students' academic work and progress (see Table C).

Twenty-three states, including Connecticut, have no record-keeping requirements. The other 22 are: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Testing and Evaluation

Thirty states require some or all home-schooled students to be tested or evaluated periodically. Of these, 11 require standardized tests. The others require standardized tests, a portfolio, or another type of outside evaluation (see Table D).

Twenty states, including Connecticut, and the District of Columbia have no mandatory evaluation or testing. The other states are: Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

NUMBERS OF HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS

National

There is no hard count of the number of children in the United States who are home-schooled. All published numbers are estimates. Among them are the following:

· The National Home Education Research Institute estimates there were between 1. 3 million and 1. 7 million home-schooled students in grades K-12 in 1999-2000 and that the number is growing at the rate of 7% to 15% annually ("Facts on Home Schooling").

· The U. S. Department of Education estimates that there were between 200,000 and 250,000 home-schooled children in 1990-91; 700,000 to 750,000 in 1995-96; and "possibly" 1 million by 1997-98. The department also estimates the annual growth in home-schooled children at 7% to 15% per year. ("Home Schoolers: Estimating Numbers and Growth," Patricia M. Lines, U. S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Spring 1999).

· A recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics estimates that there were 850,000 home-schooled students in spring 1999. This estimate is based on results from a national survey of parents. (Home Schooling in the United States: 1999, Stacey Bielick, Kathryn Chandler, and Stephen R. Broughman, National Center for Education Statistics, July 2001).

Connecticut

The number of children in Connecticut who are home-schooled increased almost six times from 364 in 1990 to 2,266 in 2001, according to figures provided by the SDE. Annual numbers for the last 12 years are shown below

1990	364
1991	642
1992	860
1993	1,113
1994	1,461
1995	1,643
1996	1,771
1997	1,790
1998	1,880
1999	1,988
2000	2,193
2001	2,266

The numbers are from reports by local superintendents on annual ED-006 forms, which asks for the number of students in each district who would be attending school if they were not receiving equivalent instruction at home. According to Katherine Nicoletti of the SDE, the department believes the actual number of home-schooled students in the state is higher than the numbers reported since not every home-school family notifies the local school superintendent. Table A: States With Multiple Legal Home School Methods


*State*	*Legal Home School Method*
Alabama	Establish or enroll in a church school	Private tutor
Alaska	Home school	Private tutor	State-approved correspondence course	School board-approved alternate educational experience
California	Qualify as private school	Private tutor	Independent study through public school	Independent study through private school
Colorado	Home school	Private tutor	Private school allowing home instruction
Delaware	Home school that is part of home school organization or association	Home school providing instruction approved by state board of education and local superintendent
Florida	Home school	Private school corporation (legally incorporated group of home school families)
Hawaii	Home school	Superintendent -approved alternative education program
Iowa	Home school	Private tutor	Home school supervised by licensed teacher
Kansas	Nonaccredited private home school	Home school satellite of accredited private school	State board of education-approved religious exemption in high school grades
Louisiana	Home school approved by board of education	Home school operated as private school
Maine	Home school approved by local school board and state education commissioner	Home school operated as nonapproved private school with at least two unrelated students
Maryland	Home school	Supervised home instruction through church school or state-approved correspondence course
Michigan	Home education program	Home school operated as nonpublic school
North Dakota	Home school	Home school operating as county and state approved private school
Pennsylvania	Home education program	Private tutor teaching children in same family, providing a majority of instruction, and receiving pay or other consideration	Home school operated as satellite or extension of church or religious day school
South Carolina	Home school approved by local school board	Home school that is a member of the SC Assn of Independent Home Schools	Home school that is a member of a home school association with at least 50 members
Tennessee	Home school	Home school associated with church-related school	Satellite campus of church-related school	Satellite campus of nonrecognized religious school based on assertion that church-related school unconstitutionally excludes certain religions
Utah	Home school approved by local school board	Group of home school families operating as a private school
Virginia	Home school	Home school operating under religious exemption law	Private tutor
Washington	Home school	Extension program of an approved private school designed for parents to teach their children at home
West Virginia	Home school	Home school approved by local school board

Source: Home School Legal Defense Association

Table B: States With Attendance, Subject, or Teacher Qualification Requirements

*State*	*Attendance*	*Subjects*	*Teacher Qualifications*
Alabama*
Private tutor	140 days per year, 3 hours per day between 8 am and 4 pm	Reading spelling, writing, arithmetic, English, geography, US history, science, health, physical education, Alabama history	Teacher certification
Alaska*
Private tutor	180 days	Comparable to public school	Teacher certification
State-approved correspondence course			None
School board approved alternate educational experience			None
Arizona	None	Reading, grammar, math, social studies, science	None

*State*	*Attendance*	*Subjects*	*Teacher Qualifications*
California
Qualify as private school	None	Same as public school and in English language	Capable of teaching
Private tutor	175 days/ 3 hours per day	Same as public school and in English language	Teacher certification
Independent study through public school	As prescribed by program	As prescribed by program	None
Independent study through private school	As prescribed by program	As prescribed by program	Capable of teaching
Colorado
Home school	172 days, average 4 hours/day	US Constitution, reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, and science	None
Private school allowing home instruction	None	As prescribed by program	None
Private tutor	None	US Constitution, reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, and science	Teacher certification
Connecticut	None	Reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, U. S. history, citizenship (including federal, state, and local government).	None
Delaware
Home school as part of home school organization or association	180 days	Same as public schools	None
Home school providing instruction approved by state board of education and local superintendent	180 days	Same as public schools	None
District of Columbia	During the period public schools are in session	None	None
Florida*
Private school corporation (legally incorporated group of home school families)	180 days	None	None
Georgia	180 days per year, 4. 5 hours per day	Reading, language arts, math, social studies, science	High school diploma or GED for parent; bachelor's degree for private tutor
Hawaii
Home school	None	Structured curriculum, based on educational objectives and child's needs; cumulative and sequential, provide range of up-to-date knowledge and needed skills; take child's interests, needs, and abilities into account	None
Superintendent -approved alternative education program	As prescribed in approval process	As prescribed in approval process	Bachelor's degree
Idaho	Same as public schools	Same as public schools	None
Illinois	None	Language arts, biological and physical science, math, social studies, fine arts, health and physical development, honesty, justice, kindness, moral courage	None
Indiana	Same as public schools (generally 180 days per year)	None	None
Iowa
Home school	148 days/year, 37 days/quarter	None	None
Home school supervised by licensed teacher			None for teaching parent, license for supervising teacher
Private tutor			Teaching license
Kansas
Nonaccredited private home school	Substantially equivalent to public schools (186 days or 1,116 hours per year; 1,086 hours for 12^th grade)	None	"Competent" teacher
Home school satellite of accredited private school	Prescribed by supervising private school	Prescribed by supervising private school	"Competent" teacher
State board of education-approved religious exemption in high school grades	Prescribed during approval process	Prescribed during approval process	Prescribed during approval process
Kentucky	185 days per year or the equivalent of 175 six-hour days	Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, civics	None
Louisiana
Home school approved by board of education	180 days	At least equal to quality of instruction in public schools including Declaration of Independence and Federalist Papers	None
Home school operated as private school	180 days		None
Maine
Home school approved by local school board and state education commissioner	175 days	English, language arts, math, science, social studies, physical and health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies (in one grade between grade 6 and 12), computer proficiency (in one grade between grade 7 and 12)	None
Home school operated as non-approved private school with at least two unrelated students	175 days	None	None
Maryland
Home school	Sufficient duration to implement instructional program	Same as public schools including English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, physical education	None
Supervised home instruction through church school or state-approved correspondence course	Prescribed by supervising program	Prescribed by supervising program	None
Massachusetts	None (900 hours at elementary and 990 at secondary level are expected)	Reading, writing, English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, history, US Constitution, duties of citizenship, health (including CPR), physical education, good behavior	None
Michigan
Home education program	None	Reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics, literature, writing, English grammar	None
Home school operated as nonpublic school	None	Comparable to public school	Teaching certificate unless claiming religious exemption
Minnesota	None	Reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, governments, health, physical education	None
Mississippi	Number of days that home school requires for promotion from grade to grade	None	None
Missouri	1,000 hours per year, at least 600 in required subjects, 400 of which must occur at the "regular home school location"	Reading, math, social studies, language arts, science	None
Montana	180 days per year, 4 hours per day in grades 1-3 and 6 hours per day in grades 4-12	Same "basic instructional program" as public schools	None
Nebraska	1,032 hours per year for elementary; 1,080 for high school	Language arts, math, science, social studies, health	None unless family employs a teacher
Nevada	180 days per year, 240 minutes per day for grades 1-2; 300 minutes for grades 3-6; 330 minutes for grades 7-12	Equivalent to kind and amount of instruction provided by the state board of education; US and Nevada constitutions	(1) teaching certificate for grade level taught, (2) consult with licensed teacher or three-year home school veteran, (3) use an approved correspondence course, or (4) obtain a waiver. First three waived after one year.
New Hampshire	None	Science, math, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, US and New Hampshire constitutional history, art and music appreciation	None
New Jersey	None	US and New Jersey history, citizenship, civics, geography, safety, physical education. May opt out of sexual assault prevention and health.	None
New Mexico	Same as public school	Reading, language arts, math, social studies, science	High school diploma or equivalent
New York	Substantial equivalent of 180 days per year, 900 hours per year for grades 1-6, 900 for grades 7-12	K-12: patriotism, citizenship, substance abuse, traffic and fire safety 1-6: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, US history, science, health, music, visual arts, physical education 7-8: English, history and geography, science, math, physical education, health, art, music, practical arts, library skills 9-12: English, social studies (including American history, participation in government, and economics), math, science, art or music, health, physical education, electives	Competent
North Carolina	Nine calendar months per year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations	None	High school diploma or GED

*State*	*Attendance*	*Subjects*	*Teacher Qualifications*
North Dakota
Home school	175 days, 4 hours/day	English language arts, including reading, composition, creative writing, English grammar, spelling; math; social studies, including US Constitution and history, geography, and government; science, including agriculture; physical education; health, including physiology, hygiene, disease control, and nature and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics	(1) teaching certificate, (2) bachelor's degree, (3) high school diploma or GED and be monitored by a certified teacher for first two years of home instruction (monitoring must continue if student scores below 50^th percentile on required standardized achievement test), or (4) meet or exceed the cut-off score of the national teacher exam
Home school operating as county- and state- approved private school	Same as public schools		Teacher certification
Ohio	900 hours per year	Language arts, geography, US and Ohio history, government, math, health, physical education, fine arts, first aid, science	High school diploma, GED, test scores showing high school equivalence, or work under a person with a bachelor's degree until child's test scores show proficiency or parent earns diploma or GED
Oklahoma	180 days	Reading, writing, math, science, citizenship, US Constitution, health, safety, physical education, conservation	None
Pennsylvania
Home education program	180 days; 900 hours at elementary level, 990 for high school level	Elementary: English, spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, science, geography, US and Pennsylvania history, civics, safety, fire prevention, health and physiology, physical education, music, art Secondary: English; literature; speech and composition; biology; chemistry; geography; civics; economics; world, US, and Pennsylvania history; foreign language, general math and statistics, algebra, and geometry; art; music; physical education; health and physiology; safety and fire prevention	High school diploma or equivalent
Private tutor teaching children in same family, providing a majority of instruction, and receiving pay or other consideration			Teacher certification
Home school operated as satellite or extension of church or religious day school			None
Rhode Island	"Substantially equal" to public schools	Reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, US and Rhode Island history, principles of American government, English, health and physical education, US and Rhode Island constitutions in high school	None
*State*	*Attendance*	*Subjects*	*Teacher Qualifications*
South Carolina
Home school approved by local school board	180 days; 4. 5 hours/day	Reading, writing, math, science, social studies and, in grades 7-12, composition and literature	High school diploma, GED, or bachelor's degree
Home school that is a member of the SC Assn of Independent Home Schools	180 days		High school diploma or GED
Home school that is a member of a home school association with at least 50 members	180 days		High school diploma or GED
South Dakota	Equivalent to public schools (generally 175 days per year)	Language arts, math	None
Tennessee
Home school	180 days, 4 hours/day	Grades K-8: None Grades 9-12: College prep courses required for admission to state-operated four-year colleges or general studies courses as required by the state for high school graduation	Grades K-8: High school diploma or GED Grades 9-12: College degree or exemption from education commissioner
Home school associated with church-related school	As prescribed by the church school	As prescribed by the church school	None
Satellite campus of church-related school	As prescribed by the church school	As prescribed by the church school
Satellite campus of nonrecognized religious school based on assertion that church-related school unconstitutionally excludes certain religions	As prescribed by the religious school	As prescribed by the religious school
Texas	None	Reading, spelling, grammar, math, good citizenship	None
Utah*
Home school approved by local school board	Same as public schools	Language arts, math, science, social studies, arts, health, computer literacy, and vocational education	Local school board may consider teacher's ability in approval
Vermont	None	Reading, writing, math, citizenship, history, US and Vermont government, physical education, health, English, American and other literature, science, fine arts	None
Virginia*
Home school not operating under religious exemption	Same as public schools (180 days)	If operating under teacher qualification #4, math and language arts. Otherwise, none.	(1) Bachelor's degree, (2) teaching certificate, (3) use an approved correspondence course, or (4) submit evidence that parent can teach and use curriculum that includes state objectives for math and language arts
Private tutor	None	None	Teacher certification
Washington
Home school	Kindergarten: 450 hours Grades 1-12: 1,000 hours	Occupational education, science, math, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, music, art appreciation, US and Washington constitutions	(1) be supervised by certified teacher, (2) have 45 college credit hours, or (3) be deemed qualified by local superintendent
Extension program of an approved private school designed for parents to teach their children at home	Kindergarten: 450 hours Grades 1-12: 1,000 hours		Supervised by certified teacher employed by private school
West Virginia
Home school	None	English, grammar, reading, social studies, math	High school diploma and formal education at least four years higher than the most academically advanced child to be taught (waived through 2002-03 academic year)
Home school approved by local school board	Same as public school (180 days)	English, grammar, reading, social studies, math	Deemed qualified to teach by local superintendent and school board
Wisconsin	875 hours of instruction per year	Sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, health. Curriculum need not "conflict with program's religious doctrine"	None
Wyoming	175 days per year	Basic academic educational program providing sequentially progressive instruction in reading writing, math, civics, history, literature, science	None

*These states have other legal options with no requirements.

Source: Home School Legal Defense Association

Table B: States with Notice or Record Requirements

*State*	*Notice*	*Records*
Arizona	File an affidavit with local superintendent within 30 days of start or end of home schooling.	None
Arkansas	File written notice with superintendent by 8/15 for fall, 12/15 for spring semester, or 14 days before withdrawing student mid-semester. Thereafter, annually at beginning of school year.	None
California*
Qualify as private school	Annual affidavit with county superintendent between 10/1 and 10/15.	Attendance register
Independent study through public school	Part of enrollment process.	As prescribed by program.
Independent study through private school	None	As prescribed by program.
Colorado*
Home school	Notice of intent with local superintendent within 14 days before start of home school and annually thereafter.	Attendance and immunization records, test and evaluation results.
Delaware
Home school as part of home school organization or association	Association or organization must register with state education department. Both types of schools must report enrollment, student ages, and attendance to department annually by 7/31, and submit annual statement of enrollment as of last school day of September in form prescribed by the department.	Report annual enrollment, student ages, and attendance.
Home school providing instruction approved by state board of education and local superintendent		Report annual enrollment, student ages, and attendance.
District of Columbia	None, unless the child is being removed from public school.	Accurate daily attendance record.
Florida*
Home school	Notice of intent with local superintendent within 30 days of establishing.	Portfolio of records and material (log of texts and sample work sheets).
Georgia	Declaration of intent to superintendent within 30 days after beginning home schooling and by 9/1 annually thereafter.	Attendance records submitted monthly to superintendent; write and retain annual progress report.
Hawaii*
Home school	File prior notice with principal of public school child would otherwise attend; notify same principal within five days after ending home school.	Record of planned curriculum.
Iowa (same for all home schooling methods)	File two copies specific form with local school district by first day of school or within 14 days of withdrawing from school.	None
Indiana	None unless specifically request by state education superintendent.	Attendance records.
Kansas*
Home school operated as a nonaccredited private school	Register name and address of school with state board of education.	None
Kentucky	Notice to local school board within two weeks of start of school year.	Attendance register and scholarship reports.
Louisiana
Home school approved by board of education	Application and copy of child's birth certificate to board of education within 15 days after start of home school and annually thereafter.	Documentation needed to satisfy testing requirement.
Home school operated as private school	Notify state education department within first 30 days of the start of the school year.	None
Maine*
Home school approved by local school board and state education commissioner	Complete state form, submit copy to local school board and state education commissioner 60 days prior to start of home school.	None

*State*	*Notice*	*Records*
Maryland
Home school	Notice to state education department at least 15 days before starting.	Portfolio of relevant materials reviewable by local superintendent up to three times a year.
Supervised home instruction through church school or state-approved correspondence course		As prescribed by supervising program.
Massachusetts	Operation of home school requires advance approval by local school committee or superintendent, so no additional notice is required.	None
Michigan*
Home school operated as nonpublic school	Submit statement of enrollment to local superintendent at start of each school year.	Enrollment, courses, teacher qualifications to be submitted to state education department on request.
Minnesota	File name, age, and address of each student with local superintendent by October 1 annually.	If teaching parent not at least a college graduate, submit quarterly reports to local superintendent showing achievement of each child in required subjects.
Mississippi	File certificate of enrollment with district attendance officer by 9/15 annually.	None
Missouri	None	Record of subjects taught, activities, samples of child's academic work, and evaluations or credible equivalent.
Montana	File annual notice with county superintendent.	Attendance and immunization records; must be available for inspection by county superintendent on request.
Nebraska	Annual notice of intent with state education commission by 8/1 annually or 30 days before start of home school.	None
Nevada	Annually file satisfactory written evidence with local school board that child is receiving home instruction equivalent to that approved by state board of education.	None
New Hampshire	Within 30 days of withdrawing from public school or moving into the district, file a written notice of intent with private school principal, state education commissioner, or local superintendent.	Portfolio of records and materials including log of reading materials used, samples of writing, worksheet, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the child.
New Mexico	File notice of intent with state superintendent within 30 days of establishing and by 4/1 of each subsequent year.	Immunization records.
New York	File annual notice of intent with local superintendent by 7/1 or within 14 days if home schooling starts mid-year; complete and submit Individualized Home Instruction Plan form provided by district.	Attendance records (available on request of local superintendent); file quarterly reports with superintendent showing hours of instruction, material covered in each subject, and a grade or narrative evaluation in each subject.
North Carolina	File notice of intent with state division of nonpublic education upon starting home school.	Attendance and immunization records and results of standardized tests.
North Dakota
Home school	Annual notice with local superintendent within 14 days before start of school year or of establishing home school. For autistic children, also file a copy of the child's diagnosis from a licensed psychologist along with an individualized education program developed and followed by the child's school district and parent or by a team selected and compensated by the parent.	Annual record of courses and each child's academic progress assessments, including standardized achievement test results. For autistic children, also file with the local superintendent progress reports from an individualized education program team selected by the parent on or before 11/ 1, 2/1, and 5/1 of each school year.
Home school operating as county- and state- approved private school	Part of approval process.	None
Ohio	Annual notice to local superintendent.	None
Oregon	Notify education service district in writing when home schooling starts.	None
Pennsylvania
Home education program	Notarized affidavit with local superintendent before starting home school and by 8/1 annually.	Portfolio of materials used, work done; test results in grades 3, 5, and 8; and written evaluation prepared by June 30 each year.
Private tutor teaching children in same family, providing a majority of instruction, and receiving pay or other consideration	Copy of certification and criminal history record to local superintendent.	None
Home school operated as satellite or extension of church or religious day school	School principal files notarized affidavit with state education department.	None
Rhode Island	Requirement for home school approval by local school board serves as notice.	Attendance register.
South Carolina*
Home school approved by local school board	None	Maintain evidence of regular instruction, including record of subjects taught, activities in which student and parent engage, portfolio of student work, record of academic evaluations with semi-annual progress report.
Home school that is a member of a home school association with at least 50 members	None	Same as above except records of academic evaluations are not required.
South Dakota	Submit notarized application to local superintendent using form provided by state education department.	None
Tennessee*
Home school	Notice to local superintendent by 8/1 each year.	Attendance records, available for inspection and must be submitted to the local superintendent at the end of each year.
Home school associated with church-related school	Grades 9-12: Register with local school district each year.	None
Vermont	Written notice of enrollment with education commissioner any time after 3/1 for following year.	None
Virginia*
Home school not operating under religious exemption law	File an annual notice of intent with local superintendent by 8/15; if starting mid-year, file notice as soon as practicable.	None
Private tutor	Letter to local superintendent asking him to recognize that parent (tutor) has the required credentials (i. e. , teacher certificate).	None
Washington*
Home school	Annual notice to superintendent by 9/15 or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter.	Standardized test scores, academic progress assessments, and immunization records.
West Virginia*
Home school	File notice with local superintendent two weeks ahead.	None
Wisconsin	File statement of enrollment with state education department by 10/1 annually.	None
Wyoming	Annually submit to local school board a curriculum showing basic education program is being provided.	None

* These states have other legal options with no requirements.

Source: Home School Legal Defense Association

Table D: States Requiring Testing for Students Taught at Home

*State*	*Testing*
Arkansas	State-mandated norm-referenced tests given to public school students in grades, 5, 7, and 10 or approved alternate tests.
California* Independent study programs	As prescribed by the program.
Colorado* Home schools	Administer standardized test for grade 3,5,7,9,and 11 or have the child evaluated by a "qualified person. . . selected by parent. "
Delaware* Home schools approved by local superintendent and state board of education	Written exams as prescribed during approval process.
Florida* Home schools	Annually (1) administer any standardized test or state student assessment test (must be given by a certified teacher); (2) have the child evaluated by a certified teacher or licensed psychologist; or (3) have the child evaluated by another valid, mutually agreed-upon tool.
Georgia	Administer and retain the results of a standardized test every three years beginning at the end of the 3^rd grade.
Hawaii Home school	Administer a standardized test of the parent's choice in grades 3, 6, 8, and 10 or submit to the local school principal an annual report of the child's progress consisting of (1) the standardized test results, (2) a written evaluation by a certified teacher, or (3) a written evaluation by the parent.
Superintendent-approved alternative educational program	Participate in statewide public school testing program.
Iowa* Home school	Complete by May 1 and submit to the local district by June 30 (1) test results from an acceptably administered standardized test or (2) a portfolio for review.
Home school supervised by licensed teacher	Meet with supervising teacher at least twice per quarter (one meeting may be by phone).
Kansas* Home school satellite of accredited private school	As prescribed by the supervising private school.
State board of education-approved religious exemption in high school grades	As prescribed in the approval process.
Louisiana* Home school approved by board of education	Submit with renewal application documentation that program is at least equal to that offered in public school.
Maine* Home schools approved by local school board and state education commissioner	Annually, (1) administer a standardized test, (2) take a local test, or (3) have the child's progress reviewed by a certified teacher, a superintendent-selected local advisory board, or a home school support group that includes a certified teacher.
Maryland* Supervised home instruction through church school or state-approved correspondence course	As prescribed by the supervising program.
Massachusetts	Annually, (1) have a neutral party administer a standardized test or (2) submit progress reports to the school district.
Minnesota	Administer an annual standardized test agreed to by the local superintendent.
New Hampshire	By July 1, file (1) the results from a standardized test or from a state student assessment test used by the local district, (2) a written evaluation by a certified teacher, or (3) results from another measure agreeable to the school board.
New York	Annual assessment. Must be from a standardized test every other year for grades 4-8 and every year for grades 9-12. For other years, the requirement may be met by a standardized test or a written narrative evaluation prepared by (1) a certified teacher, (2) home instruction peer review panel, or (3) other person chosen by the parent with the superintendent's consent.
North Carolina	Annual standardized test that measures achievement in English, grammar, reading, spelling, and math. Results must be available for inspection.
North Dakota	Standardized achievement test in grades 4, 6, 8 and 10. Test must be administered by a certified teacher and results supplied to the superintendent. A composite score below the 30^th percentile requires a professional assessment for learning problems and a plan of remediation submitted to the superintendent.
Ohio	Annual standardized test, written narrative showing satisfactory academic progress, or an approved alternative assessment.
Oregon	Participate in an approved comprehensive test in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 administered by a qualified neutral person. If the child is withdrawn from public school, the first test must be administered within the first 18 months of home instruction. Children with disabilities must be evaluated according to their individualized education plan.
Pennsylvania* Home school	Administer standardized test in grades 3, 5, and 8 and submit results as part of a portfolio.
Rhode Island	As prescribed in the approval process; may require report cards
South Carolina* Home school approved by local school board	Participate in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program.
South Dakota	Standardized test administered in same grade levels tested under state testing program (grades 2, 4, 8, and 11).
Tennessee Home school	Standardized tests in grades 5, 7, and 9. Must be given by education commissioner, his designee, or a professional testing service approved by local school board.
Home school associated with church-related school	Administer the same annual standardized achievement test or Sanders Model assessment used by the local school district for grades 9-12.
Satellite campus of church-related school	As prescribed by religious or church-related school.
Satellite campus of nonrecognized religious school based on assertion that church-related school unconstitutionally excludes certain religions	As prescribed by religious or church-related school.
Vermont	Submit (1) an annual assessment from a certified or approved Vermont independent school teacher, ( 2) a report from a commercial curriculum publisher together with a portfolio, or ( 3) the results of an acceptably administered standardized test.
Virginia* Home school not operating under religious exemption statute	For those six years or older on 9/ 30, administer a standardized test or have child otherwise evaluated every year; submit results to local superintendent by 8/1.
Washington Home school	Annual state-approved standardized test administered by qualified person or have the child evaluated by a certified teacher currently working in education.
Extension program of an approved private school designed for parents to teach their children at home	Progress must be evaluated by a certified teacher employed by the approved private school.
West Virginia Home school	Annually (1) administer an acceptable standardized test, (2) be evaluated by a certified teacher, or (3) assess progress by another agreeable means.
Home school approved by local school board	As prescribed in the approval process.

*These states have other legal options with no requirements.

Source: Home School Legal Defense Association

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