Alabama
- Notice
- One-time church-school enrollment form to the local superintendent (or use a certified private tutor).
- Records to keep
- Church school keeps a daily attendance register.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
What your state asks
you to keep.
A plain-language summary of each state's homeschool notice, record-keeping, evaluation and instruction-time rules, and how Openly Learning keeps records for you.
Transcripts
Completed classes, hours and dates for each student.
Certificates
Earned by subject at 15, 40, 80 and 120 hours.
Portfolios
Sessions, work turned in and educator feedback, for any dates you choose, saved as a PDF.
Find all three under Transcripts in your account. Classes outside Openly Learning still need your own records.
Good records to keep in every state
- Attendance: the days (and hours) you held school
- Subjects, curriculum and books you used
- Samples of your student's work through the year
- Test scores or evaluations
- Copies of any notices you filed and replies you received
- A transcript for high school years
Alaska
- Notice
- None under the standard homeschool exemption.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Arizona
- Notice
- One-time affidavit to the county school superintendent within 30 days of starting, with a birth certificate copy.
- Records to keep
- Keep the affidavit and birth certificate copy.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Arkansas
- Notice
- Annual notice of intent to the local superintendent.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
California
- Notice
- Annual Private School Affidavit (filed Oct 1–15) when operating as a home-based private school.
- Records to keep
- Attendance register, course list, instructor list and qualifications, immunization records or exemption.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Colorado
- Notice
- Written notice 14 days before starting, then every year, to a school district.
- Records to keep
- Attendance, test or evaluation results, immunization records.
- Evaluation
- Test or evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.
- Instruction time
- 172 days, averaging 4 hours a day
Connecticut
- Notice
- Not required by law (a notice of intent is recommended).
- Records to keep
- None required by law.
- Evaluation
- None required by law.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Delaware
- Notice
- Annual enrollment and attendance reporting through the state's online system.
- Records to keep
- Attendance, reported once a year.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
District of Columbia
- Notice
- Notice to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) before starting, then every year.
- Records to keep
- A portfolio of materials and student work; OSSE may review it.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Florida
- Notice
- One-time notice to the county superintendent within 30 days of starting.
- Records to keep
- Portfolio: a log of activities and work samples, kept 2 years.
- Evaluation
- Annual evaluation by one of five approved methods, filed with the superintendent.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Georgia
- Notice
- Annual declaration of intent to the state by Sept 1 (or within 30 days of starting).
- Records to keep
- Attendance and an annual written progress report in each subject, kept 3 years.
- Evaluation
- Standardized test every 3 years from the end of grade 3 (kept, not submitted).
- Instruction time
- 180 days, 4.5 hours a day
Hawaii
- Notice
- One-time notice to the principal of the local public school before starting.
- Records to keep
- A record of the planned curriculum: subjects, materials, hours and how progress is measured.
- Evaluation
- Standardized test in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10; an annual progress report in other years.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Idaho
- Notice
- None.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Illinois
- Notice
- None (homeschools operate as private schools).
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Indiana
- Notice
- None (an enrollment report may be requested).
- Records to keep
- Attendance records.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- 180 days
Iowa
- Notice
- Depends on the option you choose; independent private instruction needs no notice.
- Records to keep
- Depends on the option.
- Evaluation
- Depends on the option (some options need an annual assessment).
- Instruction time
- Depends on the option
Kansas
- Notice
- One-time registration of the school's name and address with the state board.
- Records to keep
- Attendance is advisable; no portfolio is required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Kentucky
- Notice
- Annual notice to the local superintendent within two weeks of the school year starting.
- Records to keep
- Attendance and grade reports, kept up to date during the year.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Louisiana
- Notice
- Application to the state for an approved home study program, renewed every year.
- Records to keep
- Proof of a curriculum equal to public school; assessment results for renewal.
- Evaluation
- For renewal: a test score, standardized test, or certified teacher's statement.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Maine
- Notice
- One-time notice to the district and the education commissioner.
- Records to keep
- Copies of notices and annual assessments.
- Evaluation
- Annual assessment: standardized test, local test, or progress review by a certified teacher or support group.
- Instruction time
- 175 days
Maryland
- Notice
- Notice to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting.
- Records to keep
- Portfolio of materials and work samples; the district may review it up to 3 times a year.
- Evaluation
- Portfolio review instead of testing.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Massachusetts
- Notice
- Approval of a home education plan by the local school committee.
- Records to keep
- Whatever the agreed plan requires (often work samples or a portfolio).
- Evaluation
- Agreed with the district: test, progress report, or work samples.
- Instruction time
- Typically 180 days, set with the district
Michigan
- Notice
- None under the main home-education option.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Minnesota
- Notice
- Report to the superintendent by Oct 1 the first year, then an annual letter.
- Records to keep
- Records of subjects taught, materials, and test results; immunization records.
- Evaluation
- Annual nationally normed test (results kept, not submitted).
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Mississippi
- Notice
- Annual certificate of enrollment to the school attendance officer.
- Records to keep
- None beyond the certificate.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Missouri
- Notice
- None.
- Records to keep
- A log of subjects and activities, work samples, and evaluations.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- 1,000 hours a year (600 in core subjects)
Montana
- Notice
- Annual notice to the county superintendent.
- Records to keep
- Attendance and immunization records.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- 720 hours (grades 1–3); 1,080 hours (grades 4–12)
Nebraska
- Notice
- Annual filing with the state (Forms A and B).
- Records to keep
- Copies of filings.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Nevada
- Notice
- One-time notice to the district superintendent.
- Records to keep
- Keep the district's written acknowledgment.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
New Hampshire
- Notice
- Notice within 5 days of starting.
- Records to keep
- Portfolio of records and materials, kept 2 years.
- Evaluation
- Annual evaluation: teacher review of the portfolio, a standardized test, or another agreed measure.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
New Jersey
- Notice
- None.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
New Mexico
- Notice
- Notice to the state within 30 days of starting, then every year by April 1.
- Records to keep
- Immunization records.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
New York
- Notice
- Annual letter of intent and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP).
- Records to keep
- IHIP, four quarterly reports, and attendance records.
- Evaluation
- Annual test or written evaluation, filed with the fourth-quarter report.
- Instruction time
- Hours set by grade (900–990 a year)
North Carolina
- Notice
- One-time notice to the Division of Non-Public Education.
- Records to keep
- Attendance, immunization records, and test results, kept one year.
- Evaluation
- Annual standardized test (kept, not submitted).
- Instruction time
- At least nine months a year
North Dakota
- Notice
- Annual statement of intent to the superintendent.
- Records to keep
- Annual record of courses and progress; immunization record.
- Evaluation
- Standardized test in grades 4, 6, 8 and 10.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Ohio
- Notice
- Annual notice to the district superintendent.
- Records to keep
- Copies of notices.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Oklahoma
- Notice
- None.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- 180 days expected
Oregon
- Notice
- One-time notice to the education service district within 10 days of starting.
- Records to keep
- Test results.
- Evaluation
- Standardized test by Aug 15 after grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Pennsylvania
- Notice
- Annual notarized affidavit by Aug 1.
- Records to keep
- Portfolio: a log of reading and subjects, work samples, and test results in grades 3, 5 and 8.
- Evaluation
- Annual portfolio evaluation by a qualified evaluator; tests in grades 3, 5 and 8.
- Instruction time
- 180 days, or 900–990 hours
Rhode Island
- Notice
- Approval by the local school committee.
- Records to keep
- Attendance register.
- Evaluation
- Set by the local school committee.
- Instruction time
- Comparable to public school (about 180 days)
South Carolina
- Notice
- Depends on the option; many families join a homeschool accountability association.
- Records to keep
- Plan book or diary, work-sample portfolio, and a semiannual progress report.
- Evaluation
- Depends on the option.
- Instruction time
- 180 days
South Dakota
- Notice
- One-time notification to the state or district.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Tennessee
- Notice
- Annual notice to the local director of schools (independent option), or register through a church-related umbrella school.
- Records to keep
- Attendance, submitted at year end (independent option).
- Evaluation
- Tests in grades 5, 7 and 9 (independent option).
- Instruction time
- 4 hours a day, 180 days
Texas
- Notice
- None.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Utah
- Notice
- One-time affidavit to the local school board.
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Vermont
- Notice
- Written notice to the Secretary of Education every year, at least 10 business days before starting.
- Records to keep
- Records of assessments.
- Evaluation
- Annual assessment: teacher review, portfolio with work samples, or a standardized test.
- Instruction time
- 175 days
Virginia
- Notice
- Annual notice to the division superintendent by Aug 15.
- Records to keep
- Copies of the notice and evidence of progress.
- Evaluation
- Evidence of progress by Aug 1: a test at or above the 23rd percentile, an evaluation, or another approved measure.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Washington
- Notice
- Annual declaration of intent by Sept 15.
- Records to keep
- Test or evaluation results and immunization records.
- Evaluation
- Annual standardized test or certified-teacher evaluation (kept, not submitted).
- Instruction time
- 180 days or about 1,000 hours
West Virginia
- Notice
- Notice to the county superintendent.
- Records to keep
- Copies of annual assessments, kept 3 years.
- Evaluation
- Annual assessment; results submitted in grades 3, 5, 8 and 11.
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Wisconsin
- Notice
- Annual form PI-1206 to the state by Oct 15.
- Records to keep
- None required beyond the form.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- 875 hours a year
Wyoming
- Notice
- None (only a one-time notice when leaving public school).
- Records to keep
- None required.
- Evaluation
- None
- Instruction time
- Not set by law
Laws change, and many states offer more than one way to homeschool. This is a simplified summary of the most common option in each state, last reviewed October 13, 2026. It isn't legal advice. Before you file anything, confirm the details with your state's department of education or the HSLDA page linked on each state.
Sources: HSLDA homeschool laws by state; Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, Homeschooling Laws in New England (2025); Homeschool Picks, state record-keeping requirements.