Homeschooling Laws in the US

Homeschooling Laws

Homeschooling Laws in the US – Parents choosing to homeschool their children need to follow the laws. The laws for education will vary from state to state, but some schooling laws must be followed.

At least 9 million Americans are homeschooling their children. This makes up around 4 percent of the school-age population.

The count of homeschooled children grew from 850,000 in 1999 to 1,690,000 in 2016. The number of homeschooled students increased from 1.7 percent to 3.3 percent during the same period, as per NCES.

Homeschooling Laws in the US


If the state has mandated testing, those receiving homeschooled education will still need to take the test.

There are guidelines for when and how the state testing will be administered.

In most states, children must attend their educational program until they are at least 16 years old. At this point, they can continue to receive their diploma, or they may drop out. It is still not recommended to drop out, and steps must be taken to prevent this.

The home school must provide similar instruction and content as any other school. The student must receive instruction in language arts, math, science, and social studies. Other subjects may be added, but these are the main ones required.

In most states, the parent needs to keep a portfolio of what is being taught. They will need to submit this information to the school system to ensure the students get the proper education.

Homeschooling is legal in all states, but children still need to receive a good education. These are some of the homeschooling laws that parents will need to follow.

U.S Supreme Court

The United States has lawfully allowed homeschooling in all fifty states. The honorable U.S. Supreme Court has specifically ruled on homeschooling. However, Wisconsin vs. Yoder, it supports the rights of Amish parents to keep their children out of general schools for religious purposes.

It is recommended that you check the laws which govern your state before deciding to homeschool your child.

References:

https://hslda.org/legal/

https://www.homeschool.com/articles/state-homeschooling-laws/