Homeschooling has been around for a very long time, but in recent years, it has seen a surge in popularity.
In a lot of cases, it is easier to homeschool children, and it gives them the chance to learn at their own pace and about what they are passionate about.
When it comes to homeschooling your kids, though, it can be tricky knowing what you need to do.
In some states, it is as simple as notifying the school district, but in others, you will find stricter rules you need to follow.
If you are considering homeschooling your children, but you want to know more about different rules in different states, then you have come to the right place.
We have put together a list of the nine best states for homeschooling in the US. So read on to find out more!
Homeschooling-friendly States
You might have an idea of which states are the best for homeschooling, but some of the options on this list might also surprise you.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but the rules vary depending on which state you are in.
Below, you will find more information about the nine best states for homeschooling.
If your state isn’t on this list, don’t worry. Every state has its pros and cons when it comes to homeschooling, and that doesn’t mean that your state isn’t a great place to homeschool your children.
Michigan is widely regarded as being one of the best states for homeschooling. In this state, parents are required to teach specific subjects under the homeschooling statute or at a nonpublic school or both.
While the subjects are quite specific and strict, how often you teach them and at what grade you teach them is not specific. This means you can tailor the subjects to fit your children’s needs however you want.
You also don’t need to notify the school district that you are taking your child out of school, but you may need to send them a withdrawal letter. You also need tutors to be certified teachers.
Lots of people consider Alaska to be one of the very best homeschooling states. In fact, it is the most popular state for homeschooling.
You do not need to have any specific qualifications to teach at home besides your high school diploma.
The only time qualifications matter is when you hire private tutors, and they must be Alaska-certified teachers.
You have a lot of freedom to teach if you are a homeschooling parent in Alaska, and this is a big reason why it is one of the best states for it.
It is important to note that children between the ages of 7 and 16 must be in full-time education or must comply with homeschooling laws, so make sure you have this all figured out before you pull them out of school.
In Texas, homeschooling is considered to be a private school, and because of this, there are some rules you must follow.
Homeschooled children must learn five core subjects that come in the form of math, spelling, grammar, reading, and good citizenship.
Your children also need to follow some form of written curriculum in order to comply with homeschooling laws.
Like Alaska, you do not need to notify the school district if you choose to homeschool your kids, but you may need to send them a withdrawal letter to make them aware of the situation.
Missouri state law requires homeschooling parents to teach specific subjects in order to comply with homeschooling state laws, but the number of hours required and grade levels are not specified.
If you choose to homeschool in Missouri, your children will need to have 1000 hours of instruction per year, some of which includes 600 hours being focused on the required subjects.
At least 400 of these hours need to be spent in your chosen homeschool location, so make sure your base of operations is appropriate before you start.
While Missouri laws might sound quite strict, they are effective in getting results. This is why it’s a great state to homeschool in.
Idaho requires homeschooling parents to teach their children seven core subjects: language arts and communication, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, health, and physical education.
Aside from this, the other laws are quite relaxed, and the ease of access for homeschooling in this state is one of the reasons why it is considered one of the best.
You do not need to notify your school district when taking your kids out of school, and as a tutor/instructor, you do not need any specific qualifications outside of your high school diploma.
Oklahoma is another state that has quite relaxed and flexible homeschooling laws.
It is not required for you to notify the school district if you decide to take your kids out of school, but it may be in your best interest to send them a withdrawal letter.
Students are required to have a minimum of 180 days of instruction while being homeschooled, but you can do more days if you wish.
As a homeschooling instructor/tutor, you do not need any specific qualifications outside of your high school diploma.
On top of this, Oklahoma state law does not require you to teach any specific subjects to your kids, and testing is not required either, meaning you have more flexibility to teach your children subjects they want to learn about.
New Jersey is extremely relaxed in their homeschooling laws, which is a big reason why it’s regarded as one of the best homeschooling states.
As a homeschooling instructor, you are not required to have any qualifications in order to teach and you do not need to notify your school district if you choose to pull your children out of public school.
Homeschooling students are also not required to take part in testing, so you can avoid this altogether if you would rather not add it to your child’s curriculum.
It is important, however, that you teach your children equivalent subjects to make sure they are learning the same things they would be if they were still in traditional school.
In Indiana, your children are required to learn (at minimum) 180 days per year, the same as public school children.
They must also receive “equivalent instruction,” but the state board has not specified what the equivalent means, so you do have a bit of freedom here.
Indiana is another state that does not require testing, so you can choose to avoid it with your children if you want to.
As the instructor or homeschooling tutor, you also don’t need any specific teaching qualifications, and your high school diploma will suffice.
You should be aware that in this state, homeschooling is considered to be private schooling, so you will need to comply with the state’s private school statute.
Like a few other states on this list, Illinois considers homeschooling to be private schooling, but parents do not have to register home-based private schools with the Illinois State Board of Education.
Children between the ages of 6 and 17 are required by law to be in school, so if you choose to homeschool them, keep that in mind.
It is also required that you teach your kids six core subjects: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts, physical development, and health.
While you do not have to notify your school district about taking your children out of public school, you will need to send a withdrawal letter and send in a student records request for your child.
You will need to do this within ten days of sending the withdrawal letter.
The Differences In Each State
No two states are ever the same when it comes to homeschooling. This is why it is so important to do your research and learn more about the laws in your specific state.
If you need some help working out the laws of your individual state, there are plenty of resources online, and you can even ask the school district for help if need be.
Regardless of the differences in each state, it is incredibly important that you comply with your state’s laws when homeschooling children.
This is why it is advised to have everything sorted out before you start homeschooling your kids.
All of the states listed here are widely considered to be the best states for homeschooling.
While some of the states we have talked about are a bit stricter in their rules, they get better results, and children who are homeschooled within their borders are often academically successful.
Even if you don’t live in the states we have listed here, that doesn’t mean that your state is bad for homeschooling.
Regardless of which state you live in, make sure to follow the rules, laws, and regulations when you choose to homeschool your own children.
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