New to Homeschooling? A Getting-Started Guide for Parents

Start with the state rule, not the shopping list. Read your state’s homeschool page, complete the required withdrawal or notice, and put every deadline on a calendar. Then choose one approach, a few core materials, and a schedule you can actually keep.

What do I have to do legally before I start?

Homeschool law is set by each state, and the same step can look very different depending on where you live. The reliable move is to find your state education agency's homeschool page and follow it, rather than a summary on a blog or in a social media group.

Two examples show how far apart states can be. Both descriptions below were read on the agencies' own pages on October 8, 2026, and rules can change, so confirm yours before acting.

• Texas: the Texas Education Agency says it "does not regulate, index, monitor, approve, register, or accredit the programs available to parents." You do not need to tell the agency, but you do need to contact your child's current school to formally withdraw them, and the school may ask for a "letter of assurance."
• New York: the state education department says parents must give written notice of intent to the school district superintendent. The district then responds with the home instruction regulations and an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) form for the parent to complete. A parent who starts after the school year has begun files the letter within 14 days of starting.

If your state asks for a plan, a notice, records or an assessment, put the dates on a calendar the day you read them. If your child has special needs, ask your state agency how homeschooled students are handled before you withdraw.

Read your state's steps all the way through before you withdraw your child. The Texas and New York examples above ask for different things, so the safest order is to learn the rule first and act second.

A starter calendar might be: legal check Monday, materials list Tuesday, three trial lessons Wednesday through Friday, and a weekend review of pace and fit. Buy only what the next month requires until the routine proves workable.

Keep readingHomeschool Laws by State: What 14 Official State Pages SayHomeschool rules differ by state. Use this 14-state summary as a starting checklist, then confirm notice, subjects, records and testing on your current state page.

How many families homeschool?

NCES reported that 3.4% of students ages 5 to 17 with a K–12 grade equivalent were homeschooled in 2022–23. Its September 17, 2024 release also reports 5.2% receiving instruction at home through homeschooling, full-time virtual education, or both. These are different measures: the 5.2% figure is not the homeschooling rate.

The Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey measured a sharp jump in 2020. About 5.4 percent of U.S. households with school-aged children reported homeschooling in April and May 2020, and 11.1 percent reported it by the fall of that year.

The NCES release reports homeschooling and full-time virtual education separately, with some students counted in both. Its figures describe survey categories. Before filing paperwork, ask your state education agency which rules apply to your child's actual school enrollment.

How do I choose an approach?

An approach is a default rhythm, not a permanent identity. Try one structure for two weeks, watch where the child gets stuck or engaged, and change the routine before you buy a second curriculum.

• Structured, curriculum-based: a packaged or boxed program with a set order of lessons. A parent who wants a clear daily plan and little planning may prefer this.
• Flexible and interest-led: topics follow what the child is curious about, with math and reading kept steady. A parent comfortable improvising may prefer this.
• Mixed or eclectic: one core program for math and reading, with everything else chosen separately, including library books, co-ops, classes and online courses.

If you are unsure, begin with the structured option for math and reading and keep the rest flexible. That reasoning is simple: the skills that build on each other are the hardest to rebuild later, while topics like history or nature can be shuffled freely.

What core materials do I actually need?

Fewer than most beginners buy. A short list covers it: one math program, one reading and writing plan, and a way to cover science, history and everything else that fits your state's required subjects.

In New York, for example, the state education department says parents are responsible for identifying the curriculum materials they use for the required subjects, and the plan lists them. Where a state requires a list like that, write it before you buy.

List the required subjects first. Buy one math option, one reading and writing plan, and only the materials needed for the next month. Reassess after four weeks before adding another program.

What does a simple schedule look like?

1. Fix the anchor Choose one time each day when core work starts, even if the rest of the day moves around.
2. Do math and reading first Put the subjects that build on each other earliest, while attention is highest.
3. Add one other subject Rotate science, history, art or a project through the afternoon or a set day.
4. Leave open space Keep time for books, outdoor play and questions.

Your state may expect a minimum amount of instruction or number of days, so check that on your agency's page before settling the weekly pattern. New York's education department, for instance, says total weekly instructional time should be generally comparable to that of the public school.

Keep readingYour First Week Using AI for Learning at Home: A Day-by-Day PlanA small seven-day AI learning trial: one assistant, one subject, parent-held account, age-rule check, privacy rules and unaided checks.

What records should I keep?

Keep a simple log. A weekly note of what was covered, a folder of dated work samples, and any letters to or from the school district are enough to start with.

What is required varies. New York's education department says parents must keep attendance records for each student, with no legal obligation to keep other records, but recommends keeping evidence of the program, the child's achievement and correspondence with the district. Another state may ask for something else entirely.

Where can I find community?

Homeschooling does not have to mean doing it alone. Texas's state agency, for instance, points families to two statewide organizations, the Texas Home School Coalition and Texas Home Educators, for more information. Look for the equivalent in your state, plus local co-ops, library programs and parent groups.

Where can AI tools help?

AI tools can help with planning and practice. A parent could ask one to draft a weekly schedule from their state's required subjects, explain a math concept in a different way, or turn a topic into a reading list.

They also make mistakes, so a parent should check facts, math and any legal or state-specific information against the agency's own page. They do not replace the legal steps above, and they work best as a planning assistant while the parent decides what the child does.

Frequently asked questions