Guide
The Best States to Homeschool: Every State Ranked by Regulation Level
Published
The 13 easiest states to homeschool require no notice at all: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. None of them makes you file with the state or district before you start. Another 16 states ask only for notice, with no state testing rule in most of them.
Easiest is not the same as best for every family. Some parents like a yearly check on progress, which 21 moderate- and high-regulation states build in through tests, portfolios or reports.
Key Takeaways
- No-regulation states do not require homeschool notice.
- Low-regulation states require notice, with few testing rules specified in state law.
- Moderate- and high-regulation states set more detailed assessment or reporting rules.
What Makes a State Homeschool-Friendly?
A state is more homeschool-friendly here when it requires less notice and fewer assessments or reports. The categories are none, low, moderate, and high.
The regulation level gives you a quick way to compare state requirements. A low level does not always mean zero paperwork: every state in that category requires notice. Some families may prefer a state with more structured progress checks, so consider which rules fit your plans.
States With No Homeschool Notice Requirement
The 13 states in the no-regulation group do not require notice to the state or district. Their testing rules range from no state requirement to rules that are not specified in state law.
| State | Notice and assessment summary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | No notice; state law does not specify testing for parent-taught home education. |
| Connecticut | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
| Idaho | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
| Illinois | No notice; testing is not required, and results do not have to be submitted. |
| Indiana | No notice; testing is not required by state law. |
| Iowa | No notice; under IPI, no assessment is required, though families may request an annual assessment at their own cost. |
| Michigan | No notice; exemption (f) requires no state testing or reporting. |
| Missouri | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
| New Hampshire | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
| New Jersey | No notice; testing is not required. |
| Oklahoma | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
| Texas | No notice; the state does not require testing. |
| Wyoming | No notice; state law does not specify testing. |
For the fewest formal steps, this group is the clearest place to start your comparison. Check the state-specific page for the rules tied to your chosen home education arrangement.
Low-Regulation States
Low-regulation states require notice, while their state laws do not specify a homeschool testing rule in most cases. In Arizona, California and Utah, state law says no testing is required while a child is homeschooled.
| State | Notice and assessment summary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Arizona | Notice required; state law does not require testing while a child is homeschooled. |
| Arkansas | Notice required; state law does not specify testing for homeschooling itself. |
| California | Notice required; state law sets no testing requirement for a home-based private school, and parents do not report to the school district. |
| Delaware | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Kansas | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Kentucky | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Mississippi | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Montana | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Nebraska | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Nevada | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| New Mexico | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Ohio | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| South Dakota | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| Utah | Notice required; no assessment is required. |
| Wisconsin | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
If you choose a low-regulation state, confirm how and where you must give notice. California, for example, requires notice but no reporting to the school district.
Moderate-Regulation States
Moderate-regulation states require notice and set specific assessment or progress-report rules. The requirements include annual reports, tests at certain grade levels, or a choice among assessment methods.
| State | Notice and assessment summary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | Notice required; in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, your child takes a nationally standardized achievement test or receives an evaluation by a qualified person. |
| Florida | Notice required; each year, you file an evaluation with the county superintendent using one of five methods, including a portfolio review, test, or evaluation by a licensed psychologist. |
| Hawaii | Notice required; each year, you send the principal a progress report using one of four methods, including test results, a teacher evaluation, or a parent evaluation with work samples. |
| Louisiana | Notice required; each approved home study renewal includes one of three forms of evidence, such as work materials, a standardized test score, or a statement from a certified teacher. |
| Maine | Notice required; each year, you submit one approved option, such as a standardized test, teacher progress review, portfolio review, or advisory board review. |
| Minnesota | Notice required; each year, children ages 7 through 16 and some 16- and 17-year-olds take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test agreed on with the district superintendent. |
| Oregon | Notice required; children take an approved test at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, by August 15, given and scored by a neutral qualified tester. |
| Vermont | Notice required; each child receives an end-of-year assessment through one of five options, including a standardized test, teacher review, or parent report and portfolio. |
| Virginia | Notice required; by August 1 after each school year, you submit a qualifying test score or an evaluation accepted by the superintendent. |
If your family prefers a regular check on academic progress, review the accepted assessment options closely. Several states allow a choice of method, while others specify when testing takes place.
High-Regulation States
High-regulation states require notice and set detailed reporting or assessment rules. Requirements include annual testing, subject reports, or assessments at specified grade levels.
| State | Notice and assessment summary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | Notice required; students take a nationally standardized test at least every three years, starting at the end of third grade, with someone trained to administer and interpret the test. |
| Maryland | Notice required; standardized testing is not required. |
| Massachusetts | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| New York | Notice required; you submit four quarterly reports a year listing hours, material covered, and a grade or narrative for each subject. |
| North Carolina | Notice required; each student takes a nationally standardized achievement test every year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and math. |
| North Dakota | Notice required; in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10, your child takes a district test or a parent-requested nationally normed test, and results go to the superintendent. |
| Pennsylvania | Notice required; students in grades 3, 5, and 8 take state tests or an approved nationally normed test in reading/language arts and math, given by someone other than the parent. |
| Rhode Island | Notice required; state law does not specify testing. |
| South Carolina | Notice required; under Option One, students take annual statewide tests for their grade, given by a certified district employee at school or, at the parent’s choice and cost, at home. |
| Tennessee | Notice required; independent home school students in grades 5, 7, and 9 take a nationally normed test in English language arts and math or the same state tests public school students take in that grade. |
| Washington | Notice required; each year, your child takes an approved standardized achievement test or receives a written academic progress assessment from a certificated person working in education. |
| West Virginia | Notice required; each year, your child receives an assessment through one of four methods, including a nationally normed test, a portfolio review, or a method agreed with the county superintendent. |
A high-regulation label does not mean every state requires testing. Maryland requires no standardized test and reviews a portfolio instead, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island leave progress checks to the local district. Check the full state rules for the details that apply to your selected option.
How to Check Your State's Rules
Use your state’s linked page to confirm the current notice and assessment steps before you begin homeschooling. Pay close attention to the required recipient, deadline, and accepted ways to show progress.
Check whether the rules apply to your specific homeschool arrangement. Then make a short list of what you need to submit, who receives it, and which assessment method you plan to use. If a rule is unclear, contact the state or district office named on the state page and ask for the requirement in writing.
Rules come from each state's official sources as recorded on our state guides. Requirements change, so confirm with the official source linked on each state guide before you file.