What Subjects Are Required for Homeschool by State?

Required homeschool subjects depend on your state: 26 states set a subject list, including Arizona, Georgia, and Texas, while 13 do not specify subjects in state law.

Four states point to public-school subjects, three have no set list in the statute, and four tie the rules to the legal option you use. The 13 states with subjects not specified in state law form a separate category.

Sets a subject list

Not specified in state law

Follow public school subjects

Depends on the legal option

No set list

50 states · Bars show the number of states in each group.

Key Takeaways

• Required subject lists differ by state and by the legal option you use.
• Reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies appear in many state lists.
• A subject list does not by itself require you to use a specific curriculum or textbook.

How Many States Set Homeschool Subject Rules?

Twenty-six states set a subject list, while the other states fall into categories that point to public-school subjects, leave the list open, depend on your legal option, or do not specify subjects in state law. The subject rules are not the same across all states.

Four states refer to public-school subjects. Three have no set list in the statute, and four make the subject rules depend on the legal option you use. In 13 states, subjects are not specified in state law.

Those categories describe different rules, so “not specified in state law” does not mean the same thing as a state having “no set list.” Check your state’s rule and the legal option you plan to use before choosing materials.

Which Subjects Appear Most Often?

Reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies recur across many state lists. The details and wording differ, and some states add subjects such as civics, health, physical education, or the arts.

For example, Arizona lists reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science. Missouri lists reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science, while South Dakota lists language arts and mathematics.

Some lists include detailed grade or age rules. New York separates subjects for grades 1-8 from those for later grades, and Vermont gives one list for children under 13 and another for children age 13 and older.

Which States Follow Public-School Subjects?

California, Idaho, Indiana, and Montana connect homeschool instruction to subjects taught in public schools, with different wording in each state. Some refer to required or commonly taught subjects, while others use an equivalency rule or describe an organized course of study.

• California requires the branches of study required in public schools, taught in English.
• Idaho refers to subjects commonly and usually taught in Idaho public schools.
• Indiana has no set list; instruction must be equivalent to that given in public schools.
• Montana requires an organized course of study covering subjects public schools must offer as the basic instructional program set by the Board of Public Education.

These rules do not all provide a subject-by-subject list in the homeschool law. Read the wording for your state to see how its public-school reference applies to your instruction.

Which States Have No Set List or Option-Dependent Rules?

Three states have no set list in the statute, and four make subject rules depend on the legal option you use. The distinction affects what you need to check before planning instruction.

Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Virginia have no set list. Massachusetts compares the plan with instruction in local public schools; Tennessee asks which curriculum you will use; Virginia requires you to submit the subjects your child will study in the coming year.

In Alabama, the rule depends on whether you use a church school, private school, or private tutor. Alaska does not specify subjects in state law for parent-taught home education. Delaware distinguishes single-family and multi-family homeschools from district-coordinated homeschools, and Iowa has different subject rules for independent private instruction and competent private instruction.

Thirteen other states do not specify homeschool subjects in state law. The full table shows each state’s wording and category so you can tell which rule applies to your situation.

Do You Need a Curriculum?

A required subject list does not automatically require you to buy a particular curriculum or textbook. The state’s subject rules tell you what instruction must address; they do not, by themselves, name a required program or book.

Some rules do set additional conditions. Delaware requires a superintendent-approved curriculum for district-coordinated homeschools, while Louisiana’s approved home study programs must offer a sustained curriculum at least equal in quality to public school at the same grade level. Kentucky says parents choose the curriculum and materials for homeschools that are not state-certified.

Check your state’s wording before selecting materials. For example, Oregon says families choose their own curriculum and do not have to follow state standards, while Utah says parents choose instructional materials and may request recommended skills by grade and subject from the district.

Full State-by-State Table

The table shows each state’s subject-rule category and the exact subject description. Use the state link to review the rules that apply to your chosen legal option.