Top 5 Homeschool States in the United States with the Most Relaxed Laws

Last Updated on August 12, 2022 by Brie

So, homeschooling. It is easy to understand why people might choose this route as an educational option. Homeschooling is fantastic because it lets parents be the overseers of their children’s education–what interests them and what doesn’t helps to guide the curriculum.

As a parent who homeschools, you get to decide which programs, books, or lesson plans best suit your children’s needs. But these days, seeing homeschooling as a choice for those who want to opt out of public schools rather than an educational alternative for families who prefer it, there are lots of things that make homeschoolers’ lives more complex than they would be otherwise. Many states have strict homeschooling laws that prevent you from homeschooling your child if you don’t have a teaching degree, regardless of what other degrees you hold. Other states require you to register with the local school district or even have someone look at your homeschool and curriculum. However, some states have no red tape at all and have some of the largest homeschooling populations. Many people who want to homeschool or road school change their residence to these states.

Missouri

Missouri is one of the most flexible states for homeschooling. In Missouri, there are no regulations for homeschooling, curriculum or testing requirements, registration requirements, or inspections. Homeschools in Missouri do not have to be accredited by any organization.

Missouri requires a minimum number of instructional hours per year for all students ages 7-17. You must have at least 1000 hours. You also must have at least 600 hours in core subjects and 400 at one homeschooling location.

In Missouri, you must provide instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

You do not have immunization requirements or state-mandated tests either. If you live in Missouri, it is recommended to keep a log or some evidence of what you have taught. If you get a big box curriculum, this comes with a pre-planned schedule and lesson plans to cover you.

For more information on the state of Missouri, visit the Missouri HSLDA site.

Texas

Texas is the second-largest state in the United States, with a population of over 28 million people. The state has many independent schools, charter schools, and homeschool co-ops. The Texas homeschool laws are pretty relaxed compared to other states, but there are still some requirements you should keep in mind if you decide to homeschool your child in Texas.

Texas requires you to homeschool kids between the ages of 6-16. You don’t have to report to a school district, follow vaccination requirements, or have teaching qualifications. You also don’t have mandated tests. In fact, Texas homeschooling laws are similar to Missouri. The only difference is the required subjects.

Texas requires you to teach kids spelling, Grammer, math, reading, and a good citizenship course before graduating.

If you need more information on homeschooling in Texas, you can check out the Texas HSLDA site.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state in the southern region of the United States, bordered by the state of Texas to the south, Kansas to the north, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arkansas to the west, and by the state of Missouri to the east.

Homeschool regulations in Oklahoma are very relaxed for homeschoolers. In fact, Oklahoma is the most relaxed state in the United States when it comes to homeschool law. There are no mandated standardized tests or transcripts required for homeschool students. You do not have to notify your local district that you will homeschool your children. There are also no mandatory subjects or other restrictions. You simply have to homeschool your kids between the ages of 5-18. Oklahoma is a big unschooling population because of the few limits, so if you are looking for co-ops with this education style, you will find them in the state.

If you need more information on homeschooling in Oklahoma, you can check it out on the Oklahoma HSLDA website.

Michigan

Michigan has two different options for homeschooling. One is more relaxed than the other. You may homeschool your child anywhere in Michigan without many regulations or registration. In Michigan, you can use a formal curriculum or academy for homeschooling your child under their homeschooling statute. With this option, you don’t have to notify your local government, have a teaching certificate, or participate in mandated testing. If you need to look at some formal curriculums or academies check out this list of top Christian curriculum programs, or this list of top homeschool programs of 2022.

While this may sound like it makes Michigan an ideal place for parents who wish to homeschool their children without bureaucratic interference, there are still some requirements that you must meet before you can begin instruction if you want to create your own curriculum (the second homeschooling option):

• You must form a non-public school.
• To make your curriculum, you must have e a teaching certificate.
• You must notify the department of education in Michigan that you are homeschooling as a non-public school every year.

For either option, you have to teach set subjects to your child. These include reading, math, English, science, physical education, health, and social studies.

If you want more information on the two homeschooling methods in Michigan, you can check it out on the Michigan HSLDA website.

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States and offers tremendous educational freedom. In fact, there are four different options for homeschooling in Alaska.

For option one, as long as you are your child’s legal guardian, you have no restrictions when it comes to Homeschooling. Like Oklahoma, you can teach whatever subject you want, and no notifications or inspections are required.

For option two, you can legally hire a private tutor in Alaska to take over your child’s homeschooling. This is the same as if you were homeschooling them, so there are no regulations.

Other options are sort of like unschooling through the local school board or enrolling your child in a religious organization’s private school. These options require a little more red tape. Plus, these options aren’t a form of homeschooling kids but more like private schools or personal learning plans through the state.

In Alaska, you must homeschool a child between the ages of 7-16, no matter what option you choose.

If you want more resources on the four options for homeschooling or alternative education for your student in Alaska, then check out the Alaska HSLDA website.

States with Little to No Homeschool Regulations

The homeschooling states listed above are the easiest states to homeschool in. These states have little to no regulations for homeschooling, meaning in most cases besides Michigan, you do not have to:

• Test your children
• Hire a certified teacher or school administrator
• Use a specific curriculum
• Monitor attendance and progress of your students
• Assess the learning outcomes of students

Which State Is Right for You?

If you live in one of these states, looking up your local regulations is probably a good idea. Even though they may be relatively lax compared to other places around the country, they can still make life difficult for you if you don’t know what’s required. Always stay up to date on your local homeschool laws and vote for people who support homeschooling in your area to make your life easier.

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