When people think of homeschooling, they often imagine children sitting around in pajamas learning with their parents. They imagine a lot of flexibility and a lot of freedom. While this is true for the most part, it’s not completely accurate. The reality is that homeschoolers are responsible for many state-mandated requirements, including curriculum approval, standardized testing, and teacher qualifications.
What state you live in will determine how much regulation your family faces regarding homeschooling. Some states have minimal red tape, while the government highly regulates others. Here are some details about the top 5 most regulated states.
The U.S. Has Highly Regulated States and Others with Minimal Red Tape
There are 50 different states in the U.S., each with its own laws and regulations. Some are more regulated than others, and many have recently made changes to make homeschooling more manageable and accessible. Here’s a look at some of the most heavily regulated states and why they may be less popular for homeschoolers:
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- New York
Many States Require You to Send in a Letter of Intent to Homeschool Every Year
Some states require you to send in a letter of intent to homeschool every year. You should submit these letters at least 30 days prior to your first day of homeschooling, and they are often used as a way for the state to check up on your home education program.
Some states, like Maryland and Hawaii, require you to submit an annual evaluation report from a certified teacher when you’re done with one school year so that they know what kind of progress has been made throughout the year. You can do this evaluation by sending in a transcript or other proof that shows how much work was completed during the past 12 months. However, sometimes an extensive review of your curriculum is done by a teacher or local school superintendent.
You Will Most Likely Be Required to Test Your Children Each Year in Some Form or Another
You will likely be required to test your children each year in some form or another if you don’t live in one of the five most relaxed states. The good news is that a few options are available, so you can choose the one that best suits your child’s learning style.
Some states require homeschooled students to take standardized tests like PSAT, ACT, or SAT. Others require state standardized tests at specific grade levels. If this sounds like something you want to do, you should know that many states only require testing in one subject area (such as math), while others require testing in multiple subjects, including reading and writing as well as math.
Some States Require You to Submit an Outline of What You Plan to Teach Every Year
Some states require you to submit an outline of what you plan to teach every year. Most state homeschool associations have sample lesson plans and suggestions for how to write them, so it shouldn’t be too hard. If a state doesn’t require this, it may be helpful to do anyway. Your work will be done if you plan on moving to another state.
However, if you use a big box curriculum like Abeka, the lesson plans are written out for you.
Periodic Home Visits Are Sometimes Required for Homeschoolers
Some states require yearly home visits by a teacher or a tutor to check in on how your child is doing. Other states require home visits every other year. Still, others require periodic home visits at three-year intervals. However, some states require you to check in every couple of months. It’s all dependent on where you live and which state you call home.
Homeschooling Is Doable Even in the Most Regulated States, but You’ll Need to Know What’s Expected of You
Even though homeschooling in these states can be more difficult, you may still be able to homeschool your child. You’ll just need to do it a little differently.
For example, live in one of the most regulated states (such as New York or Pennsylvania). You may have to submit quarterly paperwork and get annual assessments done by a certified teacher or administrator. You also need to have a teaching certificate in some regulated states. Don’t be discouraged if you are not required to have a teaching certificate. You don’t need one. Research shows that homeschools do better with parents who don’t have one!
On the other hand, if you live in one of the least regulated states (like Oklahoma), then nothing is required of you from the government. You can homeschool your children as you please. If you want more detailed information, you can check out HSLDA homeschool laws by state.
Top 5 Most Regulated Homeschool States
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
- North Dakota
- Maryland
This article looked at some of the most regulated homeschool states. These states have more red tape than others, but homeschooling in them is still possible. Just make sure you know what’s expected of you!
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