Legal

You should follow the law of the state in which you are physically present. This is true even if your legal residency is in another state and you are only living elsewhere temporarily (such as if you are an active member of the military completing a temporary assignment). This is because when you are physically present in a state, even temporarily, you are subject to that state’s laws—and often to the jurisdiction of its courts.

If you will be living in another state longer than a month while that state’s public schools are in session, HSLDA generally recommends that you comply with that state’s homeschool requirements. This general recommendation applies even if you or your spouse pay taxes, own property, or have employment in a different state.

If you’re an HSLDA member, please contact your state's legal team for specific advice about how state home education laws apply in your specific situation.

Yes. And it can be a great option! Whether your child has a physical or mental disability or a specific learning disability, homeschooling may be the best option to help them thrive educationally. You may not be a special education expert, but you are an expert on your child!

Check out your state’s special needs provisions to see regulations that may apply to your homeschool. And please visit our Special Needs page to access free articles and other resources. HSLDA members can contact our Special Needs Consultants for personalized guidance and support.

The answer depends on the laws of that country, since a country’s education laws apply to all children who reside there, whether or not they are citizens. Start by contacting the HSLDA Global Outreach team by emailing us at international@hslda.org or calling us at 540-338-5600. We have information on homeschooling laws in many countries where such laws exist and insight into the general educational climate in many other countries. Even if homeschooling is not explicitly recognized by law, it may still be possible to homeschool. We may also be able to connect you with a homeschooling family or support organization in the country.

Always contact HSLDA before speaking with any foreign country’s officials regarding home education.

Military families stationed in a foreign country with which the United States has entered into a treaty (for example, NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) may have different legal protections than are available to civilians or contractors. Again, contact HSLDA for advice in this or any other situation involving homeschooling overseas.

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  No notice, low regulation: States that require no notification from parents to their local school district or any other governmental agency.
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  States with low regulation: States that require parents to send a notification to their local school district.
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  States with moderate regulation: States that require parents to send a notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress to their local school district.
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  States with high regulation: States that require parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (i.e., curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by officials).