Maintained tracker · updated 2026-09

Homeschool law changes, year by year

Homeschool law is not static: several states have rewritten their rules in the last few years, almost always toward less regulation. This page tracks the changes that matter, newest first, and is re-verified on the same schedule as our 50 state guides.

Connecticut: New notification law (enacted 2026)

Upcoming Effective July 1, 2027 and July 1, 2028

Before: No notice of any kind required to homeschool.
After: Starting July 1, 2027, background checks apply when withdrawing a child from public school; starting July 1, 2028, families must file a notice of intent.

What it means: Connecticut families should enjoy the current no-notice rules while they last and calendar the 2028 change. See the full Connecticut requirements.

New Hampshire: HB 1268: Home Education Freedom Act

In effect Effective July 2026

Before: One-time notice, annual evaluation (test or portfolio review), and a mandatory portfolio.
After: Notice only when withdrawing a child from public school or seeking access to public-school programs. The annual evaluation and mandatory portfolio are eliminated.

What it means: New Hampshire jumped from moderate regulation to one of the freest states in the country. See the full New Hampshire requirements.

Wyoming: HB 46: Homeschool Freedom Act

In effect Effective July 1, 2025

Before: Annual submission of a curriculum plan to the local school board.
After: No standing or annual notice. Parents simply ensure a sequentially progressive curriculum in the basic subjects; a withdrawal notice applies only when pulling a child from public school.

What it means: Curriculum submission is gone; Wyoming is now effectively a no-notice state. See the full Wyoming requirements.

Ohio: Homeschool notification reform

In effect Effective 2023–24 school year

Before: Annual notification plus assessment (test or portfolio review), subject and hour expectations, and records tied to superintendent excusal.
After: A simple annual notification to the district. No assessments, no hour minimums, no records submission under the homeschool statute.

What it means: Ohio moved from one of the more regulated states to notification-only. See the full Ohio requirements.

South Dakota: Alternative instruction reform

In effect Effective July 1, 2021

Before: Annual filing with the state and mandatory standardized testing in certain grades.
After: A single notification within 30 days of starting (refiled only on district change); testing and oversight removed.

What it means: One form, once: South Dakota became a file-and-forget state. See the full South Dakota requirements.

West Virginia: Notice-of-intent reform

In effect Effective 2016

Before: Annual notice of intent to the county.
After: A one-time notice that stays effective until you move counties or stop homeschooling. Annual assessments continue.

What it means: The paperwork became one-time, though testing and portfolio reviews remain. See the full West Virginia requirements.

Arkansas: Testing repeal

In effect Effective 2015

Before: Mandatory standardized testing for homeschooled students.
After: No testing requirement; only the annual notice of intent (due August 15) remains.

What it means: Arkansas dropped its testing mandate entirely. See the full Arkansas requirements.

Why this matters

Much homeschool guidance online was written years ago and quietly went stale; our own data audit caught published sources still describing Ohio’s pre-2023 rules. When you read requirements anywhere (including here), check the last-verified date, and when in doubt confirm with your state’s Department of Education or HSLDA’s state page.

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Homeschool Wizard logs your school days, hours, and subjects against your state’s rules and turns them into portfolio PDFs, transcripts, and report cards when you need them. Free for one student.

Private by design: your family’s records stay on your device.

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Not legal advice. This data is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Homeschool laws change frequently. Always verify requirements with your state's Department of Education or a qualified homeschool legal organization before making compliance decisions. Requirements shown were last verified 2026-09.