All 50 states → Rankings

Easiest: no notice required

Start homeschooling without telling anyone. Compulsory-age laws still apply, and keeping records is always smart, but the state asks nothing of you.

• Alaska None
  No requirements
• Idaho None
  No requirements
• Illinois None
  8 subjects
• Michigan None
  10 subjects
• New Jersey None
  6 subjects
• Texas None
  5 subjects
• Oklahoma None
  180 days · 6 subjects
• Indiana None
  180 days · 5 subjects · Records
• Kentucky None
  Annual notice · 170 days · 6 subjects · Records

Easy: minimal requirements

A simple notice, often one-time, and little or no ongoing oversight.

• Connecticut Low
  10 subjects
• Utah Low
  One-time notice
• Wyoming Low
  8 subjects
• Alabama Low
  One-time notice · Records
• Arizona Low
  One-time notice · 5 subjects
• Nevada Low
  One-time notice · 6 subjects
• Arkansas Low
  Annual notice
• Mississippi Low
  Annual notice · 5 subjects
• Missouri Low
  1000 hrs/yr · 5 subjects · Records
• South Dakota Low
  One-time notice · 175 days · 5 subjects
• Delaware Low
  Annual notice · 6 subjects · Records
• Kansas Low
  One-time notice · 186 days · 8 subjects · Records
• Nebraska Low
  Annual notice · 1032 hrs/yr · 5 subjects
• Wisconsin Low
  Annual notice · 875 hrs/yr · 7 subjects
• California Low
  Annual notice · 7 subjects · Records
• Louisiana Low
  Annual notice · 180 days · 4 subjects · Records
• Montana Low
  Annual notice · 1080 hrs/yr · 7 subjects · Records
• New Mexico Low
  Annual notice · 180 days · 5 subjects · Records
• Iowa Low
  Annual notice · 148 days · 6 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Tennessee Low
  Annual notice · 180 days · 5 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records

Moderate: notice plus some oversight

Annual filings and at least one of: testing, portfolio evaluation, or required records.

• New Hampshire Moderate
  One-time notice · 9 subjects
• Ohio Moderate
  Annual notice · 8 subjects
• Florida Moderate
  One-time notice · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Hawaii Moderate
  One-time notice · 6 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Oregon Moderate
  One-time notice · 6 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Maryland Moderate
  Annual notice · 8 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• North Carolina Moderate
  One-time notice · 5 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• South Carolina Moderate
  Annual notice · 180 days · 5 subjects · Records
• West Virginia Moderate
  One-time notice · 7 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Colorado Moderate
  Annual notice · 172 days · 9 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Maine Moderate
  Annual notice · 175 days · 8 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Minnesota Moderate
  Annual notice · 9 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Virginia Moderate
  Annual notice · 5 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Georgia Moderate
  Annual notice · 180 days · 5 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• North Dakota Moderate
  Annual notice · 175 days · 8 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Washington Moderate
  Annual notice · 180 days · 12 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records

Hardest: substantial oversight

Detailed filings, instruction mandates, assessments, and recordkeeping. Homeschooling is fully legal, but the paperwork is real.

• Rhode Island High
  Annual notice · 180 days · 7 subjects · Records
• Massachusetts High
  Annual notice · 11 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Pennsylvania High
  Annual notice · 180 days · 11 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• Vermont High
  Annual notice · 175 days · 9 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records
• New York High
  Annual notice · 180 days · 15 subjects · Testing/evaluation · Records

Methodology: tiers reflect each state’s regulation level; ordering within tiers weighs notification frequency, day/hour mandates, subject lists, assessment, recordkeeping, and parent-qualification rules under the state’s primary homeschool route. “Hardest” never means impossible; thousands of families homeschool happily in every state on this page.

Track your state’s requirements automatically

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.