The Requirements by State Page: A How-To Guide
The Requirements by State page gives you a plain-language summary of the homeschool rules for any US state, so you can see at a glance what your state expects around notification, testing, evaluation, recordkeeping, and deadlines. It covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and every entry links out to official state sources so you can confirm the details yourself.
This guide walks through every function on the page.
Opening the Requirements by State page
From the main menu on the left, under Resources, click Requirements by State. On a phone, you may find it under the More menu in the bottom bar.
When the page opens, it automatically shows the state you chose as your Homeschool State on the Family page. If you haven't set one yet, the page waits for you to pick a state. Nothing here changes your family settings, so you can look up any state freely.
Part 1: Choosing a state
At the top of the page is a single dropdown labeled State or jurisdiction.
- Click the dropdown.
- Pick any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
The requirements below update immediately. If you set a Homeschool State on the Family page, that state is already selected for you when you arrive, so most of the time you can just read.
Tip: The dropdown lets you preview any state, not just your own. This is handy if you're planning a move, comparing states, or helping another family understand their rules.
Part 2: Reading the requirement indicators
Once a state is selected, you'll see the state's name, a short legal summary, and a list of requirement indicators. Each indicator is a key part of homeschooling in that state (things like notification or registration, testing, evaluation, and recordkeeping), paired with a colored dot that tells you how it applies.
The dot colors follow a simple legend:
| Indicator | Color | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Required | Green | The state requires this. You need to do it to homeschool legally. |
| Recommended | Amber | Not required, but advised or commonly done. |
| Optional | Grey | Available to you, but not expected either way. |
Each indicator also shows its status in words (REQUIRED, RECOMMENDED, or OPTIONAL) on the right, so you don't have to rely on color alone.
Tip: Click any requirement in the list to expand the full details for that item, and click it again to collapse. The page shows a small hint above the list to remind you.
Part 3: Deadlines and details
Below the indicators, two more sections fill in the specifics.
Deadlines
The Deadlines section lists any dates the state sets, such as when to file a notice of intent or when annual testing must happen. If a state doesn't set formal deadlines, this section simply reads "No state-set deadlines."
Details
The Details section spells out the finer points of the state's rules:
| Detail | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance age | The age range during which a child must be receiving instruction. |
| Parent qualifications | Any education or credential the state requires of the teaching parent. |
| Instruction requirements | Required hours or days of instruction, if any. |
| Required subjects | Subjects the state expects you to cover. |
| Grades required | Which grade levels the rules apply to. |
| Graduation | How a homeschool diploma or completion is handled. |
| Record retention | How long you should keep your records. |
If a state has extra context worth calling out, a Notes section appears with a short explanation.
Part 4: Official resources and the disclaimer
At the bottom of the page, the Official resources section links you straight to the authorities that set and explain the rules.
- State Department of Education takes you to the state's official education website.
- The statewide homeschool organization link (when available) points to a local group that supports homeschooling families in that state.
- A short Sources list shows the sites the summary was compiled from, so you can trace any point back to its origin.
All of these links open in a new tab.
A note on legal accuracy
Chalk and Chart provides this information as a general educational resource, not as legal advice. Homeschool laws and regulations change, and the way rules are applied can vary by district. Always confirm the current requirements with your state's Department of Education or applicable homeschooling authority before you act.
Tip: When in doubt, follow the official links on this page and verify against the source. Treat the indicators as a helpful starting map, not the final word.
How this connects to the Family page
This page works hand in hand with the Family page:
- On the Family page, the Homeschool State dropdown (in the Family card) is where you record your own state. Whatever you pick there is what this page shows first.
- Once you've chosen a Homeschool State, a condensed version of the same information appears on the Family page in the State Requirements card, so you get a quick reminder without leaving your family settings.
Think of the Family page's card as the summary and this page as the full reference.
Tip: If the State Requirements card on the Family page is empty, it means you haven't chosen a Homeschool State yet. Pick one in the Family card to fill it in, and this page will default to it too.
Quick reference
| I want to... | Do this |
|---|---|
| Open the page | Left menu → Resources → Requirements by State |
| Look up my state | It's preselected from your Homeschool State, or pick it in the State or jurisdiction dropdown |
| Compare another state | Choose any state from the dropdown |
| Understand a colored dot | Green = Required, Amber = Recommended, Grey = Optional |
| See the full detail of a requirement | Click it in the indicator list to expand |
| Check state deadlines | Read the Deadlines section |
| Visit the official source | Use the links in Official resources |
| Set which state shows first | Family page → Homeschool State → Save family |
| See a quick summary elsewhere | Family page → State Requirements card |
Screenshots use a sample state selection for illustration; always confirm your own state's current requirements with the official sources linked on the page.