Is homeschooling legal?
A. Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. However, laws and regulations vary from state to state, and interpretations can vary from school district to school district. We recommend that you read the laws for your state yourself, in addition to asking homeschooling organizations for information. The reference librarian at your local library will be able to help you find this information. It is not usually a good idea to ask your local school district or state department of education for information before informing yourself about the laws. In many areas, local officials and even state officials will not truly understand the laws relating to home education, and may therefore ask for far more information than the law requires.
The National Homeschool Association notes that “homeschooling is legally permitted in all fifty states, but laws and regulations are much more favorable in some states than others.” For example, states such as Oklahoma are considered friendly toward homeschooling in that parents are not required to initiate contact with state authorities to begin teaching their children at home. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, however, is heavily regulated (approval of curriculum, submission of students’ work, etc.). Seasoned veterans typically encourage homeschooling parents to become familiar with their state’s laws before creating a homeschool. This information can be obtained by contacting the head of a local homeschooling support group or state department of education officials. The favorable legal climate does not mean that skirmishes don’t occur. Dean Tong, author of Elusive Innocence: Survival Guide for the Falsely Accused (2002) and a consultant in the Elian Gonzalez case, says that a smatt
