Homeschool Requirements by State

Homeschool compliance varies widely by state — from a Pennsylvania notarized affidavit to a California Private School Affidavit, a Texas no-notice approach, and a Florida Notice of Intent plus annual evaluation. Pick a state below to see its core requirements, then jump straight into a state-aligned homeschool report card you can print or save as a PDF.

Pennsylvania

Approval required
Notification
Annual notarized affidavit with the local school district, including names of children, ages, and confirmation that subjects will be taught in English.
Subjects
English (including reading, writing, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science, social studies (civics), and a sound citizenship education. Geography, history of Pennsylvania and the United States are required.
Attendance / Instructional days
180 days of instruction / 900 hours per school year (24 P.S. §13-1327.1).
Assessment method
Portfolio review by a qualified evaluator (Pennsylvania-certified teacher, licensed psychologist, or approved nonpublic school teacher). Standardized testing required at grades 3, 5, and 8.

Texas

No notice required
Notification
No state notification — homeschool is treated as a private school under Leeper v. Arlington ISD. Parents may choose to file a Statement of Intent locally for record-keeping.
Subjects
Reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship (Texas Education Code §25.086). Curriculum materials are board-approved or a private school program.
Attendance / Instructional days
No statutorily required days, though Texas homeschool conventions recommend ~180 days. Most families track instructional log privately.
Assessment method
No state testing or portfolio review. Method of evaluation is documented privately. Immunization status recorded; proof-of-progress is the parent’s choice.

California

Notification only
Notification
Annual filing of a Private School Affidavit (R-4) with the California Department of Education. Must list school name, address, and student roster. Optional homeschool charter enrollment covers the same.
Subjects
English / Language Arts, Mathematics, Science / Health, Social Studies, Visual / Performing Arts, and Physical Education (Cal. Ed. Code §48222).
Attendance / Instructional days
Annual instructional log with days-possible, days-completed, and absences. No statutorily fixed minimum day count for affidavit filers.
Assessment method
Proof-of-progress method required — standardized test, parent portfolio review, or Annual Review with a Certificated Teacher (ARC). Immunization status recorded.

Florida

Notification + annual evaluation
Notification
File a Notice of Intent with the local school district and keep an annual evaluation record. Maintain a private instructional log under Florida Statutes §1002.41.
Subjects
Grades K-12: Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health, and Physical Education.
Attendance / Instructional days
Maintain a private instructional log; the compliance brief publishes no numeric minimum assessment threshold.
Assessment method
Annual evaluation: portfolio review by a Florida-certified teacher or a nationally standardized test (TerraNova, CAT, or SAT-10). Keep immunization records on Florida Form DH 680; religious or medical exemptions are documented as applicable.