Learn about homeschooling laws, requirements, and resources specific to Texas.
Texas is known for its relatively minimal regulation of homeschooling. The state offers considerable freedom to homeschooling families while still maintaining some basic requirements to ensure educational standards.
Texas is one of the most homeschool-friendly states, legally treating home schools as equivalent to private schools. In a 1994 Texas Supreme Court case (Leeper v. Arlington ISD), the court affirmed that homeschooling is a legal alternative to public school and that children taught at home are exempt from compulsory attendance just like private school students.
There is essentially one legal option for homeschooling in Texas: parents operate a home-based school (considered an unaccredited private school) for their own children. Unlike some states, Texas does not require enrollment in an umbrella school or government program – parents may educate their children independently at home under the private school exemption.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) does not regulate, monitor, or register home schools at all, giving families broad freedom in how they operate their home education program.
The landmark 1994 Texas Supreme Court case (Leeper v. Arlington ISD) established that home schools are legally considered private schools in Texas. This decision provides the legal foundation for homeschooling in the state and protects the rights of families to educate their children at home with minimal government oversight.
No formal notification to the state or district is required to begin homeschooling in Texas. If your child has never been enrolled in a public school, you can simply start homeschooling without filing any intent or paperwork.
If your child is currently enrolled in public school, it is important to formally withdraw them to avoid confusion or truancy issues. This usually involves writing a withdrawal letter to the school administration (such as the principal or attendance office) stating that you will now homeschool your child.
Texas homeschool organizations recommend delivering this notice in writing (via certified mail or in person) and keeping a copy for your records. The law doesn't mandate any specific form or content, but the letter typically includes:
After withdrawal, you do not need to submit any ongoing reports or letters of intent in subsequent years – one-time notification at withdrawal is sufficient.
It's worth noting that while school districts cannot require homeschoolers to fill out official forms or get approval, they may request a letter of assurance if they become aware a student is being homeschooled and want to verify the child isn't truant.
Providing a brief written assurance that you are homeschooling (if asked by district officials or truancy officers) will generally satisfy any inquiry. This letter simply confirms that you are homeschooling your child in compliance with state law.
Other than this, Texas law imposes no reporting or paperwork requirements on homeschooling families. You don't need to:
Texas law sets only a few basic guidelines for the homeschool curriculum. According to the Leeper court decision (and upheld in state policy), a home school's instruction must be bona fide – meaning delivered in good faith, not a sham or subterfuge.
The curriculum must be in a visual form, such as:
In practice this means you should use tangible teaching materials; purely oral instruction without any books or visual aids would not meet this requirement.
Texas requires that the curriculum include instruction in five fundamental subjects:
"Good citizenship" is generally interpreted as civics, patriotism, or government to instill civic responsibility.
These five subjects are the only specific content areas mandated by Texas law for homeschools. Aside from these fundamentals, parents have wide latitude to choose any additional subjects or educational content they deem appropriate.
There is no state-prescribed curriculum or list of books for homeschoolers, nor any requirement to follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards – though parents may refer to TEKS for guidance if they wish.
Homeschool families can select or design a curriculum that suits their child's learning style, whether that includes packaged curricula, online programs, co-op classes, or a parent's own lesson plans.
No specific educational standards or hours are mandated beyond covering the subjects above in a genuine manner. Families often choose to go well beyond the minimum subjects (adding science, history, literature, etc.) to provide a well-rounded education, but those additions are a matter of choice and future preparation, not legal necessity.
The key is that some form of credible instruction in reading, spelling, grammar, math, and citizenship is taking place. As long as parents meet that baseline in good faith, they are considered compliant with Texas curriculum requirements.
Texas imposes no special qualifications on parents who homeschool. There is no requirement for teacher certification or minimum educational attainment for the instructor.
In other words, parents do not need a teaching license or college degree to legally educate their children at home in Texas. Any parent or legal guardian can homeschool their child regardless of their own educational background.
The absence of a qualification requirement is confirmed by state law and policy – Texas is a \"low-regulation\" state for homeschooling. The parent (or person delivering instruction) is simply expected to be able to provide the bona fide teaching and curriculum outlined above.
That said, the parent assumes full responsibility for the child's education, so he or she should be prepared to research curricula and facilitate learning in the required subjects.
If a family feels unsure about teaching certain advanced subjects, they often utilize resources like tutors, online courses, or local homeschool co-ops, but these are optional supports, not legal requirements.
The bottom line is that no certification, training, or approval is needed to be a homeschool teacher in Texas.
Texas does not require any standardized testing or formal assessments for homeschooled students. Homeschoolers in Texas are exempt from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams that public school students take.
In fact, there is no mandatory testing at all – neither annual evaluations, portfolio reviews, nor periodic achievement tests are imposed by the state on homeschooling families. This means parents are not obligated to have their child take any specific test to prove progress or submit results to any authority.
Some parents choose to administer exams privately to gauge their child's progress, such as:
These are purely optional and for personal use to track progress.
High school-aged homeschoolers might take these exams if college-bound:
Again, these are not state-required, but may be necessary for college applications.
The Texas Education Agency does note that if a homeschooler later enters public school, the district may assess the student's level for proper grade placement or credits. However, during the homeschooling period, no state testing is mandated.
Homeschool students do not need to take the STAAR, end-of-course exams, or any other assessment to remain in compliance with Texas law. The absence of testing requirements is another aspect that makes Texas a low-regulation state for home education.
Texas law does not impose any specific recordkeeping or attendance-tracking requirements on homeschoolers. There is no mandated attendance log or minimum days of instruction for home education.
Unlike some states that require teaching a certain number of days or hours, Texas has no time requirements for homeschooling – families are free to set their own school calendar and daily schedule. Parents do not have to submit attendance records to any official.
Similarly, Texas does not require homeschoolers to file progress reports or keep specific academic records for the state. No periodic reports or portfolios need to be sent to school districts or the TEA.
That said, while the state doesn't demand it, it is strongly recommended that parents maintain some form of homeschooling records for their own use and protection. Many families create a homeschool portfolio or keep files that include:
Keeping such records can be invaluable in case the child transitions back to public school or applies to college, as they help demonstrate what was learned and can assist in creating transcripts.
For high school students, recordkeeping becomes especially important. Parents should keep track of courses completed and credits earned in order to issue a homeschool diploma and prepare an official transcript for college admissions or employment.
Although Texas does not specify how long you must retain homeschool records, a prudent approach is to retain all key academic records at least until the student has graduated and enrolled in college or entered the workforce. Many parents keep high school records indefinitely as a backup.
In summary, Texas requires no submission of records or attendance, but good recordkeeping is a best practice to document your child's education and protect against any questions about compliance.
Texas has minimal oversight of homeschooling, relying largely on trust and the legal responsibility of parents. There are no routine home visits, monitoring, or evaluation of homeschool programs by any educational authorities in Texas.
The Texas Education Agency explicitly does not supervise or accredit home schools, and local school districts have no authority to approve curricula or inspect homeschools on a regular basis. In effect, once you withdraw from public school, your family's homeschool operates independently.
The primary enforcement mechanism for homeschooling is through the state's compulsory attendance law and truancy system. If a child of school age is not attending public or private school, the local school district might flag that child as truant.
In such cases, the district will typically reach out to the family. Texas school districts are permitted to request a written assurance letter from parents who they believe might be homeschooling, in order to verify that the child is indeed being educated at home and is exempt from compulsory attendance.
This letter of assurance is usually a simple statement that the child is homeschooled in accordance with Texas law (often referencing the Leeper decision or Texas Education Code). Once the parents provide this confirmation, that generally satisfies the district, and no further action is taken, since homeschools are considered compliant private schools.
It is rare for Texas authorities to go beyond a letter inquiry. There is no provision in Texas law for curriculum approval or home inspections for homeschoolers.
Only if there were serious credible accusations that a child is not actually being educated at all (educational neglect) might authorities investigate further. In such an event, parents could be asked to show that they have a curriculum and are covering the basic subjects as required.
As long as you are legitimately homeschooling (bona fide instruction in the required subjects), the law is on your side and you should not face enforcement actions. In summary, day-to-day oversight is essentially none, aside from the safeguard that if a child were simply kept at home without education, truancy laws could be enforced.
Parents should simply be prepared to verify their homeschool status if ever questioned, which is usually as simple as writing a brief assurance letter.
Homeschooling in Texas enjoys strong legal protections. The landmark Leeper case ruling and subsequent Texas Education Code provisions firmly establish the right of parents to educate their children at home.
As long as you follow the basic requirements (teach the required subjects in good faith with a visual curriculum), your homeschool is legal and protected from claims of truancy.
Texas Education Code §25.086 explicitly exempts children attending a homeschool (considered a private school) from compulsory attendance laws, provided the instruction includes good citizenship.
This means that if you are ever challenged, the law recognizes your homeschool as a legitimate private school program, and courts have upheld this status.
Moreover, Texas law ensures that homeschool graduates are to be treated on equal footing with public school graduates for state college admissions, providing additional assurance that a homeschool education is fully legitimate in the eyes of the state.
Despite these protections, there are a few risks or pitfalls to be aware of to avoid legal misunderstandings:
Failing to properly withdraw from public school
If a parent simply stops sending a child to school without notifying the school of homeschooling, the child's absences could trigger truancy proceedings. This situation is easily avoided by sending the withdrawal notice before beginning homeschooling.
Not genuinely educating the child
While Texas does not monitor your progress, a "sham" homeschool (where no real instruction takes place) is not protected. Ensuring you meet the minimal curriculum requirements guards against any claim that a child is not being educated.
Misunderstandings by officials
Officials unfamiliar with Texas homeschool law might erroneously ask for paperwork that Texas does not require (such as a state homeschool registration number or curriculum approval). These requests have no legal basis in Texas.
If confronted with demands for information that Texas law doesn't mandate, parents should politely provide the necessary assurance of homeschooling and may refer the official to the TEA's policy or Texas Education Code.
Texas homeschool organizations and legal defense groups can help resolve such situations. Knowledge of the law (or assistance from groups like the Texas Home School Coalition or HSLDA) can quickly clear up these misunderstandings.
Overall, as long as families know and follow the Texas homeschool requirements, the risk of legal trouble is very low. By responding appropriately to any official inquiries, homeschoolers in Texas can exercise their educational freedom with confidence.
Homeschool families in Texas have access to a robust support network and plenty of resources. Here are some key organizations and sources of help:
The THSC is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and empowering Texas homeschool families. They provide:
The Texas Education Agency refers parents to THSC for additional information on homeschooling because of its established role in the state's homeschool community.
Visit THSCTexas Home Educators is another statewide organization that offers support and information for those educating at home. They maintain a website with:
The TEA also lists Texas Home Educators as a resource for parents seeking homeschooling guidance.
Visit Texas Home EducatorsThroughout Texas, there are many local homeschooling groups, cooperatives, and associations that provide:
Regional groups exist in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and virtually every area of the state. Some are faith-based and others are secular – families can choose one that fits their needs.
If you are following a specific homeschooling philosophy, there are Texas-based communities for those as well:
These specialized communities offer conferences, regional meetups, and online resources tailored to specific educational philosophies.
Texas UnschoolersOrganizations providing legal protection and advocacy for homeschooling families:
While not Texas-specific, many Texas families join HSLDA for legal protection. Having membership in such organizations can give peace of mind, though it's optional in Texas's permissive legal environment.
HSLDA TexasThe TEA's website has resources that homeschoolers may find helpful:
While the TEA doesn't oversee homeschooling, its resources can be useful references, especially if you plan to transition back to public school.
TEA Home SchoolingTexas hosts large homeschooling conferences and events throughout the year, such as:
These events are excellent opportunities for learning, resource gathering, and connecting with the broader homeschool community.
Our AI-powered tools can help Texas homeschoolers with curriculum planning, content creation, assessment design, and staying compliant with the minimal state requirements. These tools are specially designed to create personalized learning experiences while ensuring all basic subject areas are covered.
While Texas lets you homeschool very independently, you are not alone. The organizations and resources above can provide guidance, legal support, and social connection. New homeschooling parents in Texas are encouraged to reach out to these resources to help navigate the process and find a supportive community.
Learning Corner offers several AI-powered tools that can assist Texas homeschoolers:
Analyze your student's activity to understand which concepts they're learning, helping Texas homeschool parents track academic progress across required subject areas.
Create custom quizzes and assessments to track student progress and ensure comprehensive coverage of Texas's required subject areas.
Generate customized worksheets for practice and reinforcement across all required Texas subject areas.
Create structured lesson plans that can serve as documentation of your instruction and help maintain recommended records for Texas homeschoolers.
Last Updated: April 24, 2025