Homeschooling in Connecticut: what the state requires
Under current C.G.S. 10-184 a child of compulsory age need not attend public school if the parent can show the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools. Public Act 26-37 (approved May 26, 2026) replaces this with 'parent-managed learning' and adds a withdrawal form with a DCF records check (from July 1, 2027) and an annual intent-to-educate form (from the 2028-29 school year).
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Connecticut sources. State page: Connecticut State Department of Education — Homeschooling in Connecticut. Compulsory school age: 5 to 18 (parent may delay a 5-year-old to 6, or a 6-year-old to 7, by signing an option form in person at the school district office).
Home instruction ('equivalent instruction'; becomes 'parent-managed learning' under Public Act 26-37)
Under current C.G.S. 10-184 a child of compulsory age need not attend public school if the parent can show the child is elsewhere receiving equivalent instruction in the studies taught in the public schools. Public Act 26-37 (approved May 26, 2026) replaces this with 'parent-managed learning' and adds a withdrawal form with a DCF records check (from July 1, 2027) and an annual intent-to-educate form (from the 2028-29 school year).
For every child
| Notice or registration | Not required. None under current law. From 2028-29: intent to educate form by October 1 each year (or within 14 days after moving in) — Current law: no statutory notice; CSDE suggests (not required) contacting the local superintendent's office about how the district prefers notification. Under PA 26-37: (a) from the school year starting July 1, 2027, a parent withdrawing a public school student for parent-managed learning must personally appear at the school district office and sign a withdrawal form; within 2 business days the superintendent runs a DCF records check on household members 18+, and the withdrawal is not effective if any is on the child abuse/neglect registry or under investigation; the superintendent notifies the parent within 5 business days. (b) For the school year starting July 1, 2028 and after, every parent completes an annual 'intent to educate form' with the school district office of their town, or within 14 days after moving into a district. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, United States history, citizenship, including a study of the town, state and federal governments — C.G.S. 10-184 duty of parents to instruct children in these subjects; current law also requires instruction 'equivalent' to the studies taught in the public schools. |
| Days | No minimum; CSDE suggests (not required) keeping an attendance log of days and hours. |
| Hours | No minimum. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. No state testing; CSDE suggests (not required) a portfolio with samples of activities, assignments, projects and assessments. |
| Records | Not required by statute; CSDE suggests an attendance log and a portfolio for each child. |
| Teacher | No parent qualification requirement. |
| Other | PA 26-37 also requires the State Department of Education to track the number of children in parent-managed learning (effective July 1, 2027). |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
CSDE does not recognize homeschool credits or credentials; CSDE says the route to an official high school diploma for a homeschooled individual is the GED test.
Official sources:
- C.G.S. ch. 168, Sec. 10-184
- Public Act 26-37 (HB 5468), approved May 26, 2026
- CSDE — Homeschooling in Connecticut
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: October 1 deadline, 'school year commencing July 1, 2028' and the July 1, 2027 withdrawal start were quoted from the act text; other PA 26-37 details (DCF check timing, data tracking) were read via summary and should be spot-checked.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| Social Studies Humanities (including civics and the arts) 9 | 9.0 |
| Foreign Language World languages 1 | 1.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Physical education and wellness 1; Health and safety education 1 | 2.0 |
| Electives Science, technology, engineering and mathematics 9; remaining 4 | 13.0 |
| Total | 25.0 |
|---|
C.G.S. 10-221a, classes of 2023 and later: 25 credits total; remaining credits are electives/local. Beginning with the class of 2027, a one-half credit in personal financial management and financial literacy is required (Public Act 23-21); it may count toward humanities or as an elective.
Source: OLR Bill Analysis, SB 1165 (2023) — describes current 10-221a requirements
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
Personal finance requirement also confirmed by the Governor's July 2023 press release: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2023/07-2023/governor-lamont-signs-legislation-requiring-completion-of-personal-financial-management-course . Whether the one-credit mastery-based diploma assessment is still required (the 2023 bill proposed making it optional) was not confirmed; statute text of 10-221a could not be loaded.
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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