Homeschooling in Texas: what the state requires
Under the Texas Supreme Court's Leeper decision, children taught at home are exempt from compulsory attendance to the same extent as private-school students. The home school must be bona fide and use a curriculum that includes reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship. TEA does not regulate or register home schools.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Texas sources. State page: Texas Education Agency — Home Schooling. Compulsory school age: 6 to 19 (TEA: a child who is at least six years old and under 19 years of age is required to attend school; Texas Education Code §25.085).
Home school as a private school (Texas Education Code §25.086(a)(1); Leeper v. Arlington ISD)
Under the Texas Supreme Court's Leeper decision, children taught at home are exempt from compulsory attendance to the same extent as private-school students. The home school must be bona fide and use a curriculum that includes reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship. TEA does not regulate or register home schools.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Not required. No registration with TEA or approval required. When leaving a public school, a signed and dated letter from the parent stating the student is being homeschooled and the date it began is sufficient to withdraw; no personal appearance or curriculum review. A district may request a written letter of assurance that the curriculum covers reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship (not required annually). |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, good citizenship — TEA (2019 To the Administrator Addressed letter, citing Leeper): curriculum addressing reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship. |
| Days | No minimum days for home schools. |
| Hours | No minimum hours for home schools. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. No testing requirement. Districts must allow home school students to take the PSAT/NMSQT and AP exams (TEC §29.916). On transfer to public school, students are treated like transfers from unaccredited private schools (placement/credit by norm-referenced test, released STAAR/EOC or credit-by-exam; 70% passing standard per 19 TAC §74.24(c)). |
| Records | No state record-keeping requirement. |
| Teacher | No parent qualification requirement. |
| Other | Districts should not contact Child Protective Services merely because a child is homeschooled (TEA). SB 401 (2025): beginning 2025-26, districts allow home-schooled students in UIL activities unless the district adopts a policy declining; if declined, the student may participate through the closest participating school. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
The State of Texas does not award a diploma to home-schooled students; parents issue the diploma. Successful completion of a home school education is treated as equivalent to graduation from a public high school for college admission (TEA).
Official sources:
- TEA — Home Schooling
- TEA — To the Administrator Addressed: Home Schools (July 11, 2019)
- TEA — General Frequently Asked Questions
- Texas Legislature — SB 401 (89R) bill analysis, enrolled
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Statute text of TEC §§25.085 and 25.086 could not be fetched from statutes.capitol.texas.gov (blocked); ages and exemption are from TEA pages. That parents issue the diploma is inferred from TEA saying the state does not award one. SB 401 final enactment confirmed only via the enrolled bill analysis.
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.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 3.0 |
| Foreign Language Languages Other Than English 2 | 2.0 |
| Fine Arts | 1.0 |
| Physical Education & Health | 1.0 |
| Electives | 5.0 |
| Total | 22.0 |
|---|
Foundation High School Program (22 credits); with an endorsement 26 credits (adds a 4th math, 4th science and 2 electives). Social studies includes Economics or Economics and Personal Financial Literacy (0.5). Also: pass EOC exams (English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History) and complete FAFSA/TASFA or opt-out in grade 12.
Source: TEA — 2025 Graduation Toolkit
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.
TEA says homeschooling has been legal under Leeper et al. v. Arlington ISD et al. since 1994.
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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