How to start homeschooling in Texas
Everything Texas asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step by step
Know what Texas 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.
Required school ages in Texas: 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). Teacher qualification for this option: No parent qualification requirement.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Texas doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.
No notice to file
Texas doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
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).
Plan your school year: days and hours
Texas doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
No minimum days for home schools. No minimum hours for home schools.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the 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.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Texas doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
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 for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Statute text of TEC §§25.085 and 25.086 could not be read from statutes.capitol.texas.gov; 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. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Texas checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Texas · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Texas’s rules for “Home school as a private school”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Texas parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Texas?
No. Texas doesn’t require a notice or registration.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Texas?
No minimum days for home schools. No minimum hours for home schools.
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Texas?
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)).
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Texas?
No parent qualification requirement.
What subjects are required in Texas?
Reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, good citizenship.
What records do I need to keep in Texas?
Texas doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
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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