The state says. •Teach at least 1,032 hours a year in kindergarten through grade 8.•Teach at least 1,080 hours a year in grades 9 through 12.•The hours fall in the school year, July 1 to June 30.•The state sets no other rule on start date, days or daily schedule.•Starting partway through the year? Count the hours your child already had at another school.•Together they must still reach the yearly total.

You do. 1.Pick your start and end dates. They go on the form.2.Keep a log of teaching hours for each child.

The state says. •There is one way: an exempt school.•The state counts a home school as a private school.•It is a private school that chooses not to seek state approval.•It can be in your home or another place.•It can teach children from more than one family.

You do. •File as an exempt school with the state.•Step 1 shows how.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •A child must be in school from age 6 until age 18.•Age 6 counts if your child turns 6 before January 1 of that school year.•You may wait until age 7 instead.•To wait, give your local school district a signed affidavit.•An affidavit is a sworn, signed statement.•It says you plan to homeschool and will file with the state on or before the 7th birthday.

You do. 1.Check each child's birthday against January 1.2.For a 6 year old, file with the state, or give the district the affidavit.3.Ask the district for its affidavit form. The state education office does not give it out.

The state says. •Yes, every year.•File two forms with the state's Department of Education.•One is the "Statement of Election and Assurances."•The other is the "Authorized Parent Representative" form.•File them by July 15 each year.•Starting after July 15? File them right away.•The first year, also send a certified birth certificate copy for each child.

You do. 1.File online, or mail the paper forms.2.Wait for the letter from the state.3.Keep that letter.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •No license, degree or test is needed.•The adult who signs the form says the teachers can teach the basic skills.•Since July 18, 2026, a person with a felony conviction for certain crimes may not teach or oversee lessons.•The law names sex crimes, domestic assault, incest and child abuse.

You do. 1.Pick who will teach or oversee lessons.2.Make sure none of them has a felony conviction on that list.3.You do not send the state their names.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. Teach a step by step program in five areas:•Language arts, math, science, social studies and health.•It must build basic skills in each one.•You pick the books and lessons.•You do not report them to the state.

You do. Plan each of the five areas in the Academic Planner.

The state says. •The state does not ask for a test.•The state test rules are only for public school districts.

You do. Choose your own way to check progress, if you want one.

The state says. •It depends on the reason you mark on the state form.•Mark the religious reason, and the school shot rule does not apply.•Mark the other reason, and it does.•Leave both blank, and the state counts it as the other reason.•Then each child needs shots, or an exemption.•An exemption is a paper that lets a child skip a shot.

You do. 1.Look at which reason you marked.2.If it is the other reason, keep a shot record or an exemption for each child.3.Keep it at home. You do not send it to the state.

Where. Immunizations