NOTICE OF INTENT TO HOMESCHOOL

Table of Contents

1. Parent/Guardian Information
2. Student Information
3. Notice of Intent
4. Educational Program
5. Instructor Qualifications
6. Assessment Plan
7. Required Attachments
8. State-Specific Notes
9. Practitioner Checklist

Date: [__/__/____]

Sent via: ☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested ☐ Hand delivery ☐ Email ☐ Online portal

To:
[SUPERINTENDENT NAME]
[SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Copy to (if required by state law):
☐ Local school principal
☐ County superintendent
☐ State Department of Education
☐ Other: [________________________________]

I. PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION

Name(s): [PARENT/GUARDIAN 1 FULL NAME]
[PARENT/GUARDIAN 2 FULL NAME, if applicable]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

County of Residence: [________________________________]

II. STUDENT INFORMATION

III. NOTICE OF INTENT

Dear [SUPERINTENDENT NAME]:

Pursuant to [STATE STATUTE — e.g., Cal. Educ. Code § 33190; Tex. Educ. Code § 25.086; Fla. Stat. § 1002.41; N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, § 100.10], I hereby provide notice of my intent to establish a home education program for the above-named student(s) for the [____]–[____] school year, beginning on [__/__/____].

I am exercising my constitutional right as a parent to direct the education and upbringing of my child(ren) as recognized by the United States Supreme Court in Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923), Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925), and Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972).

This notice is submitted in compliance with [STATE]'s compulsory education law and homeschool regulations.

IV. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Subjects of Instruction

The home education program will include instruction in the following subjects as required by [STATE STATUTE]:

☐ English / Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
☐ Mathematics
☐ Science
☐ Social Studies / History / Government / Civics
☐ Health / Physical Education
☐ [STATE-REQUIRED SUBJECT: ________________________________]
☐ [STATE-REQUIRED SUBJECT: ________________________________]
☐ [STATE-REQUIRED SUBJECT: ________________________________]

Curriculum Materials (if required by state law)

☐ Commercially published curriculum: [NAME/PUBLISHER]
☐ Online curriculum program: [NAME]
☐ Umbrella school or cover school: [NAME]
☐ Virtual public school program: [NAME]
☐ Eclectic / parent-designed curriculum
☐ Other: [DESCRIBE]

Educational Philosophy (optional)

[BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR EDUCATIONAL APPROACH — e.g., classical education, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooling, project-based learning, etc.]

Instructional Hours

The home education program will provide instruction for a minimum of [____] hours per year / [____] days per year, as required by [STATE STATUTE].

☐ Instruction will be conducted primarily in the English language
☐ Instruction will be provided on a regular schedule

V. INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Primary Instructor: [PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]

Qualifications (provide information as required by state law):

☐ High school diploma or equivalent: ☐ Yes ☐ N/A (state does not require)
☐ College degree: [DEGREE, INSTITUTION] ☐ N/A
☐ Teaching certificate: [STATE, NUMBER] ☐ N/A
☐ Other qualifications: [________________________________]

VI. ASSESSMENT PLAN

Method of Assessment (as required by state law):

☐ Standardized testing: [TEST NAME — e.g., Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, CAT]
- Testing will occur [annually / at specified grade levels per state law]
- Testing will be administered by [QUALIFIED ADMINISTRATOR / PARENT / TESTING SERVICE]

☐ Portfolio review by a certified teacher or qualified evaluator: [NAME]

☐ Evaluation by a licensed teaching professional: [NAME, CREDENTIALS]

☐ Progress report or narrative evaluation

☐ No assessment required by state law

☐ Other assessment method permitted by state law: [DESCRIBE]

Results will be:
☐ Maintained by the parent
☐ Submitted to the school district by [DATE] as required
☐ Submitted to the state education agency
☐ Available upon request

VII. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

Check and include as required by your state:

☐ Completed state homeschool notification form (if the state provides a specific form)
☐ Immunization records
☐ Proof of student identity (birth certificate copy)
☐ Curriculum plan or outline
☐ Instructor qualifications documentation
☐ Previous year's assessment results (if continuing homeschool)
☐ Private school affidavit (if state treats homeschools as private schools — e.g., California)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Sincerely,

_______________________________
[PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

California

• Classification: Homeschools operate as private schools or through a PSA (Private School Affidavit)
• Filing: File Private School Affidavit (R-4) with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction between October 1–15 annually (Cal. Educ. Code § 33190)
• Requirements: Instruction in English; instruction in required subjects; no specific hour/day requirement
• Alternative: Enroll in an independent study program through a public school or charter school

Texas

• Classification: Homeschools treated as private schools (Leeper v. Arlington ISD, 893 S.W.2d 432 (Tex. 1994))
• Filing: No notice to any government agency required
• Requirements: Curriculum must include reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship; must be bona fide (not a sham)
• Note: Texas has among the least regulation of homeschools in the country

Florida

• Filing: Written notice to the county superintendent within 30 days of establishing the home education program (Fla. Stat. § 1002.41(1)(a))
• Requirements: Maintain a portfolio of records and materials; annual evaluation (standardized test, evaluation by certified teacher, or other approved method)
• Termination Notice: File notice of termination when homeschooling ends

New York

• Filing: Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) submitted to the local school district by July 1 (or within 14 days of establishing program)
• Requirements: N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, § 100.10 — annual IHIP, quarterly reports, standardized testing in grades 4-8 and annually in grades 9-12
• Subjects: Required subjects specified by grade level in § 100.10(e)
• Note: New York has among the highest levels of homeschool regulation

PRACTITIONER CHECKLIST

☐ Researched state-specific homeschool law and requirements
☐ Identified notification deadline and recipient (district, state, or none)
☐ Confirmed required subjects of instruction for the state
☐ Determined instructor qualification requirements
☐ Identified assessment/evaluation requirements and deadlines
☐ Filed required documentation (notification, curriculum, affidavit)
☐ Sent notification via method that creates proof of receipt
☐ Maintained copies of all filed documents
☐ Set calendar reminders for annual renewal/re-filing deadlines
☐ Obtained required immunization records or exemption documentation
☐ Reviewed student's right to participate in public school extracurricular activities (varies by state — "Tim Tebow" laws)
☐ Assessed eligibility for dual enrollment at community college (varies by state)

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923) — parental right to direct education
• Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925) — right to choose private/home education
• Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972) — religious liberty and compulsory education
• Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000) — fundamental parental rights
• HSLDA State Laws: https://hslda.org/legal
• Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/state-by-state/