Homeschool Requirements in Texas

Texas treats a home school a lot like a private school. There's nothing to file with the state, but a few things matter: how you withdraw from public school, and what you teach. Here's all of it, in plain English.

Natalie Riggs

Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day

✓ Last verified October 2026 against tea.texas.gov

The short answer ⚡

No paperwork with the state. Texas treats a bona fide home school like a private school. If your child is in public school, withdraw in writing. Then teach reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.

Texas at a glance 📋

Notify the state: No; TEA doesn't register or approve home schools
Withdraw from public school: If enrolled; A signed, dated letter to the school
Subjects: Yes; Reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship
State testing: None in TEA guidance; A district may test your child only if they re-enroll

Pick your path 🛤️

Since the Texas Supreme Court's 1994 Leeper decision, a home school is treated like a private school. TEA also lists a few other ways to learn outside a regular classroom:

How the Texas homeschool paths compare
Path	What you file	Cost	Oversight
Home school	What you fileA withdrawal letter, if your child is enrolled	CostYou choose your materials	OversightNone from TEA
Private school	What you fileSet by the school	CostSet by the school	OversightTEA has no oversight
Charter school	What you fileEnrollment with the charter	CostAsk the charter school	OversightFewer state laws than other public schools
Online public school (TXVSN)	What you fileEnrollment with a participating school	CostFree	OversightYour child is a public school student

At home

1. Home school (a private school under Leeper)

Since the Leeper decision, children taught at home are exempt from compulsory attendance the same way private school students are. You run it in a bona fide way with a written curriculum, and TEA doesn't register or approve it.

Private option

2. Enroll in a private school

TEA does not have oversight of private schools in Texas.

Public option

3. Enroll in a charter school

Charter schools are public schools that are subject to fewer state laws than other public schools.

Public option

4. Full time online public school

The Texas Virtual School Network Online Schools program offers free, full time online school through approved districts and charter schools. Students who enroll are public school students.

How to withdraw from public school 📝

Only needed if your child is enrolled in a school right now. It's simpler than most parents expect: one letter, in writing.

Put these in your letter

That your child is being homeschooled
The date homeschooling began
Your signature and the date you signed

Write the letter, or ask the school for its withdrawal form and sign that instead.
Give it to the school. You don't need to meet with anyone or show your curriculum to withdraw.
Keep a copy for your records.
If the district later asks in writing for a letter of assurance, answer it once. It isn't required every year.

What the district can ask

A letter of assurance, requested in writing, that your child is being homeschooled
Assurance that your curriculum is designed to meet basic education goals: reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship

What you don't need to do to withdraw

Meet with school officials in person
Show your curriculum for review
Send a new letter of assurance every year

Source: TEA: Commissioner's letter on home schools (2019)

Want this as a printable? Get the free Texas checklist.

Records to keep 🗂️

TEA's guidance doesn't list any required home school records. These three are still worth keeping, because a district may ask for a letter of assurance, and may look at your curriculum and your child's work if they ever re-enroll.

A copy of your withdrawal letter (and any letter of assurance you send)Our suggestion
Your curriculum list showing reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenshipOur suggestion
Work samples in case your child goes back to public schoolOur suggestion

A folder with these three things covers you.

Testing: what Texas actually requires 🧪

TEA's guidance doesn't include a state testing requirement for home schools, and TEA doesn't monitor home school programs.

If your child goes back to public school, the district may test them for grade placement or credit. That's the district's call. Districts must also let homeschoolers take the PSAT/NMSQT and AP exams they offer their own students.

What to teach 📚

TEA says home schools must be run in a bona fide manner, using a written curriculum. It has to cover:

Five subjects: reading, spelling, grammar, math, and a course in good citizenship

You choose the materials. The state's public school standards (TEKS) are there if you want them, but they're optional.

6 mistakes new Texas homeschoolers make ⚠️

1. Registering with TEA or waiting for its approval.
There's nothing to register. TEA doesn't register, approve, or monitor home schools, and says you don't need to contact it.
2. Just stopping school instead of formally withdrawing.
If your child is enrolled, TEA says you do need to contact the school to formally withdraw them, in writing. Whether attendance law was broken is decided by the district or local courts.
3. Thinking you need a meeting or a curriculum review to withdraw.
TEA's commissioner says parents don't need to appear in person or present curriculum for review. A signed, dated letter with your start date is enough.
4. Leaving out good citizenship.
It's part of the required course of study, alongside reading, spelling, grammar, and math.
5. Sending a letter of assurance every year.
A district may ask for one, but TEA says a letter of this type is not required each year.
6. Not keeping work samples.
Our suggestion, not a TEA rule: keep them. If your child ever re-enrolls, the district may place them by reviewing your curriculum and their work, or with tests.

Texas homeschool FAQ 💬

Do I have to register with the state to homeschool in Texas?

No. The Texas Education Agency doesn't register, approve or monitor home schools, and you don't need to contact it. If your child is enrolled in a public school, you do need to formally withdraw them from that school, in writing. A signed, dated letter is enough.

How do I withdraw my child from public school to homeschool in Texas?

Give the school written notice: sign their withdrawal form or send a letter. TEA says a signed, dated letter stating your child is being homeschooled and the start date is enough. You don't have to meet with anyone or show your curriculum to withdraw. Keep a copy of whatever you send.

What is a letter of assurance in Texas?

It's a short letter a school district may request, in writing, to confirm your child is being homeschooled. It can ask you to confirm your curriculum covers reading, spelling, grammar, math and good citizenship. TEA says the letter isn't required every year, so one response is usually it.

What subjects do Texas homeschoolers have to teach?

TEA says home schools must be run in a bona fide manner, using a written curriculum that covers reading, spelling, grammar, math, and a course in good citizenship. You choose the materials. The state's public school standards (TEKS) are there if you want them, but they're optional.

Do Texas homeschoolers take the STAAR test?

TEA's home school guidance doesn't include any state testing requirement, and TEA doesn't monitor home school programs. If your child returns to public school, the district may test them for grade placement or credit. Districts must also let homeschoolers sit for the PSAT/NMSQT and AP exams they offer.

Is homeschooling legal in Texas?

Yes. Since the Texas Supreme Court's 1994 decision in Leeper v. Arlington ISD, children taught at home are exempt from compulsory attendance the same way private school students are. In practice, Texas treats a bona fide home school like a private school.

Does my homeschooler get a Texas diploma?

The state doesn't award diplomas to homeschooled students. But Texas treats completing a home school education as equal to graduating from a public high school for college admission.

What if my child goes back to public school?

If your child returns to public school, the district will often assess what they've learned for grade placement or credit, and should treat them like students from unaccredited private schools. Keeping your curriculum list and work samples makes that review much easier.

Get your free Texas checklist ✅

We turned this whole page into a 1 page printable checklist: every withdrawal step, every subject to teach, every record worth keeping. Stick it in your homeschool binder and you're covered.

Plus, make your first learning packet free. 11 to 17 pages, generated around your kiddo in a minute or two.

Sources 📖

TEA: Home Schooling (checked October 2026)
TEA: Commissioner's letter on home schools (July 11, 2019) (checked October 2026)
TEA: General Frequently Asked Questions (checked October 2026)
TEA: Alternative Schooling (checked October 2026)
TEA: Texas Virtual School Network Online Schools (checked October 2026)
Texas Legislature: HB 1553 (2005) bill text quoting Ed Code 25.086(a)(1) (checked October 2026)
Texas Attorney General Opinion JC-0091 (1999) (checked October 2026)

Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.

This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with the Texas Education Agency or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.

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