Freedom Homeschooling

FAQs Contact

Learn more about homeschooling.

Hello! We’d love to hear from you. But if you have a question about homeschooling, please read over these Frequently Asked Questions before sending us a message using the contact form at the bottom of the page. We receive many messages, so it can take up to 5 business days to receive a reply. However, you will likely find an instant answer to your question in our FAQs.

FAQs About Homeschooling

1. How do I legally homeschool? Do I need to register or notify the school district?

This varies widely by state. Some states have few or no homeschool regulations and do not even require notification of intent to homeschool. Others have strict regulations that can include notification, submission of an education plan and curriculum to be used, a minimum number of days and hours of instruction required, standardized testing, portfolio review, and more. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with your state’s homeschool laws. You can usually find these laws on the website of your state department of education or school district. If that is not the case, ask that they provide you with a copy of the laws pertaining to homeschooling or tell you where to locate this information. It is essential that you read the laws for yourself rather than relying on someone else to tell you what the laws are. If you need additional clarification or legal assistance, contact Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) or your state’s homeschool organization. Freedom Homeschooling cannot provide information on your state’s homeschool laws or give legal advice.

2. How do I transition my child from public school to homeschooling?

Tips to Ease the Transitions from Public School to Homeschool offers advice to families making the switch to home education.

3. What curriculum should I use? Which is the best?

The best curriculum is whatever works best for your family. I suggest thoroughly researching various homeschooling methods and learning styles and reading curriculum reviews online. Also, keep each child’s interests, strengths, and weaknesses in mind. For more on choosing curriculum, please see What Curriculum Should I Use?. We apologize, but Freedom Homeschooling cannot make curriculum recommendations.

4. What courses are required for homeschooled students?

This varies by state, so you need to be familiar with your state’s homeschool laws. Some states don’t have any requirements for homeschoolers, while others require specific courses. At a minimum, some form of math, language arts, science, and history/social studies are usually covered each year. Some states also have requirements for physical education, health, art, and other subjects.

5. How do I know what topics to teach each year? How can I know if I’m doing enough?

Unless you live in a state with specific requirements for homeschoolers, this is entirely up to you. However, if you are looking for a course of study to use as a guide, see What Should I Be Teaching? for more information.

6. Do homeschoolers earn high school diplomas?

Yes! Homeschoolers receive diplomas in every state in the United States, though the process varies by state. If the family homeschools independently, the parent will usually issue the diploma. You can order professionally printed diplomas from many sources online. If the family is homeschooling through an umbrella school, cover school, or other organization, this school or organization might issue the diploma.

7. What courses and how many credits are required for high school graduation? What can count for high school credit?

This varies by state. Some states have laws that say what can be counted as high school credit, as well as what courses and how many credits are required for graduation. In other states, this is entirely up to the parent. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with your state’s homeschool laws. Contact your state homeschool organization, state department of education, or Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) for more information about high school credits and graduation requirements in your state. For various reasons, some parents in states without homeschool graduation or course requirements choose to follow the public school’s requirements voluntarily. You may want to consider this if you plan to enroll your child in a public school in the future. Also, if your child plans to attend college, it’s a good idea to check if the colleges they are interested in require (or prefer) that students have taken specific courses in high school.

8. Will my homeschool graduate be able to enroll in college?

Yes! Homeschoolers seldom have trouble enrolling in college, and many colleges even prefer homeschooled students. Your child will likely be subject to the same requirements that all students applying to the college have, such as required courses completed in high school and minimum test scores (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, etc.). Occasionally, some colleges will have additional requirements for homeschoolers, such as wanting to know what curriculum was used for each subject.

9. How will my homeschooled child receive report cards or a transcript?

Unless you homeschool through an umbrella school, cover school, or other organization that provides these services, you will be responsible for maintaining records and printing report cards and transcripts. There are many templates available online that you can use to create professional-looking reports.

10. Where can I find help homeschooling a child with special needs?

Homeschooling Special Needs: Resources and Support lists many organizations, groups, and websites that provide support, advice, resources, and services to families homeschooling children with various special needs.

11. I have a question not answered above. Where can I find more information?

The FAQs above cover general information about homeschooling. If you have a question about using Freedom Homeschooling’s website in your homeschool, you will likely find the information you are looking for on our FAQs About Freedom Homeschooling page.

12. How can I contact Freedom Homeschooling?

We’d love to hear from you! If you have a question not answered above or on our FAQs About Freedom Homeschooling page, please use the contact form below to send us a message. I’m sorry, we don’t offer support via phone.