Legal Requirements Of All Texas Homeschoolers

Compiled from: Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA): Click here to read a more detailed over view and to visit HSLDA web site.

The State of Texas has a Compulsory School Age rule. Once a child turns 6 years old, he or she must be enrolled in a school. This Compulsory Attendance rule is met if your child is being homeschooled.

Establishing yourself as a homeschooler is relatively easy. In Texas you are allowed to homeschool if you establish yourself as "private school". The long and short of it is, once you say you are a "homeschool" you are effectively treated as a private school for legal purposes.

You do not have to have any prior teacher training in any of the subjects that you teach your homeschoolers. Though you must, as a homeschooler,r cover the basics of:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Math
• Good Citizenship

Additionally, you do not have to give notice (in most cases) to any educational or other public official or entity, stating that you intend to homeschool. You do not have to keep records or make up a schedule of how you conduct classes. You needn't follow a pre packaged curriculum of any kind. Nor do you have to meet mandatory testing requirements as public schools have.

Since laws are often changing, we recommend that you do your own research. Two good places to start are:

Texas Homeschool Coalition
Homeschool Legal Defense Association

Homeschool In Houston is not affiliated in anyway with either of these organization. Additionally, we do not always agree with all their stated goals or philosophies. However we recognize that they provide an invaluable service and so recommend them to you.