Free: Homeschool Compliance Starter Checklist
The general checklist of what states require. For Texas's withdrawal letter, five-subject plan, and ready-to-send assurance letter, get the Texas Compliance Kit above.
Texas is one of the easiest states in the country to homeschool — and one of the most misunderstood. There is no registration, no testing, and no one to report to. But “easy” doesn’t mean “anything goes.” Texas law sets three clear requirements, and the families who never run into trouble are simply the ones who know what those are and keep a little proof on hand. This guide walks you through exactly what Texas requires, what it doesn’t, and how to start with confidence.
Is homeschooling legal in Texas?
Yes — and it’s protected by the state’s highest court. In Leeper v. Arlington ISD (1994), the Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9–0) that a home school is a private school under Texas law. Because private schools in Texas are not regulated by the state, neither are homeschools. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has no authority to monitor, approve, register, or accredit your home school.
In 2025, Texas strengthened those protections further with the Homeschool Freedom Act (HB 2674), which bars the TEA, the State Board of Education, and other public educational institutions from adding new homeschool regulations without the Legislature. In short: your freedoms are now written into statute.
The three Texas homeschool requirements
Under Leeper and Texas Education Code § 25.086, a valid Texas home school must meet just three requirements:
- The instruction must be bona fide — a real, good-faith effort to educate your child, not a sham to avoid school attendance.
- The curriculum must be in visual form — books, workbooks, or online/electronic materials your child can read and use. (Teaching by conversation alone, with nothing written, does not qualify.)
- The curriculum must cover five subjects — reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.
That’s the entire legal standard. No minimum hours, no set number of days, no specific curriculum, and no particular teaching method.
What are the five required subjects?
Texas requires your curriculum to cover these five areas. You have total freedom in how:
- Reading — readers, literature, phonics, or comprehension programs.
- Spelling — a spelling program, word lists, or spelling built into language arts.
- Grammar — parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation.
- Mathematics — any math curriculum at your child’s level.
- Good citizenship — civics, government, U.S. history, patriotism, or character education.
“Good citizenship” is the one that puzzles parents. It simply means teaching your child to be a responsible member of society. A civics workbook, a history curriculum, or structured study of how government works all satisfy it.
What Texas does NOT require
This is where Texas stands apart from states like New York or Pennsylvania. In Texas, you do not have to:
- ❌ Notify the state or the TEA that you’re homeschooling
- ❌ Register or fill out any state paperwork
- ❌ Give standardized tests or assessments
- ❌ Keep or submit attendance records
- ❌ Hold a teaching certificate or college degree
- ❌ Follow a state-approved curriculum or minimum number of hours
The only “notice” that ever matters is a letter of withdrawal to your child’s public school — and only if your child is currently enrolled there.
How to start homeschooling in Texas (step by step)
- Withdraw from public school (if enrolled). If your child currently attends a Texas public school, send a written letter of withdrawal to the school. This single step prevents the most common problem homeschoolers face: a truancy letter that results from the district simply not knowing your child left. If your child has never been enrolled, you can begin immediately with no withdrawal needed.
- Choose a visual curriculum for the five subjects. Pick books, workbooks, or an online program that covers reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship. Any publisher or method is fine.
- Keep a simple folder. Texas doesn’t require records, but keeping your curriculum list, a few work samples, and a light attendance log makes it effortless to show you run a bona fide school if a district ever asks.
- Just teach. Once you’ve withdrawn (if needed) and have your materials, you’re free to homeschool on your own schedule.
What if a school district contacts me?
Occasionally a district sends a letter — usually a routine attendance check, sometimes because a withdrawal wasn’t recorded. Don’t ignore it, and don’t panic. Under Leeper, a district may make a reasonable, good-faith request to confirm that a bona fide home school exists. That’s typically satisfied by a short written assurance letter stating that you use a visual curriculum covering the five required subjects. You are not required to hand over your curriculum, lesson plans, or test scores, or to submit your child for testing. If a district pushes beyond a reasonable assurance, that’s the moment to contact a homeschool legal organization like HSLDA or the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC).
Can Texas homeschoolers play sports?
Yes — as of 2025, Senate Bill 401 made Texas homeschool students eligible to participate in UIL activities (sports, band, academic competitions) through their local public school district. Contact the district’s athletics or activities office for their process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to notify anyone that I’m homeschooling in Texas?
No. You don’t notify the state or the TEA. The only notice that matters is a letter of withdrawal to your child’s current public school, if they’re enrolled.
Does Texas require homeschool testing?
No. There is no standardized testing or assessment requirement for homeschoolers in Texas.
Do I need to be a certified teacher?
No. Texas has no parent-qualification requirement. Any parent may homeschool.
How many days or hours do I have to homeschool?
Texas sets no minimum number of days or hours. You simply need to make a bona fide, ongoing effort to educate in the five subjects.
Is it really this easy?
Yes. Texas is genuinely one of the least-regulated states. The three requirements are the whole legal standard — the only real “work” is keeping simple records so you can prove it if you’re ever asked.
The bottom line
Texas gives you remarkable freedom to homeschool your way. Meet the three requirements — a bona fide, visual curriculum covering reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship — send a withdrawal letter if your child is leaving public school, and keep a simple folder. Do that, and you’re fully compliant with nothing to fear from a district letter. If you’d like every one of those documents done for you — the withdrawal letter, a five-subject plan, and a ready-to-send assurance letter — our Texas Homeschool Compliance Kit puts them all in one place.
This guide is an educational resource, not legal advice. Verify current requirements at the Texas statutes site and consult a homeschool legal organization if a district’s request goes beyond a reasonable assurance.
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The general checklist of what states require. For Texas's withdrawal letter, five-subject plan, and ready-to-send assurance letter, get the Texas Compliance Kit above.