Some Examples of Some US State Home Schooling Laws:

Some states do not require any notice of intent.  While others require the filing of a notice with local school officials containing specified information. In conformity with the general trend to ease requirements however, only two states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, still require parents to obtain approval prior to home schooling. More onerous requirements even include the need to have a credentialed teacher supervise the home schooled child's education.

Proponents of heavier requirements argue that they are a necessity in order to achieve the societal goal of having an educated public who are prepared to participate in democratic society. There are no scientific studies, however, that indicate heavier requirements produce better results.

In general, standardized test scores in states with high requirements are no better than in states with lower requirements, casting doubt on the wisdom of placing high requirements on homes chooling since higher requirements create higher administrative costs.

In California, for example, home schoolers must either a.) be part of a public homeschooling program through independent study or a charter school, b.) use a credentialed tutor, or c.) enroll their children in a qualified private school (Such private schools may be formed by the parents in their own home, or parents may utilize a number of private schools which offer some kind of independent study or distance learning options).

All persons who operate private schools in California, including parents forming schools just for their own children, must file an annual affidavit with the Department of Education. They must offer certain courses of study (generally similar to the content required in public schools, but described in one page rather than the hundreds of pages of scope and sequence requirements that public schools must follow) and must keep attendance records, but are otherwise not subject to any state oversight. There is no requirement in California that any private school teachers, whether the school is large or small, must have state credentials, although all teachers must be "capable of teaching".

Texas, which is considered to be very friendly toward home schooling (after losing a landmark case when it attempted to outlaw homeschooling), has very minimal requirements. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has no authority to regulate home schools (TEA considers home schools to be equivalent to "unaccredited private schools"; TEA states that private schools are not required to be accredited, and it has no authority to regulate those either). The requirements (based totally on state law, or more precisely the absence of state law), are based on a near-laissez faire attitude toward homeschooling, and are as follows:

• State law only requires that a school (of any type) curriculum 1) must teach "reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship" (the latter is interpreted to mean a course in civics), and 2) must be taught in a bona fide manner (which means there must be a real intent to actually provide education). Texas Home School Coalition FAQ The curriculum may be obtained from any source(s), and does not have to be approved or even provided to the state or the local school district.
• State law does not specify any minimum number of days in a year, or hours in a day, that must be met.
• State law does not require achievement tests for home school graduating seniors.
• State law does not restrict home school families from combining into one group setting.
• State law does not require registration or annual filings.
• State law does not require any teacher credentials, or any capability for that matter.
• State law requires notification only if the child was previously in a public school and is withdrawn; the notification required is merely a letter notifying the school district of the parent(s)' intent. Parents who home school from day one are not required to give any notice

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