State-by-State Starter Guide · Printable
Can I homeschool my special-needs child in [STATE]?
This sheet is written around one example state (Texas) and built to be adapted to
any other. Swap the state-specific box below with your own state’s rules.
Short answer: yes. Families in all 50 U.S. states can homeschool,
including children with IEPs, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other exceptionalities. What changes from
state to state is the paperwork and the rules — not whether it’s allowed.
Three things every family should know first
- It’s legal everywhere — the rules differ. Some states want a notice or
registration, some want testing or portfolio reviews, some want nothing at all. Know your state’s
list before you start.
- A public-school IEP does not follow you home. When you withdraw, the school’s
legal duty under federal special-education law generally ends. You create your own learning plan instead.
In some states and districts your child may still qualify for certain services — that varies, so ask.
- You are not alone. Your state’s homeschool association and disability-specific
organizations have free guides and know the local specifics better than a general web search.
Worked example — Texas
How Texas treats homeschooling: a homeschool is treated as a private school
(Leeper v. Arlington ISD, 1994). To homeschool you generally must:
- Run a bona fide (genuine) instruction program;
- Use a written curriculum; and
- Cover five subjects: reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.
What Texas does not require: registration or notice, attendance logs, minimum days or
hours, state testing, or teacher certification.
If your child is in public school now: send the school a short written withdrawal
notice so you aren’t flagged for truancy.
Special education note: Texas does not require homeschools to provide IEPs, and a
district’s duty to evaluate or serve your child is limited once you withdraw. Check current district
policy and your state homeschool association before making changes.
Make it yours — fill in for your state
My state:
Notice / registration required?
Testing or portfolio required?
Required subjects:
Key contact (state homeschool org):
Where to check for your state
- Your state’s homeschool association (first stop — they know the local reality).
- State Department of Education “homeschool” page (the official rules).
- HSLDA state-law summaries (overview of notice, testing, and subjects per state).
- A local special-needs homeschool group (real-world answers from other parents).