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, but 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).