How to Start Homeschooling in New Jersey

Are you thinking about making the switch to homeschooling? You’re not alone. Many parents are seeking more flexibility and autonomy than traditional schools can provide.

The Garden State is a great place to begin your home education journey. New Jersey is a fairly easy state when it comes to homeschooling! In addition, NJ homeschooling laws are minimal and allow for plenty of customization. 

Whether you’ve homeschooled before, or you’re wondering how to get started, we’ll cover everything you need to know about homeschooling laws in the State of New Jersey.

Homeschooling in New Jersey at a Glance

New Jersey – The Garden State

Required Age	6-16
Standardized Testing	Not required
Subjects	None
Time Requirements	None
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent
Special Requirements	None
Financial Resources Available	No

Parent Qualifications

New Jersey homeschool laws do not define any qualifications for parents who want to homeschool.

Notice of Intent

Parents are not required to provide a formal Notice of Intent when deciding to homeschool. 

However, it’s best to give your child’s school some form of notice if you are withdrawing them in the middle of the school year. This can help prevent any issues with truancy. 

Some parents will send a withdrawal notice to the school only or to the school district superintendent as well. If you do send any kind of notice, be sure to also keep a copy for your records. 

For high school students only: Parents who unenroll their high school student must complete a transfer form, indicating their intent to educate the student elsewhere.

Attendance

The compulsory attendance age for New Jersey is ages 6-16. There is no requirement for hours or days of instruction. Parents are able to make a flexible schedule that works best for their families.

Homeschool Curriculum

State law does not provide a list of required subjects for homeschoolers to learn. However, homeschool instruction in New Jersey needs to be equivalent to what is being taught in New Jersey public schools. Subjects in New Jersey public schools include: 

• Comprehensive health & physical education
• Math
• Science
• English/language arts
• Social studies
• Visual & performing arts
• Foreign language
• Computer science & design thinking
• Career readiness, life skills & other key skills

You can find specific course information for each subject for K-12 students on the New Jersey Student Learning Standards page. Parents can decide whether to create their own curriculum or enroll their child in an online homeschool program that offers these areas of study. 

 

Testing

Homeschool students in New Jersey are not required to participate in state testing. However, students who are planning to attend college should still take entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT, as many colleges still require these.

Record Keeping

New Jersey state law doesn’t require parents to keep homeschool records, although it’s still recommended. A homeschool portfolio is a great way to keep important items safe and organized. Good items to put in a homeschool portfolio include: 

• List of courses and materials
• Test scores
• Attendance records
• Some of your student’s best work

A homeschool portfolio can also serve as a keepsake of you and your child’s learning journey or as a source of motivation for your student. It’s a nice way to look back on the year and see how much they’ve learned. Record keeping is especially important in the high school years to create transcripts.

Graduation Requirements

In New Jersey, it’s up to parents to decide when their high school student is ready to graduate. It’s a good opportunity to talk to your student about their career goals. You can design their high school curriculum around these goals.

Some parents use the New Jersey Learning Standards to get a better idea of what their student should learn before graduation. 

When a student graduates from homeschool, they often receive a homeschool diploma from their parents. Some students opt to take the GED, which is recognized as a high school diploma equivalency in all 50 states.

Financial Resources

At this time, there are currently no financial resources available for New Jersey homeschool families.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in New Jersey, check out: 

• Homeschooling FAQ from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Homeschool Groups from the Homeschool Mom

Miacademy’s K-8 program and MiaPrep’s 9-12 program can help you teach all required subjects with little need for supplementation. Our core curriculum is comprehensive, and we also offer multiple electives to further enrich your child’s learning.

If you’re wondering whether  Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.