Homeschool in Texas 2025 | Intent, Curriculum, Diplomas

Home education is gaining popularity in the Lone Star State. Between the straightforward Texas homeschooling laws and the flexibility that home education offers, it’s easy to see why! If you are interested in exploring a more relaxed and independent approach to your child’s education, homeschooling in Texas may be a great option for you! 

Texas is a very low regulation state, and it only has a few requirements that homeschooling families need to follow. It’s important to do your research, as homeschool laws vary by state. Once you’ve taken care of the legal aspects, you’ll be starting your homeschooling journey in no time!

Homeschooling in Texas at a Glance

Texas – The Lone Star State

Required Age	5-19 (or until graduation)
Standardized Testing	Not required
Subjects	Reading, spelling, grammar, math, good citizenship
Time Requirements	None
Graduation Requirements	None
Special Requirements	None
Financial Resources Available	No

Parent Qualifications

There are no educational requirements for parents who wish to homeschool in Texas.

Notice of Intent

If your child has never been enrolled in a public school, you are not required to provide any Notice of Intent. 

If your child is enrolled in a public school, you must send a letter of withdrawal to your school district stating your intent to homeschool. It’s important to send the letter before withdrawing your child from school to prevent your student from becoming truant. 

Attendance

There are no attendance requirements for homeschoolers in Texas. Parents may teach for as little or as long as their student needs.

Curriculum

There are only three requirements for Texas homeschoolers: 

1. The curriculum must be in a visual format.
2. Instruction must be bona fide, or in good faith.
3. The curriculum must teach reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.

Any homeschool curriculum in Texas must be in a visual format. An example of a visual curriculum would be teaching through books, videos, or written activities. For example, providing lessons only through an audiobook format would not meet the visual curriculum requirement.

The instruction must also be “bona fide,” meaning genuine in quality or effort. Giving the child a math workbook and telling them to “have at it,” or only teaching when being observed would fail to meet the good faith requirement.

As mentioned, there are only five subjects required for Texas homeschoolers: 

• Reading
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Math
• Good citizenship

The first three typically fall under the English Language Arts (ELA) category. “Good citizenship” includes basic knowledge of civics, such as learning U.S. and Texas history, how the government works, and what one’s civic responsibilities are.

Science and social studies are not required by law, although you will likely want to incorporate them into your homeschool curriculum. Science teaches students about the way the natural world works, the forces that we rely on, and the resources that power our bodies and communities. Social studies familiarizes students with the cultures, governments, and history of the world, and it can help them better understand the global economy we have today. Both subjects are crucial for providing students with a well-rounded, quality education. You can also use the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards as a guideline when choosing social studies and science courses.

Testing

Homeschoolers in Texas are not required to take the STAAR test, and they are exempt from all standardized testing.

However, many homeschool families still opt to test their students periodically, as it is a great way to assess academic progress. In addition, using test results to analyze your student’s strengths and weaknesses can help you make informed decisions when tailoring their curriculum. You can purchase and administer standardized tests, such as the nationally normed IOWA Test and Stanford Achievement Test-10, through online testing administrators.

Record Keeping

Texas does not require record keeping for homeschoolers. However, good record keeping is a vital resource to track progress, ensuring students are continuing to learn. They are also extremely important to have if you send your student back to public school.

Good records should contain the following: 

• Attendance
• Immunizations
• Any texts and workbooks used
• Samples of your student’s best work
• Any test or evaluation results, for each school year
• Any correspondence you have with school officials

Graduation Requirements

The homeschool laws in TX allow parents to determine when their child is ready to graduate. Parents are responsible for providing a homeschool high school diploma, as well. Post-secondary schools in Texas are required to apply the same standards to homeschool graduates as to public or private school graduates to prevent educational discrimination during college applications.

To get a better idea of what one’s student should know before graduation, many parents use the Texas Education Agency’s Graduation Requirements as a guide. Texas public high schools require credits in ELA, math, science, social studies, physical education, speech, and electives (such as foreign language studies or fine arts) to earn a diploma. While some of these courses are optional for homeschooled students, taking them can make students more competitive if they plan to pursue higher education and ensure they’re well prepared for life after high school.

Financial Resources

Unfortunately, there are no state financial resources available for Texas homeschoolers at this time.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in Texas, check out the following resources: 

• The Texas Homeschool Coalition provides up-to-date information and hosts events for local homeschoolers in the Lone Star State.
• Texas Home Educators provides a comprehensive list of homeschool groups in each city, throughout the state. Find your local Texas homeschool community today!

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 with any questions you may have.