- For families
State Homeschool Guides
Famlo's State Homeschool Guides explain what each state asks of homeschooling families: whether you file a notice, whether there's testing, what records to keep, and what funding exists. They're free, and you don't need an account. Start at famlo.co/guides and pick your state.
Find your state's guide
- Go to famlo.co/guides. You can also get there from the famlo.co menu (For families › State guides) or the site footer (State guides, or a state's name under Homeschooling by state).
- Check that the Guide tab is selected (1).
- Under Your state, open Choose your state (2) and pick your state.
- Read the short answer that appears, then select Read the [state] guide.
You can also select a state on the map, or scroll down to the A–Z list of every state and select its name.
The picker may already show a state when you arrive. It opens on the last state you looked at in these guides on the same browser, or the state you appear to be in. You can always choose a different one.
If you're signed in, you can also get to your own state's guide from:
- the Where you are card on your Dashboard (Home on a phone): select Homeschooling in [state];
- on a phone, Account settings, under Homeschool tools · [state]: select State guide.
Both use the location on your account. To change it, select Change on the Where you are card. If your account has no state yet, the phone rows open the national pages instead.
The four tabs and the map key
The four tabs (1 in the picture above) are Guide, Letter of intent, Funding and Records. They share the same map and state list. The tab you pick changes how the map is colored, what each state's line in the list says, and which page you go to when you choose a state.
The map key (3) under the map tells you what each color means. The number beside each color is how many states are in that group. A group with no states in it isn't shown.
| Tab | What the colors mean |
|---|---|
| Guide | No notice or testing, Notice only, Notice and testing, or In the state guide (the short answer isn't settled, so read the full guide) |
| Letter of intent | Letter ready to fill in, Notice required · no fill-in letter yet, No notice required, or In the state guide |
| Funding | The funding map's tiers, from Universal ESA/Voucher to No State Funding |
| Records | Days or hours set in law, or Keep a log · see the guide |
The other three tabs have their own help pages: Letter of Intent Generator, Homeschool Funding Map and Homeschool Records Tool.
What's on a state's guide
Each state's guide has its own page, titled "Homeschooling in [state]". The top of the page is the same for the state's guide, letter, funding and records pages, so you can move between them without losing your place.
At the top you'll find:
- The state's four tabs (1). On a wide screen, each shows that state's answer, such as the notice and testing rule and the compulsory school ages on Guide, or Letter ready to fill in on Letter of intent. Select a tab to open that page for the same state. If a tab looks faded, that state has no page there yet.
- Change state (2). Takes you back to the map on the same tab, so you can pick another state.
- The law and the date. On a computer or tablet, and where the guide has them, the law it's based on and "Verified [month year]", the last time the guide was checked.
Below that, the guide is laid out in sections. Not every state has every section.
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| At a Glance | The state's homeschool rules in a few short facts |
| Important Notice | A reminder that the guide is for information only and laws change |
| Requirements | What you need to know to start homeschooling in the state. If Famlo has a fill-in letter for your state, a Need a letter of intent? box sits here with Generate Your Letter. |
| Evaluations & Assessment | The state's testing or evaluation options |
| Financial Resources | Scholarships, ESAs, vouchers and tax credits |
| Explore [state] Homeschooling | Links to Homeschool Groups, Upcoming Activities, Funding & Scholarships and, where there is one, Letter of Intent |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Common questions. Select a question to show its answer. |
At the bottom, Next takes you to the state's next tab. After that you'll see who wrote the guide, Last verified and Published dates, and the guide's disclaimer.
The guides are for information only, and laws change. Before you file anything, check the current rules with your local school district.
Classes, groups and field trips near you
The last part of every state page, headed "Classes, groups and field trips", shows what's on Famlo in that state.
- Coming up shows upcoming activities in the state, with See all [number] in [state] when there are more.
- Groups and places shows organizations in the state, with a See all link when there are more.
If nothing is posted in the state yet, Coming up shows a form instead: "We'll email you when a class, group or field trip is posted anywhere in" that state. The watch stays on, and Famlo emails you again each time something new is posted, until you stop it.
- Enter your Email address. If you're signed in, there's no email field: the watch is saved to your account.
- If you're not signed in and you'd also like Famlo's occasional updates, tick the box. It's off unless you tick it.
- Select Watch this area.
You can stop a watch from the link in its email. For more on watches and signed-in alerts, see Location alerts and area watches.
Run a co-op, class or group yourself? Select List your group — free at the bottom of the section. See Listing your organization.
Troubleshooting
The picker opened on a state I don't live in. It opens on the last state you looked at in these guides on this browser, or on a guess from your location. Choose your own state from Choose your state.
One of my state's tabs is faded and won't open. Famlo doesn't have that page for your state yet. The other tabs still work, and the guide's Requirements section explains what to file.
The guide doesn't match what my school district told me. Check the "Verified" date at the top of the guide. Laws change, so your school district's current rules come first.
Nothing is listed under Coming up. Nothing has been posted in that state yet. Use Watch this area to get an email when something is posted, or look at activities nearby with Finding activities.