Utah Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Utah, based on Utah Code 53G-6-201 et seq.. Utah is classified as Low regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home School Exemption. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to local school board (board of education of the school district where the child resides). Deadline: before the child begins home schooling.
Deadline: before the child begins home schooling
More details
Per HB 209 (effective May 7, 2025), the previous affidavit requirement was replaced with a simple notice of intent. Must include parent's intent to homeschool the child. One-time filing — no annual renewal. Criminal background check requirement was also removed. Parents who previously filed an affidavit do not need to file a new notice. The school board receives the notice but does not approve or deny it.
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to the school the child currently attends and the local school board (via notice of intent).
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
File the notice of intent with the local school board and notify the current school of withdrawal. Request copies of child's educational records. The school district cannot refuse the withdrawal or impose additional conditions. No mandatory waiting period.
Good news
No specific subjects required
Utah does not specify required subjects for home schools. The parent has complete discretion over the curriculum. No curriculum review or approval process exists. No requirement to follow state standards or use state-approved materials.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings programs available
Utah Fits All Scholarship: $8,000/year (private school); $6,000/year (home-based, ages 12-18); $4,000/year (home-based, ages 5-11). Age determined as of September 1. Distributed in two equal payments by July 31 and December 31. Mid-year awards prorated by quarter. — Utah K-12 students under age 19 as of September 1 of the scholarship year. Must verify primary residence in Utah with current-year documentation (utility bill, mortgage statement, lease, or property tax records). Cannot simultaneously receive a Carson Smith Scholarship.. Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship: K-12: weighted pupil unit x 2.5 (no income tiers); Preschool full-time: value of weighted pupil unit; Preschool part-time: weighted pupil unit x 0.55. No income-based eligibility tiers. — Students with qualifying disabilities under IDEA (20 USC 1401(3)), documented by an IEP within the previous 3 years or a multidisciplinary team evaluation. Must be a primary resident of Utah with verification (utility bill, lease, property tax records, or income tax records). Each child must independently qualify; no sibling pass-through. Cannot simultaneously receive Utah Fits All or legacy Carson Smith Scholarship. Preschoolers who are homeschooled are not eligible.
More details
State-funded ESA for non-public education, signed 2023, amended by HB 455 (2025) and HB 467 (2026). Eligible expenses include curriculum, textbooks, tutoring, educational technology, private school tuition, testing fees, and educational therapies. Extracurricular activities capped at 20% of scholarship amount; physical education capped at an additional 20%. Arts and music are not classified as extracurricular. Excluded expenses: season tickets, ski passes, furniture, apparel, musical instruments (purchase), playground equipment. One chaperone expense per family. To maintain eligibility, students must submit a portfolio or standardized assessment results by May 31 each year. Application timeline: returning students open March 1, new applicants April 1, deadline May 1, acceptance by July 1. Multi-child households: applications processed as a unit; if funds are insufficient for all children, the family may accept partial awards or remain on the waitlist. ESA requirements (portfolio, expense documentation) do not apply to non-ESA homeschoolers. Provides scholarship funding for private school or home school instruction costs. Covers tuition, educational therapies, curriculum, tutoring, and other approved expenses. Expense definitions aligned with Utah Fits All program (extracurricular/PE capped at 20%). Parents cannot be paid as service providers for their own child. Funded through tax-credit donations and legislative appropriations. Administered by scholarship granting organizations. Participation adds requirements beyond the basic notice of intent. Amended by SB 54 (2026), effective May 6, 2026.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- local school board (board of education of the school district where the child resides)
- Deadline
- before the child begins home schooling
- How often
- one time
Per HB 209 (effective May 7, 2025), the previous affidavit requirement was replaced with a simple notice of intent. Must include parent's intent to homeschool the child. One-time filing — no annual renewal. Criminal background check requirement was also removed. Parents who previously filed an affidavit do not need to file a new notice. The school board receives the notice but does not approve or deny it.
Ongoing requirements
Utah has no ongoing testing, recordkeeping, or reporting requirements under this pathway.
What you don't need to worry about
No specific subjects required
Utah does not specify required subjects for home schools. The parent has complete discretion over the curriculum. No curriculum review or approval process exists. No requirement to follow state standards or use state-approved materials.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings programs available
Utah Fits All Scholarship: $8,000/year (private school); $6,000/year (home-based, ages 12-18); $4,000/year (home-based, ages 5-11). Age determined as of September 1. Distributed in two equal payments by July 31 and December 31. Mid-year awards prorated by quarter. — Utah K-12 students under age 19 as of September 1 of the scholarship year. Must verify primary residence in Utah with current-year documentation (utility bill, mortgage statement, lease, or property tax records). Cannot simultaneously receive a Carson Smith Scholarship.. Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship: K-12: weighted pupil unit x 2.5 (no income tiers); Preschool full-time: value of weighted pupil unit; Preschool part-time: weighted pupil unit x 0.55. No income-based eligibility tiers. — Students with qualifying disabilities under IDEA (20 USC 1401(3)), documented by an IEP within the previous 3 years or a multidisciplinary team evaluation. Must be a primary resident of Utah with verification (utility bill, lease, property tax records, or income tax records). Each child must independently qualify; no sibling pass-through. Cannot simultaneously receive Utah Fits All or legacy Carson Smith Scholarship. Preschoolers who are homeschooled are not eligible.
Education savings available
Utah offers 2 education savings programs. Learn about ESA programs
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Utah checklistRequirements sourced from Utah Code 53G-6-201 et seq.. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026