How to Start Homeschooling in Colorado

Yes. Homeschooling in Colorado is legal. It has been since 1988.

That year, the legislature passed C.R.S. 22-33-104.5. This created a specific legal category called "home-based education." It is not classified as private schooling. It stands on its own. The law spells out what you need to do. Meet those requirements and you are fully compliant. No school district can deny your right to homeschool.

Colorado is a moderate-regulation state. You have more structure than Texas, which requires almost nothing. But you have far less than New York, which requires quarterly reports. The balance works well. You get real freedom in how you teach. The state checks in through testing at a few grade levels.

Here is something that surprises many new families: your notification is not an application. The district does not approve or deny it. Some district staff may give the impression that you need permission. You do not. You are informing them. That is all. This is one of the most common misunderstandings about homeschooling in Colorado, and knowing it upfront saves a lot of stress.

Colorado requires education for children ages 6 through 17 under C.R.S. 22-33-104.

One date matters. If your child turns 6 on or before August 1, they must start that school year.

Here is something that helps new families relax. You do not need to send notification until your child turns 6. And you do not have to set up your program until your child is 7. That gives you a full buffer year to research, plan, and prepare without any pressure.

On the other end, compulsory attendance stops at age 17. That is one year earlier than many states. Once your child turns 17, there is no legal obligation to continue formal schooling.

Ready to get started? Most families follow the standard home-based education pathway under C.R.S. 22-33-104.5. Here is how to start homeschooling in Colorado, step by step.

Step 1: Write your notification letter. There is no state form. You write a simple letter with five things: your child's name, your child's age, your home address, the number of hours of attendance (showing you will meet the 172-day rule), and a statement that you will cover the nine required subjects. That is the whole letter.

Step 2: Send it to your superintendent. Mail or deliver your letter to the superintendent of your school district. You must send it at least 14 calendar days before you start teaching. This deadline is firm. Do not begin until those 14 days have passed. This is the most common mistake new Colorado homeschool families make. Get the timing right.

Step 3: Withdraw from school (if needed). If your child is in school now, let the school know they are leaving. Colorado has no state withdrawal form. Practices vary by district. Your 14-day notification to the superintendent is the legal step. But also tell the school directly to avoid truancy referrals. Contact both the district office and the school.

Step 4: Start tracking attendance. Keep a record of your teaching days. A calendar, notebook, or spreadsheet is fine. You need to show 172 days if the district ever asks. You do not send this to anyone. But keep it organized and ready.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum. Colorado requires nine subjects but gives you total freedom in how you teach them. No textbooks required. No curriculum review. Pick what works for your family and your child.

Step 6: Start teaching. Once your 14-day waiting period is up, you are an official home-based education program. Welcome to homeschooling in Colorado.

Your notification letter is the only document you file with the state each year. There is no state form. Colorado accepts a simple letter.

Your letter needs five things:

• Your child's name
• Your child's age
• Your home address
• The number of hours of attendance (showing you meet the 172-day rule)
• A statement that you will cover the required subjects

Send it to the superintendent of your local school district. File it every year before the school year starts, with 14 days of advance notice.

Two things families sometimes forget. First, if you move to a new district during the year, you must file a new notification with the new district. Second, you must renew this notification every year. Some families file the first year and forget after that. Put it on your calendar.

This letter is not a request. The district does not approve or deny it. You are telling them. If anyone at the district says you need approval, they are mistaken. C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(3) is clear on this point.

Colorado lists nine required subjects for home-based education in C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(2)(a). Here they are:

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Speaking
4. Mathematics
5. History
6. Civics
7. Literature
8. Science
9. United States Constitution

The Constitution is specifically listed and is not optional. This comes from C.R.S. 22-1-108, which requires all schools in Colorado to teach the U.S. Constitution. It is one of the Colorado homeschool requirements that families sometimes overlook. Do not skip it.

Now the encouraging part. The law does not tell you how to teach any of these. No required textbooks. No curriculum review. No standards to follow. You have complete freedom in your approach. Structured curriculum, unit studies, project-based learning, or a creative mix. The law says what to cover. How you cover it is entirely your call.

Here is good news. Colorado requires 172 days of instruction per year under C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(2)(b). That averages about 4 hours per day, or roughly 688 hours per year.

That 172-day number is actually fewer than the 180 days public schools require. You get more flexibility with your calendar.

Track your teaching days with a simple calendar or spreadsheet. You do not send this to anyone. But the district can ask to see your records. They must give you 14 days of written notice first. That is your right under C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(2)(d). No surprise inspections allowed.

Starting mid-year? The 172-day count may be prorated. If your child already attended public school for part of the year, those days can count toward the total. You do not have to squeeze in a full 172 days on top of what they already completed.

Testing is the area where Colorado has more structure than many states. But the requirements are fair and manageable.

Your child needs to be tested at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 under C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(2)(c). You have two options.

Option 1: Standardized test. Your child takes a nationally standardized achievement test from the state board-approved list. You choose the test. The minimum score is the 13th percentile composite. That is a deliberately low threshold. It exists only to catch serious academic gaps, not to judge your teaching.

Option 2: Evaluation. Skip the standardized test. Instead, have a qualified person you choose evaluate your child's progress.

Test results stay with you. You do not send them to the district unless they ask. And they must give you 14 days of written notice before requesting records.

What if your child scores below the 13th percentile? Do not panic. It does not end your right to homeschool. Your child gets a chance to retest with a different version or a different approved test. If the retest still falls short, the district may require placement in a school until the next testing period. But you always get that second chance first.

Plan ahead for testing years. Mark grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 on your calendar now. Missing a testing window is one of the most common compliance mistakes Colorado families make.

Colorado gives you two main ways to educate your child at home.

Pathway 1: Standard Home-Based Education (C.R.S. 22-33-104.5). This is the pathway this guide covers. File notification. Teach nine subjects. Log 172 days. Test at five grade levels. Most Colorado families choose this route.

Pathway 2: Umbrella or Private School (C.R.S. 22-33-104(2)(a)). You enroll in a private school that works as an umbrella or cover school. You follow that school's policies instead of the homeschool statute. No notification to the district. No state-mandated testing. No attendance tracking from the state. This is a good fit for families who want to skip the testing requirement or who want some institutional support. Private schools in Colorado are largely unregulated. No state approval process is needed.

One important thing: online public school programs are not homeschooling. Programs like Colorado Connections Academy and Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA) are public schools. Their students are public school students with different rules. Do not confuse these with homeschooling.

Also worth knowing: homeschooled students can take individual courses at their local public school on a part-time basis. Contact your district to learn how this works in your area.

A few things every family should know about homeschooling in Colorado.

You do not need any credentials. No teaching certificate. No college degree. No training required. The law presumes you are capable of teaching your own child. That is C.R.S. 22-33-104.5.

Your child can play school sports. Homeschool students have the same right as public school students to join extracurricular and interscholastic activities. A school or district cannot require course enrollment as a condition to participate. The only exception is activities that are a direct extension of a course, like performing arts. This is in C.R.S. 22-33-104.5.

IEP services end when you leave public school. If your child has an IEP, it stops when you begin homeschooling. But here is your option: enroll your child part-time in the district to access special education services. The district will give you a formal Prior Written Notice explaining what changes. Districts must also offer Child Find evaluations to identify disabilities in homeschooled children.

No state financial help. Colorado has no tax credit, deduction, ESA, voucher, or scholarship for homeschool families. All costs are yours.

Records inspection has rules. If the district wants to see your attendance or test results, they must give you 14 days of written notice. No surprise visits. Keep your records organized so you are ready when the time comes.

Watch for these common mistakes. Starting before the 14-day notice period is up. Forgetting to renew the notification each year. Missing a testing window at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Not filing with the new district after a move. Not keeping attendance records that show 172 days. Overlooking the U.S. Constitution as a required subject. These are the things that trip up Colorado homeschool families. Now that you know them, you can avoid every one.