How to Start Homeschooling in New Jersey

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in New Jersey.

N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 is the compulsory education statute. It requires every child between ages 6 and 16 to attend public school, a day school with equivalent instruction, or "receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school." That last phrase is what permits a parent to educate a child at home.

The NJDOE Homeschooling FAQ points to State v. Massa, 95 N.J. Super. 382 (1967), where the court held that parents need to show only that their instruction is academically equivalent to that provided in the local public school, not equivalency of social development from group education. NJDOE also says a parent or other person teaching a child elsewhere than at school is not required by law to be a certified teacher.

New Jersey's compulsory education applies to children between ages 6 and 16 under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25.

If your child is younger than 6, you have no legal obligation to provide formal instruction yet. Take your time exploring different approaches. Once your child turns 16, compulsory attendance no longer applies.

Starting to homeschool in New Jersey is simple. Here is your step-by-step:

Step 1: Decide to homeschool. There is no application, approval, or waiting period. The local board of education is not required or authorized to review or approve your program.

Step 2: Tell the district when required, and when it helps. NJDOE describes two situations where you must inform the district. If you are removing an enrolled student from a high school program, you complete the district's transfer form. If a district refused to enroll your child and you do not appeal, you provide a statement of verification (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-4.2(d)). In other situations, NJDOE encourages you to notify the local board of education so questions do not arise.

Step 3: Withdraw your child (if currently enrolled). Send a letter to the local board of education. Include your name and contact information, your child's name and date of birth, the effective date, and this sentence: "My child is being withdrawn to receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school, as provided under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25." Keep a copy.

Step 4: Choose your approach. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 says "equivalent instruction" but names no specific subjects. The New Jersey Student Learning Standards under N.J.A.C. 6A:8 apply to public schools. Use any curriculum: commercial, religious, secular, or self-designed.

Step 5: Start teaching. You are homeschooling.

Know what the district can ask for. The local board of education enforces the compulsory education law. If it has credible evidence that a child is not being educated, it may request documentation such as a letter of intent. Withdrawing to homeschool is not, by itself, credible evidence. A short letter of intent is easy to provide if asked.

Keep records from day one. New Jersey law does not require attendance logs, grade records, or a portfolio. Still, start a file with a transcript listing courses and grades by year, course descriptions, samples of your child's work, and any test scores. You will want these for college applications or re-enrollment.

You issue the diploma. New Jersey does not issue a state homeschool diploma. Parent-issued diplomas are recognized. Students who want a state-recognized equivalency credential can take the GED or HiSET. Start building your transcript early in high school.

Public school access is not guaranteed. NJDOE says the local board of education is not required to allow homeschooled students to participate in classes, extracurricular activities, or sports. Participation is at the board's discretion, so call your district and ask. A homeschooled child who lives in the county may apply each year to a county shared-time vocational school, where space allows.

There is no umbrella school option. New Jersey does not recognize umbrella schools or cover schools by statute. The single pathway is "equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school" under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25.

Special education: know your options before you withdraw. If your child has an IEP and you leave public school, the district is generally no longer obligated to provide IEP services. Under federal special education law, your district must still identify and evaluate children with disabilities who live in the district, including homeschooled children. Ask your district's special education office what services are available.

Moving from another state? Families from states with stricter rules often assume New Jersey requires registration. For most families it does not. Check the two NJDOE situations above, and consider a simple notice to your local board of education.