How to Start Homeschooling in Utah

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Utah. Utah Code 53G-6-202 requires a parent to enroll a school-age child in a public or regularly established private school, except as provided in Utah Code 53G-6-204 or 53G-6-702. Section 53G-6-204 is the home school exemption.

Under 53G-6-204, you are solely responsible for choosing instructional materials, for the time, place, and method of instruction, and for evaluating your child's progress. Your local school board may not require you to keep records of instruction or attendance, may not require teaching credentials, may not inspect your home school, and may not require testing. When the board receives your notification, it keeps a record of it and acknowledges receipt within 30 days.

Utah's compulsory education law applies to a school-age child, which Utah Code 53G-6-201 defines as a minor who is at least six years old but younger than 18 and not emancipated.

If your child is 5, nothing is required yet. You have time to explore curricula and teaching styles at your own pace. When your child reaches school age and is not enrolled in school, send your one-time notification.

Getting started with homeschooling in Utah is short and simple. Here is what to do:

Step 1: Write your notification. Utah law calls for a one-time initial notification that may include a letter of intent, and it does not prescribe a form or required contents. A short letter works. You might include your name and contact information, your child's name, and a statement that your child will be home schooled under Utah Code 53G-6-204.

Step 2: Send it to your local school board. Send the notification to the local school board of the district where your child lives, not to the Utah State Board of Education. Send it when you withdraw your child from school to homeschool, or when you choose not to enroll your child. Keep a copy. The board must acknowledge receipt within 30 days. This is a one-time filing with no annual renewal.

Step 3: Withdraw your child (if currently enrolled). Utah law does not require a separate withdrawal letter to the school. Your notification to the local school board is the step the law asks for. If you like, you can also let your child's school know and ask for copies of your child's records.

Step 4: Choose your curriculum. Utah does not tell you what to teach. No required subjects. No state-approved list. No review process. Pick whatever works for your family.

Step 5: Start teaching. No minimum hours. No minimum days. No attendance tracking requirement. You set the schedule.

Under Utah Code 53G-6-204, you file one thing: a one-time initial notification to the local school board of your child's district of residence.

The notification may include a letter of intent. There is no official state form and no required list of contents. Address it to the board of education of the school district where you live. Not the state board. Not the school itself.

Send it when you withdraw your child from school to homeschool, or when you choose not to enroll your child. Keep a copy for your records. The board keeps a record of your notification and acknowledges receipt within 30 days.

This is a one-time filing. You do not renew annually. If you notified the board on or before May 7, 2025, including through a home-school affidavit, the board may not require a new notification.

Look into the Utah Fits All Scholarship. Utah's scholarship program can help pay for educational expenses. Check the program's official website for current amounts, eligible expenses, application dates, and any testing or reporting that comes with the funds. Those requirements apply only to participants, not to homeschoolers in general.

Your child can take public school classes part time. Utah Code 53G-6-702 lets a homeschooled child enroll in a public school part time, in the same manner and to the same extent as other part-time students. Call your school's main office to ask how to arrange it. If your child wants to join sports or other activities, ask the school about eligibility too.

Ask about scholarships for children with disabilities. If your child has a disability, check the official program websites for Utah's scholarship options and their eligibility rules before you decide.

Keep records from day one. Utah does not require homeschool records. Still, a few records make life easier later: (1) a copy of your notification and the board's acknowledgment, (2) course lists and transcripts for high school students, and (3) samples of your child's work. These help with college applications, re-enrolling in school, or moving to another state.

Plan your transcript. Start building a transcript early in high school so you are ready when application time comes.

Special education services. If your child has an IEP through public school, ask your school's special education team before you withdraw what services your child receives now and what options remain. You can also contact your district if you suspect a disability and would like an evaluation.

Do not skip the notification. It is the one thing Utah's home school law asks of you, and it is what places your child under the home school exemption in Utah Code 53G-6-204.