Homeschooling in Ohio? Here’s your plan.
low requirements- No standardized testing required
Ohio's home education law is short and clear. ORC 3321.042, enacted by House Bill 33 and effective October 3, 2023, asks you to send a simple notice to your local superintendent and teach six subject areas. There is no state testing requirement, no hour requirement, and no instructor qualification.
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Ohio homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: ORC 3321.042. Last reviewed October 2026. State education department page checked for changes October 27, 2026.
- Regulation level
- Low
- Compulsory ages
- 6–18
- Notification required
- Yes — simple notice to superintendent of the local school district within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter
- Assessment required
- No
- Required subjects
- 6 (English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, ...)
- Primary statute
- ORC 3321.042
- A child under six who has been enrolled in kindergarten is also of compulsory school age unless the parent formally withdraws the child from kindergarten (ORC 3321.01(A)(1)).
- A child under six who has been enrolled in kindergarten is also of compulsory school age unless the parent formally withdraws the child from kindergarten (ORC 3321.01(A)(1)).
Conditions and exceptions
Age rules
- A child under six who has been enrolled in kindergarten is also of compulsory school age unless the parent formally withdraws the child from kindergarten (ORC 3321.01(A)(1)).
Home Education Notification
- Notice is due within five calendar days after commencing, moving districts or withdrawing from school; the exemption takes effect on receipt. Annual notice is due August 30 thereafter.
Chartered Nonpublic School
- A child enrolled full time in a chartered nonpublic school is not in home education, so the yearly home education notice does not apply (ORC 3321.042(A)). The school's principal reports each pupil's name, age and residence to the district treasurer (ORC 3321.12), and the school itself must hold a charter from the Department of Education and Workforce (ORC 3301.16).
- The charter approval under ORC 3301.16 is the school's, not the family's.
- The school's principal reports enrollment to the district treasurer (ORC 3321.12).
- Ohio law puts the withdrawal step on the school: the teacher finds out the reason and reports the withdrawal to the district superintendent (ORC 3321.13(A)). The law does not require a letter from the family.
- Parents do not teach under this option, so no parent qualification applies. The school's teachers hold state certificates for nonpublic schools, generally based on a bachelor's or master's degree, with other routes set out in ORC 3301.071(A).
- The school, not the family, sets the curriculum. A chartered nonpublic school adopts a course of study for each subject that complies with ORC 3313.60 (OAC 3301-35-04(B)).
- The family does not arrange testing. State tests are given by the school: a chartered nonpublic school where at least 65 percent of students use state scholarships must give the state assessments or an approved alternative (ORC 3301.0711(K)(1)(a)); other chartered schools may choose to (K)(3). In a 65 percent school, parents of a student who is not on a scholarship may opt the student out by notice to the school, except for tests required for a diploma.
- The family does not arrange testing. Schools where at least 65 percent of students use state scholarships give the state assessments or an approved alternative standardized assessment (ORC 3301.0711(K)(1)); other chartered schools may choose to.
- Families report nothing. A chartered school that must give state assessments (at least 65 percent scholarship enrollment) reports the results to the Department of Education and Workforce (ORC 3301.0711(K)(1)(b)).
- The school keeps attendance, not the family. The principal reports each pupil's name, age and residence to the district treasurer within the first two weeks of the school year and corrects it monthly (ORC 3321.12), and the school shares attendance information with parents (OAC 3301-35-04(A)(5)).
- The school keeps academic records and shares academic performance and progress with parents (OAC 3301-35-04(A)(5)); the family keeps no grade records under state law.
- State review is of the school, not the family: the Department may make site visits to chartered nonpublic schools (OAC 3301-35-07(F); OAC Chapter 3301-39).
Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School ("08 School")
- The school's own annual certification report goes to parents, with a copy filed with the Department of Education and Workforce by September 30 (ORC 3301.0732(A)).
- If a child enters or leaves the school during the year, notify the treasurer within the first week of the next school month (ORC 3301.0732(C)).
- No letter to the school your child leaves is required; the teacher there records the reason (ORC 3321.13(A)). Parents must report the child's enrollment in the 08 school to the district treasurer, and a mid-year entrance within the first week of the next school month (ORC 3301.0732(C)).
- The rule sets minimum annual hours by grade, not a day count or daily hours.
- Hours vary by grade: kindergarten 455 (910 for all-day kindergarten), grades 1-6 910 hours, grades 7-12 1,001 hours per school year.
- ORC 3301.0732 limits the state's standards for these schools to that section, and it has no testing requirement.
- ORC 3301.0732 limits the state's standards for these schools to divisions (A)-(H), and none of them requires testing or reporting test results.
- Parents report enrollment (name, age, residence) to the district treasurer within the first two weeks of the school year, and report withdrawals or entries within the first week of the next school month. The rule does not prescribe a daily log format.
- ORC 3301.0732 limits the state's standards for these schools to divisions (A)-(H), and none of them requires a grade book, portfolio or record inspection. The school must follow its own regular promotion procedures (division (F)).
- The school-employee criminal records check law (ORC 3319.39) names school districts, educational service centers and chartered nonpublic schools, not nonchartered schools.
The essentials under the Home Education Notification
- 1Notification requirements vary by pathway
- 2Required subjects vary by pathway
- 3Instructional time requirements vary by pathway
- 4Reporting requirements vary by pathway
Ohio offers 3 options. See all below.
What to know about homeschooling in Ohio
Under ORC 3321.042, you send a notice to the superintendent of your child's school district of residence within five calendar days after you start home education, move into a new district, or withdraw your child from school, and by August 30 each year after that. The notice gives your name and address, your child's name, and an assurance that your child will receive education in the required subject areas: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies. No curriculum outline, no textbook list, no instructor qualifications.
Your child's exemption from compulsory attendance takes effect as soon as the superintendent receives your notice. The superintendent sends you a written acknowledgment no later than fourteen calendar days after receiving your notice. This is not an approval process.
Ohio's home education law does not require testing, a set number of hours, a portfolio, or recordkeeping. If there is evidence that a child is not receiving an education in the required subject areas, that child may be subject to ORC 3321.19.
Home-educated students in grades 7 through 12 can take College Credit Plus courses, and tuition is free at public colleges. For students with disabilities who have an IEP, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship pays for services from approved providers.
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Build My Plan →Claims and source coverage
Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 100 / 100
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 95
- Confirmed not required by law
- 5
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
35
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check Ohio's official sources for changes twice a week.
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How homeschooling works in Ohio
Ohio offers 3 options to homeschool. The most common is highlighted.
| Home Education NotificationMost common | Chartered Nonpublic School | "08 School" | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing | Annual (within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter) | None | Annual (Within the first two weeks of each school year) |
| Credential | None | None | Bachelor's |
| Subjects | 6 subjects | None | 10 subjects |
| Records | None | None | Attendance |
Home Education Notification
Testing / assessment
None required
Sourced from ORC 3321.042. Last reviewed October 2026 · 34 individual claims tracked
Chartered Nonpublic School
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
OAC 3301-35-04(B) ·
Testing / assessment
None required
ORC 3301.0711(K) ·
Sourced from ORC 3301.16. Last reviewed October 2026 · 31 individual claims tracked
Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School ("08 School")
ORC 3301.0732; OAC 3301-35-08
Notification
simple notice to Treasurer of the local school district board of education Within the first two weeks of each school year
ORC 3301.0732(C) ·
Required subjects
language arts, geography, United States and Ohio history, government, mathematics, science, health, physical education, fine arts, first aid, safety, and fire prevention
Testing / assessment
None required
ORC 3301-35-08 ·
Instructional time
See instructional-time requirements in the cited source
ORC 3301-35-08 ·
Sourced from ORC 3301.0732; OAC 3301-35-08. Last reviewed October 2026 · 29 individual claims tracked
Forms and filings
Home Education Notification Notice of Intent
Issued by: superintendent of the local school district
When due: within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter
View form →Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School Notice of Intent
Issued by: local school district superintendent
When due: Prior to operating
Ohio-specific tips
Practical guidanceCollege Credit Plus (CCP). Home-educated students in grades 7 through 12 can earn high school and college credit at participating Ohio colleges and universities. Tuition is free at public colleges; private colleges may charge modest fees. Home-educated students notify the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce if they want to participate.
Sports and extracurriculars. ORC 3313.5312 gives home-educated students the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular activity offered at the district school they would otherwise attend. Your child must meet the same age, grade level, nonacademic, and financial requirements as other participants.
Jon Peterson Scholarship. If your child has a disability and an IEP, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship pays for services from approved public or registered private providers (ORC 3310.52). Check eligibility and amounts with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
The "08 School" pathway. Ohio also has a non-chartered non-tax-supported school pathway (often called an "08 School") for schools that do not seek a state charter because of truly held religious beliefs. It has a broader subject list (including health, physical education, fine arts, and first aid, safety, and fire prevention), requires 910 hours per year for grades 1 through 6 and 1,001 hours for grades 7 through 12, and requires teachers to hold at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent (OAC 3301-35-08). Parents report enrollment to the district treasurer within the first two weeks of each school year (ORC 3301.0732(C)). State testing is not required.
High school. You create your child's transcript. There is no state template. Include courses, grades, and credits.
Withdrawal. Ohio does not require a withdrawal letter. Your notice to the superintendent is due within five calendar days after you withdraw your child from school.
Explore Ohio homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in Ohio
Compliance Checklist
Every requirement in one checklist
Documents & Templates
Forms, letters, and what to file
Deadlines & Calendar
Filing dates and assessment deadlines
Assessment Requirements
Testing rules and what scores mean
High School
Transcripts, diplomas, and college prep
Special Needs
IEP services, therapy access, and rights
Compare with Another State
Side-by-side law comparison for relocating families
Ohio homeschool news
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Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
Last reviewed October 2026 · How we verify