Homeschooling in Texas? Start with the requirements below.
no requirements- Texas requires no notification at all!
- No standardized testing required
- Education savings available: $2,000 a year for a homeschooled child (for 2026-27, paid in full on July 1, 2026). $10,474 for 2026-27 for a child at a participating private school or pre-K or kindergarten program. Up to $30,000 for such a child with a disability and an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency./student through Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)
Texas makes it simple to start homeschooling. There is no registration, no notification, no required testing, and no approval process. You decide to homeschool, and you start. The Texas Education Agency explains that since Leeper v. Arlington ISD (1994), children taught at home have been exempt from compulsory attendance to the same extent as students enrolled in private schools.
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Texas homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1). Last reviewed October 2026. Current through the Texas legislative session that ended September 18, 2025. State education department page checked for changes October 27, 2026.
- Regulation level
- None
- Compulsory ages
- 6–19
- Notification required
- No
- Assessment required
- No
- Required subjects
- 5 (reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, good citizenship)
- Primary statute
- Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1)
Conditions and exceptions
Private School Exemption
- Nothing is filed with the state, and nothing is renewed each year. If your school district asks in writing, you may be asked for a letter of assurance that your child is home schooled; that letter is not required each year (TEA letter, July 11, 2019).
The essentials
- 1Teach 5 required subjects
That's it. No forms, no notifications, no testing.
What to know about homeschooling in Texas
Homeschooling in Texas works under Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1), which exempts a child who attends a private or parochial school that includes in its course a study of good citizenship. Under the Texas Supreme Court's Leeper v. Arlington ISD decision, as the Texas Education Agency explains it, the home-school curriculum should be designed to meet basic education goals in reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship. The state does not set required hours, days, testing, records, or teacher qualifications.
The TEA states that it does not regulate, monitor, approve, register, or accredit home school programs, and a 2025 law (Tex. Educ. Code 1.010) bars TEA and the State Board of Education from adopting rules or policies that regulate a home school's educational program. One thing to know: TEA says a school district that becomes aware of a child who may be homeschooled may ask the parents in writing for a letter of assurance that the child is being home schooled. Keeping basic records of your curriculum and your child's work is still a good idea for college applications and your own peace of mind.
Texas also created an education savings account program in 2025. Participation is voluntary. Check the program's official website for current amounts, eligibility, and any requirements that come with the funds.
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Even in states with no requirements, it helps to have a roadmap. We'll walk you through what to expect, including any documents that could save you a headache later.
Build My Plan →Claims and source coverage
Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 37 / 37
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 36
- Confirmed not required by law
- 1
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
23
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check Texas's official sources for changes twice a week.
Help us stay accurate
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How homeschooling works in Texas
Private School Exemption
Notification
None required
Required subjects
reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, good citizenship
Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1); Leeper v. Arlington ISD, 893 S.W.2d 432 (Tex. 1994) ·
Testing / assessment
None required
Instructional time
See instructional-time requirements in the cited source
Sourced from Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1). Last reviewed October 2026 · 26 individual claims tracked
Texas-specific tips
Practical guidanceSports and extracurriculars. Under SB 401 (2025), school districts must let non-enrolled students who meet UIL eligibility standards take part in UIL activities unless the district's board adopts a policy declining. If your home district declines, your child may participate for the closest school that has not. Check with your local district to confirm.
High school and transcripts. Texas does not award a diploma to home-schooled students. TEA states that a Texas college or university must hold a home school graduate to the same general standards as other applicants who graduated from a public high school. For college applications, create a transcript listing courses, grades, and credits.
Dual enrollment. Public community colleges offer dual credit courses for high school students, and Tex. Educ. Code 130.008(e) requires them to use the same admission criteria for home school students as for public, private and parochial school students.
IEP and special needs. IEP services from the public school end when you withdraw. Before withdrawing, talk with your school's special education team about what services your child receives now and what options remain.
Withdrawal. Texas does not require a withdrawal letter, though a district may ask you in writing for a letter of assurance that your child is being home schooled. A simple letter to your child's school gives you a clear record. Keep a copy.
Co-ops. A co-op can offer group classes and community. Each family still runs its own homeschool.
Education savings / school choice programs
Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)
$2,000 a year for a homeschooled child (for 2026-27, paid in full on July 1, 2026). $10,474 for 2026-27 for a child at a participating private school or pre-K or kindergarten program. Up to $30,000 for such a child with a disability and an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency.: A child who is a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States and is eligible to attend a Texas school district, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program, with a parent who is a Texas resident. Homeschooled children can take part (at $2,000 a year). If applications exceed funding, a lottery by priority group decides placement.
Explore Texas homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in Texas
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
Texas homeschool news
View all updates for Texas →Your independent resources
Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
State Law
Tex. Educ. Code 25.086(a)(1)State DOE
Texas Department of EducationHSLDA
HSLDA Texas overviewState Org
Texas Home School Coalition (THSC)Last reviewed October 2026 · How we verify