Homeschooling in Ohio
Simplified by HB 33
Ohio officially 'exempts' homeschooled children from compulsory attendance upon receipt of the annual notification. Recent changes (HB 33) removed the requirement for assessments and teacher qualifications, making it one of the easiest states to manage.
Quick Reference
School Days
-
No minimum
Hours Required
-
No minimum
Subjects
6
required
Notification
Yes
annual
Key Requirements at a Glance
- File Notice of Intent annually by August 30th
- Provide specific assurances of curriculum (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc.)
- No annual assessment or portfolio review required anymore
- No minimum hours specified (just 'instruction')
Legal Framework
Ohio Revised Code 3321.042 governs home education.
Find a homeschool co-op in Ohio
5 homeschool co-ops in Ohio, listed by town with ages, meeting days and fees. Each one checked against its own website and dated, so you can see how current it is.
Homeschool Co-ops in OhioWaldorf schools and kindergartens in Ohio
The Waldorf Map lists 3 schools in Ohio, with phone numbers, websites and a map. If you are homeschooling, many run parent-and-child groups, open mornings and fairs that families outside the school are welcome at.
- Cincinnati Waldorf School, Cincinnati
- Spring Garden Waldorf School, Copley
- The Juniper School, Columbus
Required Subjects
Must provide assurance of instruction in these areas.
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
History
Government
Social Studies
Filing Requirements
What to file
Home Education Notification (no official state form)
When
August 30 annually. Mid-year withdrawal: within 5 calendar days.
Where
Local school superintendent
How to submit
Letter/form to superintendent
What to include
- • Parent/child names
- • Address
- • Assurance of teaching required subjects
**HB 33 DEREGULATION (2023)**: NO testing, NO hours, NO teacher qualifications required anymore. Upon receipt of notification, child is STATUTORILY EXEMPT from compulsory attendance. Superintendent MUST acknowledge within 14 days. Must assure teaching 6 subjects. Sports: 'Golden Rule' - generally allowed but not absolute guarantee.
Testing Requirements
Required: No
Frequency: N/A
Grades: N/A
Requirement removed by HB 33.
How to Get Started
- 1
Prepare Notification
Write a letter or use a form including parent/child names and assurance of subjects.
- •Include assurances for: English Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Government, Social Studies.
Tip: Do NOT include more info than required (e.g. specific textbooks). - 2
Submit to Superintendent
Send to the superintendent of your district of residence.
- •Send via certified mail
Tip: The superintendent MUST acknowledge receipt within 14 days.By August 30th (or within 5 days of starting)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓New law removed assessment requirement
- ✓New law removed teacher qualification requirement
- ✓Simple annual notification
Cons
- •Specific list of required subjects must be assured
Sports & Activities
**Allocated / "Golden Rule"**. Access is generally allowed ("Golden Rule" implies if public students can, you can), but practically it depends on district policy and capacity. It is **not** an absolute guarantee in all cases.
Questions about homeschooling in Ohio
Do I still have to do an annual assessment?
No! HB 33 (effective Oct 2023) removed this requirement.
Do I need a college degree to homeschool?
No. The teacher qualification requirement was also removed.
Can my child play sports?
Yes. Ohio law allows homeschoolers to participate in extracurriculars at their local public school.
Get Ohio’s homeschool checklist, and hear by email when our Ohio page changes
Leave your email and you’ll get the checklist link straight away. You’ll also be on the list for Ohio deadline reminders and news when our Ohio page changes. You can stop the emails any time.
Learning at home?
Starpath’s Waldorf-inspired lessons cover grades 1 to 3, and grade 4 is being added. Sophie, a Waldorf class teacher, wrote the stories, verses and activities for each day. 14 days for $7, then $47 a month. Cancel before the trial ends and you aren't charged again.
Free Ohio paperwork tools
Generate your Ohio notice of intent letter in two minutes, and get an email before every filing deadline. Free, no account needed, works with any curriculum.
Want the whole year handled? See Starpath Records
Read more
Last updated: 2025-12-17 · OH homeschool law guide