Very EasyCompulsory ages: 6 to 19

Homeschooling in Texas

Maximum freedom with the 'Bona Fide' standard

In Texas, homeschools are legally considered private schools. There is no requirement to register with the state, no mandatory testing, and no attendance reporting.

In our Library: Homeschooling in Texas: Complete Guide for 2026

Quick Reference

School Days

No minimum

Hours Required

No minimum

Subjects

required

Notification

none

Key Requirements at a Glance

No registration with the state required
No standardized testing required
Must use a written/visual curriculum (not just oral)
Must cover 5 basic subjects

Legal Framework

Texas homeschooling law is established by the *Leeper v. Arlington ISD* court decision.

Find a homeschool co-op in Texas

56 homeschool co-ops in Texas, 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 Texas

Waldorf schools and kindergartens in Texas

The Waldorf Map lists 4 schools and 5 kindergartens and playgroups in Texas, 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.

See all of them on the map

Required Subjects

Per the Leeper v. Arlington ISD decision, curriculum must be in a visual format (books, workbooks, video). It CANNOT be 100% auditory. Science and History are NOT explicitly mandated by Leeper, though Good Citizenship covers civics/government.

Reading

Spelling

Grammar

Mathematics

Good Citizenship

Covers civics and government

Filing Requirements

**NO notification required** (Leeper v. Arlington ISD). Homeschools are private schools in TX. Three requirements: (1) Bona fide instruction, (2) Visual curriculum (books/video - not 100% auditory), (3) Cover 5 subjects: Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Math, Good Citizenship. NO testing, NO hours, NO attendance records. Send withdrawal letter if leaving public school. **Colleges**: TX law requires equal treatment of homeschool graduates. Sports: 'Tim Tebow' (UIL) is district discretionary.

How to Get Started

1
Withdraw
If your child is enrolled in public school, send a letter of withdrawal to the principal and registrar. Do not just stop showing up.

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓Maximum freedom
✓No paperwork
✓No testing

Cons

•Funding only through an accepted Texas Education Freedom Account ($2,000 a year)
•Parents solely responsible for diploma/transcripts

Help with the cost in Texas

Program	Amount	Who qualifies	Official site
Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)Education Savings AccountRun by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. A child at an approved private school gets a larger amount; homeschooled children get $2,000 a year.	$2,000 a year for a homeschooled child (2026-27)	Homeschooled children accepted into the program. The 2026-27 application window ran February 4 to March 31, 2026.	educationfreedom.texas.gov

Amounts as this guide lists them, last reviewed 2026-10-22. The official site has this year's figure.

Homeschool Funding by US State in 2026: ESAs, Tax Credits, and Charter Programs

Sports & Activities

"Tim Tebow Law" (UIL access) allows homeschoolers to play sports at public schools in some districts, but it is up to the district.

Questions about homeschooling in Texas

Do I need to register my homeschool?

No. Texas does not have a homeschool registry.

What is a 'visual curriculum'?

It means the instruction cannot be 100% auditory. You must use books, workbooks, videos, or computer programs.

Can my child go to college?

Yes. Texas law requires public colleges to treat homeschool graduates the same as public school graduates. You will need to create a transcript.

Get Texas’s homeschool checklist, and hear by email when our Texas page changes

Leave your email and you’ll get the checklist link straight away. You’ll also be on the list for news when our Texas page changes. You can stop the emails any time.

Print the Texas checklist

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.