Texas is the easiest state in the country to start homeschooling. There's no annual notice to file, no required testing, no portfolio review, no certified teacher requirement. Once you understand the few things the state actually does require, you can pull your kid out of school and have a working homeschool by Monday.
That said, "easy on paper" is not the same as "easy in practice." This guide covers both: the legal minimum so you stay compliant, and the practical setup so the first month doesn't fall apart.
The legal picture
In Texas, a home school is treated as a private school. That's the entire legal framework, established by the 1994 Texas Supreme Court ruling in Leeper v. Arlington ISD. Private schools in Texas don't register with the state. They don't get inspected. They don't submit reports.
What you DO have to do, according to Leeper:
- Teach in a bona fide manner (good faith — not a sham).
- Cover four required subjects: math, reading, spelling and grammar, and a course in good citizenship.
- Use a written curriculum (printed books, workbooks, or a structured online program — not just verbal lessons).
That's it. No specific hours. No mandated subjects beyond the four. No tracking attendance for the state.
How to actually start
Step 1: Write a withdrawal letter (only if your child is currently enrolled)
If your kid is already in public or private school, send a brief letter to the principal stating that you're withdrawing the child to begin home schooling under Leeper. Include the child's full name, grade, and the date the withdrawal takes effect. Keep a copy. That's it. The school cannot require additional paperwork.
If your child has never been in school (preschool or kindergarten age, never enrolled), you don't need a letter. Compulsory attendance in Texas starts at age 6 — meaning the child is six years old on September 1 of the school year.
Step 2: Pick a curriculum that covers the four required subjects
You can stitch this together yourself (free options exist for every subject) or use an all-in-one platform. The four required subjects — math, reading, spelling/grammar, and citizenship — are easy to cover; citizenship just means civics, government, or social studies done over time.
If you're using Hearthslate, the core curriculum hits all four subjects plus life skills, science, and history; the records build themselves as your kid works through it. If you want to see how it teaches before committing, the whiteboard tutor demo runs in your browser with no signup.
Step 3: Start keeping records — but only what's useful to you
Texas doesn't require you to file or submit records. But you should still keep them for two reasons: your own sanity, and in case you ever move to a state that does require them, or your child applies to college.
The minimum useful record set:
- What subjects you covered each year
- What materials you used (curriculum names, books, videos)
- Samples of student work (a few per subject per year)
- Test scores if your child takes any
What you do NOT need to do in Texas
- File a notice of intent with the state, the school district, or anyone else
- Have a teaching certificate or college degree
- Submit annual reports or attendance records
- Have your child take state or standardized tests
- Get curriculum approved by anyone
- Have your home inspected
If a school official tells you any of these are required, they're wrong. The Texas Education Agency publishes this clearly: home schools in Texas are private schools, and the state has no oversight authority over them.
When school districts ask for proof
Occasionally a district sends a "letter of assurance" form asking you to confirm you're teaching the required subjects. You don't legally have to return it, but most parents do because it's faster than arguing. The Texas Home School Coalition keeps a model response letter on their site.
Real cost
You can homeschool a child in Texas for $0 if you use library books, free online resources, and a notebook. Most families spend somewhere between $300 and $1,500 per year per child on curriculum, materials, and the occasional class or co-op. A bundled platform is often cheaper than stitching together five subscriptions.
What the first month actually looks like
Honest version: messy. Even the easiest legal framework can't fix the fact that you're suddenly running a school, planning lessons, and figuring out what your kid actually needs. Expect:
- Week 1: too much enthusiasm, way too many subjects, exhaustion by Friday.
- Week 2: cut your plan in half. It's still too much.
- Week 3: cut it in half again. Now it works.
- Month 2: things start to flow. You realize school takes 2–3 hours, not 6.
This is normal. Texas gives you all the freedom you need to adjust. Use it.
What's next
Once you're past the first month, the two questions that come up most are: "Am I doing enough?" and "How do I keep records that work for college?" The first one is mostly anxiety; the second one is real. Read our transcript template guide when you're ready.
And if the planning load is what's burning you out, that's the whole reason Hearthslate exists. Year-long curriculum, weekly lessons, records that build themselves — designed for families who want their hours back.
