Annual Homeschool Assessment Requirements by State
Homeschoolers in the United States face a patchwork of different laws when it comes to end-of-year assessments. Some states require families to assess their children’s academic progress annually (through testing or evaluations), while other states have no such mandate. This page provides an overview of these requirements in all 50 states.
State-by-State Requirements
Click on each state below to see its specific homeschool assessment requirements. This section highlights whether each state mandates standardized testing, portfolio reviews, or offers flexibility for homeschoolers.
Alabama
No statewide assessment requirement. Most homeschoolers operate under church schools which set their own testing policies. No mandatory submission of standardized test results or portfolios to the state.
Alaska
No assessment required. Alaska grants full autonomy to homeschooling families. No testing, portfolio, or evaluation requirements are enforced.
Arizona
No testing required. Homeschoolers must file an affidavit of intent and teach required subjects, but are not required to participate in state testing or submit evaluation results.
Arkansas
No end-of-year testing required. Parents must file a notice of intent but there are no mandates for assessments or evaluations.
California
No formal assessments required for most homeschoolers operating as private schools. No standardized testing or reporting necessary unless enrolled in a public charter or ISP.
Colorado
Assessment required every other year starting in grade 3 (grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11). Parents may submit standardized test results or a written evaluation by a certified teacher.
Connecticut
No assessments are required by law. Local districts may request a portfolio review, but participation is voluntary and not legally enforceable.
Delaware
No testing required. Homeschoolers must register as nonpublic schools and report enrollment and attendance annually, but no assessments are required.
Florida
Annual assessment required. Families can choose between a standardized test or a teacher-evaluated portfolio. Evidence of progress must be submitted each year.
Georgia
Testing required every 3 years beginning at grade 3. Parents must maintain test records but are not required to submit them unless requested.
Hawaii
Standardized testing required in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. Parents must also submit an annual progress report using test results or a portfolio evaluation.
Idaho
No assessment required. Parents are not obligated to submit any test scores or evaluations to the state.
Illinois
No assessment required. Homeschools are treated as private schools and have no mandatory testing or reporting requirements.
Indiana
No assessments required. Parents must provide instruction equivalent to public schools but do not have to submit tests or portfolios.
Iowa
Requirements depend on the option chosen. Some options require annual assessment, others (like Independent Private Instruction) do not.
Kansas
No testing required. Homeschools must register as private schools, but there are no formal assessment mandates.
Kentucky
No required assessments. Parents must keep attendance and scholarship records but do not submit tests or evaluations.
Louisiana
Requirement depends on homeschooling option. Home Study Program requires annual proof of progress; Private School option does not.
Maine
Annual assessment required. Parents must submit either standardized test results or a certified teacher’s evaluation each year.
Maryland
Parents must present portfolios for review by school officials or be enrolled in an approved umbrella program that handles assessments.
Massachusetts
Local districts approve homeschooling plans and may require standardized testing or other forms of evaluation annually.
Michigan
No assessments required. Homeschools are not obligated to participate in standardized testing or submit progress evaluations.
Minnesota
Annual standardized testing is required. Scores are kept by the parent unless requested; evaluations required if performance is low.
Mississippi
No required assessments. Parents only file an annual certificate of enrollment with no testing mandates.
Missouri
No assessments are required, but parents must maintain records of progress and samples of work for each student.
Montana
No end-of-year assessments are required. Parents must keep attendance and immunization records, but no testing is mandated.
Nebraska
No required assessments. Homeschools operate as exempt schools and file affidavits but do not submit test results or evaluations.
Nevada
No testing required. Parents file a one-time notification and education plan; assessments are not mandated.
New Hampshire
Annual assessment required but not submitted to the state. Parents keep standardized test results or teacher evaluations on file.
New Jersey
No assessments required. Homeschools are unregulated as long as instruction is academically equivalent to public education.
New Mexico
No testing required. Annual notification is required, but there is no obligation to submit progress assessments.
New York
High regulation. Requires annual assessments and quarterly reports. Standardized testing required every other year through grade 8 and annually in grades 9–12.
North Carolina
Annual standardized testing required in reading, grammar, and math. Parents must retain records but are not required to submit results.
North Dakota
Standardized tests required in grades 4, 6, 8, and 10 unless the parent holds a valid teaching license. Scores must be submitted to the school district.
Ohio
Annual assessment required. Parents can submit standardized test results (25th percentile or higher) or a written narrative evaluation from a certified teacher.
Oklahoma
No assessment required. Oklahoma imposes no testing or portfolio mandates on homeschoolers. Families are responsible for instruction without state oversight.
Oregon
Standardized testing required in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. Results must be kept on file and submitted only upon request.
Pennsylvania
High regulation. Annual portfolio review required by a certified evaluator. Standardized testing required in grades 3, 5, and 8.
Rhode Island
Requirements vary by district. Most require annual assessment or progress report; some may mandate testing or portfolios as part of approval process.
South Carolina
Testing requirements depend on which of three legal homeschooling options you choose. Only Option 1 (through the school district) requires standardized testing.
South Dakota
No longer requires standardized testing as of 2021. Parents must file a one-time notification but have no annual assessment obligations.
Tennessee
If homeschooling independently, standardized testing is required in grades 5, 7, and 9. If enrolled in a church-related umbrella school, testing is typically not required.
Texas
No assessment required. Texas does not mandate any testing, portfolio, or evaluation for homeschoolers. Parents must provide a bona fide curriculum.
Utah
No testing or evaluation required. A one-time affidavit is filed with the local school board; no annual assessment or reporting is mandated.
Vermont
Assessments required for the first two years of homeschooling. Afterward, families must continue instruction but formal assessment submission is typically not required.
Virginia
Annual evidence of progress required. Parents can submit standardized test results (4th stanine or higher) or an evaluation letter from a certified teacher.
Washington
Annual assessment required. Parents may choose between a standardized test or an evaluation by a certified teacher. Records are kept but not submitted unless requested.
West Virginia
Annual assessment required. Results must be submitted at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. Acceptable assessments include standardized tests or teacher-reviewed portfolios.
Wisconsin
No assessment required. Homeschools operate as private schools. Parents must submit an annual statement of enrollment but no tests or portfolios are required.
Wyoming
No annual assessments required. Parents must file a yearly curriculum summary with the local school board but do not need to submit tests or evaluations.
Note: This list is a high-level summary. For detailed requirements and updates, visit your state’s Department of Education or a legal resource like HSLDA.
Resources
- HSLDA – Homeschool Legal Defense Association: State Laws
- BJU Press Testing & Evaluation
- Seton Testing Services
- Academic Excellence (CAT Testing)
Note: Always verify with your local school district or department of education for the most current information.