Millions of children in the United States are homeschooled. It is projected by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) that by 2015 this number will reach over 12 million. The United States Constitution does not have specific laws concerning education; each state has its own laws concerning homeschooling and governs its education. So, you will only have to learn the laws for your individual state if you’ve considered homeschooling your children.

From state to state, homeschooling laws vary. Many states delegate the authority of mandating to provide for its students to the state’s Board of Education. The state Board of Education wants to ensure that every child receives an adequate education. A Federal law was passed, the Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974 because of this mandate. Based on their race, color, sex, or national origin, the law requires that no state can deny any child an education. In other words, every child is guaranteed an education within every state.

While an education cannot be denied to a child in any state, whether it be a public school, private school, or homeschool, it is ultimately up to the parent to choose where that child will attend school. Some private schools, and public schools, are regulated by the state. There are often few regulations for homeschools since a large percentage of homeschool families do so for religious reasons.

One state law that appears to be universal is the requirement for children to attend school in some fashion during set compulsory ages. These ages, however, may be different in each state. Some states require children to be in school from 5 to 17, others 7 to 16; it just depends on the state’s laws. To determine what your state’s compulsory ages are you can search the internet, or contact HSLDA.

National Home Education Network, Home School Legal Defense Association, and other websites on the Internet, list the homeschool laws for each state. It would be advantageous to learn your state’s laws if you choose to homeschool. You can go back to these sites to find the laws for the new state if you move to another state, especially if you are a military family who has begun to homeschool.

Military families, throughout the length of a soldier’s career, often move several times. One way to guarantee continuity in their children’s education is choosing to homeschool. Without fear of negative impact, a military family that homeschools can continue their child’s education rather than transferring a child from one school to another.

Choosing to homeschool is not always an easy decision to make. However, it is legal in each of the fifty states. You may have to register your intent to homeschool with your local board of education or you may have to turn in portfolios. Whatever your state requires, just remember that you are allowed by law to homeschool your child, and that there are places to turn if you have questions.