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Homeschooling in Connecticut

Homeschool rules in Connecticut, in plain English

Connecticut does not require a notice, a test, or a set number of days or hours for homeschooling right now. A parent must make sure the child is taught reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, U.S. history and citizenship, and the state's notice form and yearly portfolio review are suggestions only. Public Act 26-37 changes this: starting July 1, 2027, taking a child out of public school to homeschool requires an in-person withdrawal form and a records check, and starting in the 2028-29 school year, families must file an annual intent-to-educate form.

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This explains each state's homeschool rules in plain English, from the state's own published sources. It isn't legal advice, and we aren't lawyers. Laws change and every family is different, so check with your state, your school district or a lawyer before you rely on it.

How much it asks
Light: few or no forms
School age
5 through 17 (the law covers children under 18)
Time
No set number

Home instruction by a parent under the state's equivalent instruction law

Families who teach their children at home instead of public or private school. The law does not require a particular teacher, method, curriculum or schedule, but the child must be taught the required subjects.

  1. Before you startPaperwork

    Call your local school district office

    Ask the superintendent's office how it wants you to give notice of home instruction. The State Department of Education asks parents to do this first.

  2. Before you startPaperwork

    Withdraw your child from public school, if enrolled

    If your child is in public school, tell the district in writing that you are taking your child out to homeschool. Starting July 1, 2027, this step must be done in person at the district office and includes a records check.

  3. Within 10 days of starting (suggested, not required)Paperwork

    File the optional Notice of Intent: Instruction of Student at Home

    This is the state's sample form. It asks for the student's name and birth date, the teacher's name, the subjects to be taught, the planned number of days, and how progress will be assessed. The superintendent signs only to confirm receipt. It is not an approval.

  4. OngoingWhat to teach

    Teach the required subjects

    Teach reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, U.S. history, and citizenship, including the study of town, state and federal governments.

  5. OngoingRecords

    Keep an attendance log

    The State Department of Education suggests logging the days and hours of instruction.

  6. OngoingRecords

    Keep a portfolio for each child

    Save samples of work, assignments, projects and assessments, plus a list of books and materials used. Add any national test results.

  7. Every year (suggested)Testing

    Offer an annual portfolio review

    The state's suggested procedure is a yearly review of the portfolio with school officials. It is optional under current law.

  8. Every school year (suggested)Paperwork

    Renew the notice each school year

    If you file the optional notice, the state's form covers one school year at a time, so file a new one each year you homeschool.

Subjects to teach

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Spelling
  • English grammar
  • Geography
  • Arithmetic
  • United States history
  • Citizenship, including the study of town, state and federal governments

Tests and reviews

No state test or evaluation is required. The State Department of Education's suggested procedure includes an annual portfolio review with school officials, but it is optional under current law.

Records to keep

  • Attendance log of days and hours of instruction (suggested)
  • Portfolio for each child with work samples, assignments, projects and assessments (suggested)
  • List of books and materials used (suggested)
  • Results of any national assessments (suggested)
  • Copy of any signed notice of intent, kept in the child's homeschool file (suggested)

About time

No state minimum number of days or hours applies to homeschooling. The state's sample notice form asks for planned days of instruction, and the State Department of Education suggests keeping a log of days and hours.

Also good to know

  • Ages 5 and 6: a parent may choose to delay school for one year, to age 6 or to age 7, by going in person to the school district office and signing an option form. This is a different form from the notice of intent.
  • Withdrawal at 17: a parent may withdraw a 17-year-old into an adult education program by signing a form in person at the district office.
  • Students 18 and older may withdraw from school by signing a withdrawal form in person at the district office, with an attestation from a school staff member that information on education options was provided.
  • Special education: a school district is not required to provide special education programs or services to a child taught at home when the parent refuses consent for them.
  • Returning to public high school: the State Department of Education says a district is not required to give graduation credit for homeschool work in grades 9 through 12. The State Department of Education does not accredit online or homeschool programs.
  • Science is listed as recommended, not required, on the state's sample notice form.
  • New law, Public Act 26-37: beginning July 1, 2027, a parent who withdraws a child from public school for home instruction must sign a withdrawal form in person. The district must check the state child abuse and neglect registry and whether DCF is investigating any adult age 18 or older who lives with the child. The withdrawal is not effective if any adult is on the registry or under investigation. The district must notify the parent within five business days.
  • New law, Public Act 26-37: beginning with the 2028-29 school year, parents of most school-age children must complete an intent-to-educate form each year, in person, stating whether the child will attend public school, a nonpublic school, or be taught at home under the new law's term.

What we couldn’t confirm

  • The exact deadline for the new annual intent-to-educate form under Public Act 26-37 (one secondary source says October 1; the House text had a September 1 date for a related form). Check the State Department of Education once it posts the form.
  • Whether children already homeschooling before July 1, 2027 are affected by the new withdrawal check. One advocacy group says they are not, but I did not confirm this in the final statute text.
  • Whether the State Department of Education has released the new intent-to-educate and withdrawal forms.
  • How long families must keep records. I found no official source that sets a retention period.
  • The GED route for homeschooled adults age 18 and older. Secondary sources describe a district document and a State Department of Education attestation form, but I did not confirm this on an official page.
  • Whether a parent may hire a tutor or use an online program under current law. I did not confirm the official wording on this point.
  • The full text of the 1990 State Board of Education home instruction procedure. I relied on the State Department of Education's current summary of it.

From Connecticut’s own sources

Last checked against these sources on November 7, 2026. We check every state each week.

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Homeschooling in Connecticut

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