- How much it asks
- Light: few or no forms
- School age
- Kindergarten at age 5 (a half day, unless the parent holds the child back), and the attendance rule for children over 5 and under 18. The state Department of Education's own page describes the range as ages 5 through 18.
- Time
- No set number
Home instruction ("other means of education")
Any parent or guardian who teaches a child at home. The parent does not need a teaching certificate or degree, and the state does not approve curriculum.
- Before you startPaperwork
Optional notice to your district
The state does not require notice. The State Department of Education suggests notifying the principal of the district where the child lives that you plan to home school. Some districts may ask you to sign a form that releases them from responsibility for the child's education.
- OngoingWhat to teach
Teach in good faith
Instruction must be given in good faith and be equivalent to what the state provides. This comes from a state Attorney General opinion. You may choose any curriculum, and no state-approved program is required.
- Every school yearTime
Teach for the full school term
The law says the child must be taught for the full term that district schools are in session. The state suggests 180 days a year, about six clock hours (360 minutes) a day, adjusted for age. The state says these are recommendations, not legal requirements.
- OngoingWhat to teach
Cover the subjects the state lists
The state lists reading, writing, math, science, citizenship, the U.S. Constitution, health, safety, physical education and conservation. It also says a well-defined curriculum or plan for learning should be used.
- OngoingTesting
Track academic progress
The state suggests that academic progress be established and maintained for the child. No test or evaluation is required by law.
- OngoingRecords
Keep your own records
No records must be sent to the state. Keep attendance, curriculum and work samples. If your child later re-enters public school, the parent must provide documentation that the home instruction met the requirements.
- Every year when you file your Oklahoma state tax returnGood to know
Claim the homeschool tax credit (optional)
You may claim up to $1,000 per eligible child on your Oklahoma income tax return using Form 591-D, attaching legible copies of receipts for qualified expenses. Attach it to Form 511, or Form 511-NR for nonresidents.
Subjects to teach
- Reading
- Writing
- Math
- Science
- Citizenship
- U.S. Constitution
- Health
- Safety
- Physical education
- Conservation
Tests and reviews
No standardized testing or evaluation is required for home instruction. If a homeschooled child later re-enters public school, the State Department of Education says the child may be required to take a standardized achievement test, and the parent must document that home instruction met the requirements.
Records to keep
- No records are required to be sent to the state.
- Keep attendance, curriculum and work samples for your own use and for re-entry documentation. The state does not set a retention period.
- Keep receipts for any expense you claim under the homeschool tax credit. The Tax Commission requires legible copies with Form 591-D.
About time
The state does not set a legal number of days or hours for homeschoolers. The State Department of Education suggests 180 days a year and six clock hours (360 minutes) a day, adjusted for the child's age, and says these are not required by law.
Also good to know
- Students aged 12 through 17 who have not finished four years of high school are also covered by the attendance rule, which applies to education by other means.
- A child who has turned 16 may be excused from school by a written joint agreement between the district's school administrator and the parent, if the administrator finds it is in the child's best interest and the child then stays under the parent's supervision until age 18.
- The Parental Choice Tax Credit for homeschool expenses allows up to $1,000 per eligible student per year, claimed on your state return with Form 591-D. Qualified expenses include tuition and fees for nonpublic learning programs, tutoring, textbooks and curriculum, and testing fees. Internet access and laptops are not included.
- The State Department of Education says school districts are not required to provide services to homeschooled students with special needs.
What we couldn’t confirm
- Whether the compulsory age is 5 through 17 or 5 through 18 in practice. The statute text reads over 5 and under 18, but the state's page says 5 through 18.
- Whether the Parental Choice homeschool credit has an annual statewide cap and how it is applied. Some sources say $5 million a year, but I did not confirm this on an official page.
- Rules for enrolling in a private school, a church school, an umbrella school or a public school flexible or online program. I did not read official requirements for these, so they are not included as pathways.
- Whether a bill that would require homeschool families to submit a letter of intent to the State Department of Education (reported as HB 2254) became law. I did not confirm its status.
- The official text of the Oklahoma Constitution, Article XIII, Section 4, which protects other means of education. I relied on the statute and the state's own guidance instead.
- Whether a parent who has not enrolled a child in public school must withdraw the child by letter. The state guidance recommends notice but does not require it.
- Special education services for homeschooled children beyond the state's statement that districts are not required to provide them.
From Oklahoma’s own sources
- Home School, Oklahoma State Department of Education
- Parental Choice Tax Credit, Taxpayer Resources, Oklahoma Tax Commission
- Form 591-D, Parental Choice Tax Credit for Qualified Homeschool Expenses (instructions)
Last checked against these sources on November 7, 2026. We check every state each week.