Heard of national standards but not sure if they apply to your homeschool? Here’s what you really need to know.
If you’re familiar with the public school system, you’ve probably heard of “national standards” and the idea of “teaching to the test.” In traditional classrooms, teachers must meet state academic standards for their grade level and subject each year. They often align their entire curriculum to state tests or nationally benchmarked assessments.
But homeschoolers operate under a different set of rules, and depending on your state, you may not be required to follow those same standards at all. So, what does that mean for your homeschool? Should you align your teaching with national or state standards?
Let’s break it down.
What are the national standards?
Despite the term “national standards” being frequently used, there are no federally mandated education standards in the United States. Instead, each state develops its academic standards, which essentially serve as a checklist of what students should learn at each grade level.
One commonly misunderstood framework is the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). These were developed as a state-led initiative, not a federal requirement, and they apply only to math and English language arts. States had the option to adopt or reject Common Core, and many have since revised or replaced it with their own versions.
So, while the phrase “national standards” makes it sound like there’s a one-size-fits-all curriculum coming from Washington, D.C., the truth is far more flexible, especially for homeschoolers.
Here’s a breakdown of U.S. homeschooling regulations based on the HSLDA overview page and supplemental sources:
Notification Requirements
- No notification required: Most states don’t need any formal notification before parents begin homeschooling.
- Notification required: A handful of states require parents to file a notification or declaration of intent with local school authorities.
- State approval required: Only two states, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, still require school officials to approve homeschooling programs before they begin?(hslda.org).
Mandatory Subjects/Curriculum
- States with mandated subject requirements: More than 30 states require instruction in specific subject areas (e.g., reading, math, science, social studies)?(hslda.org).
- States without mandated subjects: About 18 states allow parents to select curriculum freely, beyond general guidelines like “reading, writing, math,” etc.?(hslda.org).
Assessment / Testing Requirements
- States requiring periodic assessment/testing: Fewer than half of all states mandate some form of academic assessment—either standardized testing, portfolio reviews, progress reports, or teacher evaluations.
- States without assessment requirements: More than half of the states require no formal academic assessments of homeschooled students.
Parent Qualification Requirements
- States with no qualification threshold: 42 states do not require parents to have a minimum educational level (e.g., diploma or GED) (hslda.org).
- States with parental education requirements: The remaining eight states require parents to have at least a high school diploma or GED to homeschool.
State-to-State Variations Summary
Regulation Area Approx. Number of States
No notification required Majority (~30–35+)
Notification required Several (~15+)
State approval required 2 (MA, RI)
Subjects mandated >30
Subjects not mandated ~18
Assessment/testing required <25
Assessment not required >25
No parent qualification 42
Parent qualification required 8
So, we’ve learned:
- Most states have low to moderate regulation, requiring only notification and basic subject instruction.
- Fewer than half the states require academic assessments, and only a small number require state approval (Massachusetts and Rhode Island).
- Most states (42) do not impose educational thresholds on homeschooling parents; only about eight states require a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
In conclusion, while many states don’t require homeschoolers to follow public school standards, it’s still worth thoughtfully considering how those standards might fit into your homeschool plan. Academic standards—whether from your state or aligned with initiatives like Common Core—serve as a general guide for what students should know by the end of each grade level. While you’re free to personalize your approach, keeping an eye on those benchmarks can help ensure your child isn’t missing foundational skills, especially if they may transition into public school or plan to pursue college later on. The beauty of homeschooling comes from its flexibility. With that freedom, you have the opportunity to make informed, intentional choices about what and how your child learns.
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