Start with the law, not the curriculum aisle
The search "how to start homeschooling" usually leads people straight into curriculum catalogs. Flip that order. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but each state decides what you file and when. HSLDA's legal FAQs put it simply: comply with your state's setup requirements, and if your child was enrolled elsewhere, formally withdraw them.
For the overview of how state rules differ, read homeschool laws by state. For official summaries, use the U.S. Department of Education's state regulation pages.
Step 1: Look up your state's requirements
Open your state department of education's homeschool / private instruction page and write down:
- Do you file a notice, affidavit or nothing?
- By what date?
- Required subjects, days or hours (if any)
- Testing, evaluation or portfolio rules (if any)
- Recordkeeping rules
Until those answers are written down, do not buy a full-year boxed set.
Step 2: Withdraw if your child is enrolled
Send a short, dated withdrawal letter or email to the school. Keep a copy. Ask for report cards, test scores and any IEP or 504 plan. HSLDA warns that simply stopping attendance while the child is still enrolled can trigger truancy procedures.
Step 3: File whatever your state requires
Some states want notice within days of withdrawing. Others have a fall filing window. California's private school affidavit, for example, is filed annually between October 1 and 15 on the CDE affidavit page. Miss the window and you may need a different path for that year — another reason to read the official page.
Step 4: Place your child by skill, not just grade
Sit with your child for one honest session of reading and one of math. Note what is easy, what is stretch and what causes shutdown. A child who is "in 7th grade" may need 5th-grade math review and 8th-grade reading. Our K–8 checklist helps you spot gaps without turning the first week into a marathon test.
Step 5: Choose a simple first curriculum
For the first month, most beginners do well with:
- Math at the placed level
- English / reading and writing
- One content subject (science or history)
- Optional: an elective the child actually wants (art, coding, Spanish, life skills)
Homeschool Packets covers those eight subjects as printable monthly PDFs with answer keys, first-name personalization and a continuous sequence — see plans. You can also mix free library books, open educational resources and one paid core. Either way, start narrow.
If your child lights up for games and tech, read homeschool curriculum for kids who love video games and tech.
Step 6: Set a weekly rhythm you can keep
A middle school day does not need to look like a public school bell schedule. Many families aim for focused morning blocks and an afternoon for reading, projects or co-op. Steal a sample from our middle school homeschool schedule and shrink it until it fits your household.
Step 7: Keep boring, useful records
From day one, save:
- A simple attendance log (date + "school day")
- A short list of materials used
- A few dated work samples per subject each month
- Any test or evaluation your state requires
Printable packets with answer keys make tidy work samples. If you ever re-enroll in a school or apply to a college later, you will be glad you kept them.
Funding options while you get started
Paying out of pocket is the default in many states. Some families also use:
- ESAs / education savings accounts in states that offer them — see ESA homeschool funding by state
- Public independent-study charters (common in California) — see California charter funds
- Library cards, used curriculum sales and free printables — see our free printable worksheet
Your first two weeks, in plain English
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read your state law page; start the withdrawal letter |
| 2 | File notice / affidavit if required; request school records |
| 3–4 | Placement check in reading and math |
| 5 | Pick math + English materials for the next four weeks |
| 6–10 | Short school days; adjust level; add one content subject |
| 11–14 | Lock a weekly rhythm; start the attendance log |
You do not need a perfect year plan on day one. You need a legal start, a level that fits and a week you can repeat.
Sources
- Home School Legal Defense Association, Legal FAQs and Homeschool Laws by State
- U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private and Home Schools
- California Department of Education, Private School Affidavit (example of a state filing process)
General information only — not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your state's official sources.