Connecticut Homeschool Requirements

Overview

Connecticut is one of the most surprising states for homeschool families. Despite its Northeast location - surrounded by heavily regulated states like New York and Massachusetts - Connecticut is actually one of the least regulated states in the country for homeschooling.

Under Connecticut General Statutes C.G.S. Section 10-184, parents are required to provide "equivalent instruction" in specified subjects. That is essentially the entire legal obligation. There is no mandatory notification, no standardized testing, no curriculum approval, no record submission, and no teacher qualifications required.

The 1990 State Board of Education guidance further strengthened homeschool freedom by explicitly stating that school districts cannot require notification, home visits, testing, or curriculum approval. This guidance remains in effect today and serves as a critical legal protection for Connecticut homeschool families.

Legal Framework

Connecticut has a single, simple legal framework for homeschooling. Parents must provide "equivalent instruction" in the subjects specified by law. There is no approval process, no oversight mechanism, and no designated state agency responsible for monitoring homeschools.

The "Equivalent Instruction" Standard

Connecticut law requires that parents provide instruction "equivalent" to what public schools offer. This does not mean identical - it means comparable in scope and subject coverage. You choose your own materials, methods, pace, and approach. There is no state evaluation of whether your program meets this standard.

The 1990 State Board of Education Guidance

In 1990, the Connecticut State Board of Education issued a landmark guidance statement that remains in effect today. This document is your most important legal protection as a Connecticut homeschool family.

The guidance explicitly states that school districts cannot:

• Require notification or registration
• Approve or deny your curriculum
• Require home visits or inspections
• Require standardized testing or evaluations
• Require portfolio reviews or progress reports

Getting Started

Starting to homeschool in Connecticut is remarkably straightforward. The process depends on whether your child is currently enrolled in public school.

If Your Child Has Never Been in Public School

No action is required. Simply choose your curriculum, covering the eight required subjects, and begin teaching. You do not need to notify anyone, file any forms, or get any approval.

If Your Child Is Currently Enrolled in Public School

You should send a withdrawal letter to the school to formally remove your child from enrollment. This prevents truancy concerns. You do not need the school's permission.

What to Include in Your Withdrawal Letter

• Statement of intent to homeschool under C.G.S. Section 10-184
• Effective date of withdrawal
• Child's name and current grade
• Request for transfer of student records

Optional: Courtesy Notification Letter

While not legally required, many experienced Connecticut homeschool families recommend sending a brief courtesy letter to your local superintendent. This creates a paper trail that can help avoid truancy concerns. Keep the letter simple - state that you are homeschooling per Connecticut law and that your instruction covers the required subjects.

Required Subjects

Connecticut specifies eight subjects that must be covered in your home instruction. These come directly from C.G.S. Section 10-184.

What "Equivalent Instruction" Means

The law requires your instruction to be "equivalent" to public school instruction in these subjects. This means:

• Comparable coverage - you must address these subject areas
• Not identical - you choose your own materials, methods, and pace
• Parent interprets - you decide how to implement
• No state evaluation - nobody checks or grades your program

Not Required by Law (But Recommended)

The following subjects are not legally required in Connecticut, but many families choose to include them for a well-rounded education:

Attendance Requirements

Connecticut does not specify a minimum number of school days, instructional hours, or any particular schedule for homeschool families. You set your own calendar entirely. There is no requirement to follow the public school schedule, and you can school year-round, take breaks whenever you choose, or adjust your calendar as needed.

There is also no legal requirement to track or report attendance. The state does not ask for attendance logs, and you do not need to submit any records of your school days.

Annual Evaluation

Connecticut requires no annual evaluation, testing, or assessment of homeschool students. There are no standardized tests, no portfolio reviews, no progress reports, and no evaluations to submit to anyone. You are the sole judge of your child's educational progress.

This is one of the key advantages of Connecticut homeschool law and a major difference from neighboring states like New York and Massachusetts, which have extensive evaluation requirements.

Optional Testing

While not required, some families choose to administer standardized tests for their own purposes. Common options include:

• SAT/ACT - for college admissions
• PSAT - for National Merit Scholarship eligibility
• Iowa Test of Basic Skills - to benchmark academic progress
• Stanford Achievement Test - another widely recognized benchmark

Records & Portfolio

Connecticut has no legal requirement to keep records of any kind. You are not required to maintain a portfolio, keep attendance logs, save work samples, or document your curriculum. Nothing needs to be submitted to the state or your school district.

However, experienced Connecticut homeschool families strongly recommend keeping records for practical reasons.

Recommended Records to Keep

• Withdrawal letter copy - proof you properly withdrew from public school (if applicable)
• Courtesy notification copy - if you sent one, keep your copy and any response
• Curriculum documentation - what materials you used each year
• Work samples - examples of student work showing progress
• Attendance log - basic record of school days
• Grades and transcripts - essential for high school students

Financial Resources

Connecticut currently offers no financial assistance programs for homeschool families. There are no ESAs, vouchers, tax credits, or tax deductions available.

Typical Costs

College Preparation

Connecticut homeschool graduates are accepted at colleges throughout the state and nation. Key Connecticut public universities include:

• University of Connecticut (UConn)
• Central Connecticut State University
• Eastern Connecticut State University
• Southern Connecticut State University
• Western Connecticut State University
• Connecticut Community Colleges

Requirements vary by institution - contact admissions directly for their homeschool graduate policies.

Key Deadlines

Connecticut has no filing deadlines because no filings are required. The timeline is driven entirely by your own decisions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Connecticut homeschool law is simple, but new families sometimes run into avoidable problems. Here are the most common ones.

1. Not sending a withdrawal letter when leaving public school. While notification is not required for homeschooling itself, if your child is enrolled in public school, you should formally withdraw. Without a withdrawal letter, the school may mark your child as truant.
2. Agreeing to district demands they have no authority to make. Some districts may request curriculum reviews, home visits, or testing. They have no legal authority to require these under Connecticut law. Politely decline and reference the 1990 Board guidance.
3. Not covering all eight required subjects. Connecticut specifies eight subjects: reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, U.S. history, and citizenship. Make sure you address all of them, even if briefly.
4. Assuming Connecticut is like New York or Massachusetts. Neighboring states have heavy regulation. Connecticut does not. Do not burden yourself with requirements that do not apply to you.
5. Not keeping any records at all. While not legally required, keeping zero records can cause problems if your child wants to attend college, return to public school, or if a truancy question arises. At minimum, maintain a basic portfolio and transcript for high school years.
6. Not knowing your rights if a district contacts you. If a superintendent or truancy officer reaches out, you have strong legal protections. Stay calm, respond politely, and reference C.G.S. Section 10-184 and the 1990 Board guidance. You do not need to comply with requests for home visits, testing, or curriculum review.
7. Forgetting the compulsory age starts at 5. Connecticut requires education beginning at age 5, earlier than many states. If your child turns 5 before January 1 of the school year, they are compulsory age and must be enrolled or homeschooled.