Everything you need to know about homeschooling in Ohio - dramatically simplified in 2023 by House Bill 33. Send an annual notification, teach 6 subjects, and you are done. Updated for the 2025-2026 school year.
Ohio underwent a dramatic simplification of its homeschool laws in October 2023, when House Bill 33 rewrote the home education statute. If you are reading older information about Ohio homeschooling, it is almost certainly outdated.
Under the new law, governed by ORC §3321.042, Ohio homeschooling is now remarkably simple. You send an annual notification letter to your local superintendent and teach six required subjects. That is it. There are no testing requirements, no curriculum submissions, no hour minimums, no parent qualification rules, and no portfolio reviews.
Home education is explicitly not subject to rules adopted by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) or its director. This gives Ohio homeschool families a high degree of autonomy.
If you have heard that Ohio requires 900 hours of instruction, curriculum submission, standardized testing, or parent qualifications - that is old information. All of those requirements were removed by House Bill 33 in October 2023. The current law is much simpler.
Ohio offers two legal ways to homeschool. The vast majority of families use Option 1, which is the standard home education path established by HB 33.
| Requirement | Home Education (Standard) | Non-Chartered School ("-08 School") |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Basis | ORC §3321.042 | ORC §3321.04(A)(2) |
| Notification | Annual letter to superintendent | Notify school board within first 2 weeks |
| Attendance | No minimum days or hours | 455-1,001 hours (by grade) |
| Teacher Qualification | None required | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) |
| Required Subjects | 6 subjects | Per school standards |
| Testing | None required | Per school standards |
| Curriculum Submission | None required | Attendance report filed |
| Best For | Most families | Families with religious convictions against government oversight |
Under ORC §3321.042, the standard home education path requires only an annual notification letter and instruction in six subjects. There are no testing requirements, no hour minimums, no curriculum submissions, and no parent qualifications. This is what HB 33 established, and it is by far the most common choice.
This option exists for families with truly held religious beliefs that conflict with government oversight of education. Ironically, the requirements are more strict than the standard path: teachers must have a bachelor's degree, minimum hours apply (455-1,001 depending on grade level), and attendance reports must be filed. Most families should use Option 1 unless they have specific religious reasons for Option 2.
Unless you have specific religious convictions that require the "-08 School" designation, choose the standard Home Education path. It has fewer requirements, more flexibility, and is simpler to maintain.
To homeschool in Ohio, you must send an annual notification letter to the superintendent of your resident school district. This is the only formal step required.
Under ORC §3321.042, the notification only needs three things:
That is all that is legally required. No curriculum list, no materials list, no hours, no qualifications, no syllabus.
The superintendent must acknowledge receipt within 14 calendar days. This is not an approval - just an acknowledgment. Your exemption from compulsory attendance is effective immediately upon receipt of your notification. You do not need to wait for a response to begin homeschooling.
You must send the notification letter. Without it, your child is not officially exempt from compulsory attendance and you could face truancy charges. This is the one non-negotiable requirement in Ohio.
Send your notification via certified mail and keep the receipt as proof of delivery. Also keep a copy of the superintendent's acknowledgment letter when it arrives. Blue Folder can generate your notification letter and remind you of the August 30 deadline each year. Try it free →
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Under the standard Home Education path (ORC §3321.042), Ohio does not require a minimum number of school days, instructional hours, or any specific schedule. The previous requirement of 900 hours per year was removed by HB 33 in October 2023.
You set your own schedule entirely. There is no requirement to follow the public school calendar, and you can school year-round, take breaks as needed, or adjust your schedule to fit your family.
There is also no legal requirement to track or submit attendance records.
Even though Ohio does not require attendance tracking, keeping a basic log of school days is smart practice. It helps if your child later enrolls in public school, applies to college, or needs a transcript. Most families log between 160-180 days per year.
If you use the Non-Chartered School ("-08 School") path, minimum hours apply: 455 hours for half-day kindergarten, 910 hours for full-day K-6, and 1,001 hours for grades 7-12.
Ohio has no legal requirement to keep records, maintain a portfolio, or submit any documentation beyond the annual notification letter. The previous requirements for curriculum submission, syllabus outlines, and assessment results were all removed by HB 33.
However, keeping records is strongly recommended for practical reasons, even though it is not legally mandated.
Keep records indefinitely, especially for high school years. Even though Ohio does not require them, organized records make life much easier when it comes to college applications, public school re-enrollment, or employment verification. Blue Folder helps you stay organized with attendance tracking, work sample uploads, and binder exports. Try it free →
If a homeschooled student enrolls in public school, HB 33 explicitly requires that the student be placed in an appropriate grade level without discrimination or prejudice. Having work samples and records can help with grade placement.
Ohio does not require any annual evaluation, standardized testing, portfolio review, or assessment submission. This is one of the biggest changes from the pre-2023 law, which required annual standardized testing or portfolio review.
Under the current law (ORC §3321.042), there is no mechanism for the state to evaluate your child's educational progress. You are the sole judge.
While not required, some families choose to administer standardized tests for their own purposes:
Even though testing is not required, college-bound students should plan to take the SAT or ACT during their junior or senior year. These scores are still widely used in college admissions and scholarship decisions.
Under ORC §3321.042, Ohio requires home education to include instruction in six subject areas. Your notification letter must include an assurance that these subjects will be covered.
The following are not legally required but are recommended for a well-rounded education:
While only six subjects are required, covering additional areas like science labs, foreign language, and fine arts strengthens your child's transcript and prepares them well for college. For college-bound students, aim to include a broad range of subjects during the high school years.
Ohio has very few deadlines for homeschool families. The most important one is the annual notification deadline of August 30.
| When | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| August 30 (annually) | Annual notification due | Send your notification letter to the superintendent of your resident school district. Include parent name/address, child's name, and subject assurance. |
| Within 5 calendar days | Mid-year notification | Required if starting home education mid-year, moving to a new district, or withdrawing from school. |
| Within 14 days of your notification | Superintendent acknowledgment | The superintendent must acknowledge receipt. This is not an approval - just confirmation. Your exemption is effective immediately upon receipt. |
| April 15 (annually) | Tax credit filing | File your Ohio taxes to claim the $250 K-12 Home Education Tax Credit for eligible educational expenses. |
The annual notification is the one non-negotiable requirement for Ohio homeschoolers. If you fail to send it, your child is not officially exempt from compulsory attendance and you could face truancy proceedings. Mark August 30 on your calendar every year.
Ohio offers financial benefits specifically for homeschool families, including a state tax credit.
Ohio provides a tax credit of up to $250 per tax return for families homeschooling children who are excused from compulsory attendance.
Claim this credit through the Ohio Department of Taxation when filing your state taxes.
Ohio also offers a tax credit of up to $750 (or the amount donated, whichever is less) for individuals who donate to scholarship-granting organizations. While this benefits the education community broadly, it can indirectly support homeschool-friendly programs.
Ohio's dual enrollment program, College Credit Plus, allows homeschooled students to take college courses tuition-free at public institutions. This is both an educational opportunity and a significant financial benefit, as it can reduce the total cost of earning a college degree.
Do not forget to claim the $250 Home Education Tax Credit when filing your Ohio taxes. Many families overlook this. Keep receipts for books, software, and educational materials throughout the year.
Ohio provides good public school access for homeschooled students, including sports and dual enrollment opportunities.
Under ORC §3313.5312, home educated students can participate in extracurricular activities at the public school they would attend if enrolled in the district. This includes:
If your district does not offer a particular activity, you may request to participate in another district's program. The superintendent of that district may allow your child to participate as an out-of-district student.
Ohio's dual enrollment program allows homeschooled students to:
College Credit Plus is one of the best financial advantages for Ohio homeschoolers. Students can accumulate significant college credit before graduating, reducing the time and cost of earning a degree. Contact your local community college or university for enrollment details.
Ohio's simplified homeschool law is straightforward, but new families still encounter pitfalls - especially because so much outdated information exists online. Here are the most common mistakes.
If there is evidence that a child is not receiving education in the required subjects, the child may be subject to truancy proceedings under ORC §3321.19. While the state cannot inspect your program, you must be genuinely educating your children. The notification letter is your assurance that you are doing so.
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Track Ohio ComplianceDisclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Homeschool laws can change. Always verify current requirements with your school district superintendent's office or consult a qualified attorney. For the full text of the law, see ORC §3321.042 and the Ohio Department of Education Home Schooling page. Last updated February 2026.