As of 2010, 40 states require that parents wishing to homeschool their children register with the school district in which the child resides. This registration requirement allows the county board of education to ensure that each child is being instructed in a way that complies with the minimum educational requirements of your state. Some states with registration requirements only mandate registration when children will be homeschooled for more than a set period of time--typically two years. Failure to register may subject the parents to criminal charges for child endangerment.
Step 1
Determine the laws of your state regarding registration requirements by contacting your county's board of education. If you are unsure how to contact the board, ask a local school in the district in which you live for the information. Even among states that require some level of registration, the information required by the board of education may vary.
Step 2
Submit notification to the appropriate group--typically the school district in which you reside or the board of education of your county--of your intent to homeschool your child if you live in one of the 40 states with this requirement. This is sufficient to meet your registration requirement in 15 states as of 2010.
Step 3
Provide test scores or some other form of professional evaluation of your student to the appropriate group if you live in one of the 25 states with this requirement. If your state requires this information, the county board of education will tell you what types of information will be accepted and how you may provide this information. Some states require that you update test scores yearly, while others will accept less frequent updates. In most cases, the group will accept results from official state performance tests or national standardized tests.
Step 4
Comply with the additional requirements of your state if you live in one of the seven states with high regulation. For instance, your state may require a copy of your intended homeschool curriculum for approval or an evaluation of you by educational experts to determine your fitness as an instructor.
Step 5
Submit a registration form outlining your name and qualifications and the name of your child to the appropriate state agency. Include all additional information required by your state. Your state will also charge a fee associated with processing your application.
