Notice of intent to homeschool: who files and when
Published 2026-07-26
A notice of intent is the letter or form some states require before or shortly after you begin homeschooling. The rules differ sharply by state: some require nothing, some want a one-time notice, and some expect a letter every single year. Getting this one step right removes most early friction with your district.
Three postures states take
State notice rules cluster into three patterns:
- No notice at all: the state neither requires nor collects anything. Indiana works this way; reporting enrollment to the state is voluntary.
- Annual notice: a letter to the district every year. Kentucky expects notification to your superintendent within the first two weeks of the school year, resubmitted annually.
- One-time or event-based notice: filed once when you begin, sometimes again when you move districts.
What a notice letter contains
Where a letter is required, the content is usually minimal. Kentucky's letter, for example, lists the names, ages, and home address of each child attending the homeschool. Send it in a way that leaves a record, keep a copy, and note the date you sent it. A district cannot reject a proper homeschool notification, but you want proof it was made.
Withdrawing mid-year is its own step
Starting fresh in September and withdrawing a child mid-year are different events. Tell the current school clearly, in writing, that the child is withdrawing to homeschool, and complete any required withdrawal form. Indiana requires a specific signed form for high school students; skipping it classifies the student as a dropout with real driver's license consequences. Kentucky's two-week notification window also applies after a mid-year withdrawal.
Calendar it once, forever
If your state requires an annual notice, put it on the calendar as a recurring school-year task with the letter template attached. Annual administrative deadlines that live in one parent's memory are the first thing a busy September eats. Deadline reminders tied to your state's actual requirements are part of what hearth plans to handle.
USE WITH THIS GUIDE
Common questions
Do we need permission to homeschool?
In notice states, no: notification is informing, not asking. Districts in these states are required to accept a proper notice. Approval regimes exist in only a small set of states, which is exactly why you should read your own state's page.
What if we move states mid-year?
You follow the new state's rules from the day you establish residence, including any notice deadline. Keep your attendance and records continuous across the move; days from the old state generally count toward totals where the new state counts days.
What happens if we miss a deadline?
Send the notice as soon as you realize, keep teaching, and keep records. The most common consequence of a late notice is a truancy inquiry that clean attendance records and a dated letter resolve quickly.
hearth is being built for exactly this
One private home base where lessons, attendance, evidence, and the year record build from daily work. It is in development; waitlist members hear first.
Join waitlist