Colorado vs North Carolina: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | Colorado | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | Moderate regulation |
| Notification | Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program | Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting) |
| Testing | Required (13th percentile composite on a nationally standardized achievement test) | Required |
| Required subjects | 9 subjects | None specified |
| Instructional time | 172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr | No requirement |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | a high school diploma or GED |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | attendance |
| Annual renewal | Required by before the beginning of each school year (14 days advance notice) | Not required |
Moving Between These States
Moving from Colorado to North Carolina
Grace period: Must file BEFORE operating — 3–5 business day processing (G.S. §115C-564; G.S. §115C-378)
What changes:
- ~Notification: Colorado (Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program) → North Carolina (Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting))
- +North Carolina requires instructor qualification (a high school diploma or GED). Colorado does not
- -Good news: North Carolina has no required subjects requirement
- -Good news: North Carolina has no instructional time requirement
Transition checklist
Before you leave Colorado:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in Colorado
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢North Carolina requires: immunization records
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in North Carolina:
- ▢File Notice of Intent with DNPE BEFORE opening home school. One-time filing. Takes 3–5 business days to process.
- ▢Prepare qualification evidence (a high school diploma or GED)
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (G.S. §115C-564; G.S. §115C-378)
- ▢Schools may open July–April only. One-time filing (not annual). DNPE processes NOI within 3–5 business days.
Moving from North Carolina to Colorado
Grace period: 14 days BEFORE beginning — must file notice in advance (CRS §22-33-104.5(3)(e))
What changes:
- ~Notification: North Carolina (Required — Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)) → Colorado (Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program)
- -Good news: Colorado has no instructor qualification requirement
- +Colorado requires required subjects (9 subjects). North Carolina does not
- +Colorado requires instructional time (172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr). North Carolina does not
Transition checklist
Before you leave North Carolina:
- ▢Notify current public school: Notify DNPE that home school has closed via DNPE website login.
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Colorado requires: immunization records (CRS §25-4-902)
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in Colorado:
- ▢File written notification with any CO school district 14 days BEFORE beginning instruction. Include child's name, age, residence, and attendance hours.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (CRS §22-33-104.5(3)(e))
- ▢File 14 days before instruction begins. Re-submit annually.
Military families
Neither Colorado nor North Carolina has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in Colorado and North Carolina?
Colorado and North Carolina have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from Colorado to North Carolina?
When moving from Colorado to North Carolina, you must comply with North Carolina's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify