Colorado vs Texas: 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 | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | No regulation |
| Notification | Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program | Not required |
| Testing | Required (13th percentile composite on a nationally standardized achievement test) | Not required |
| Required subjects | 9 subjects | 5 subjects |
| Instructional time | 172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr | No requirement |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | No requirement |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | None required |
| 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 Texas
Grace period: N/A — no notification required (Tex. Educ. Code §25.086(a)(1); Leeper v. Arlington ISD (1994))
What changes:
- -Good news: Texas has no notification requirement
- -Good news: Texas has no testing requirement
- ~Required subjects: Colorado (9 subjects) → Texas (5 subjects)
- -Good news: Texas has no instructional time requirement
- -Good news: Texas has no recordkeeping requirement
Transition checklist
Before you leave Colorado:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in Colorado
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in Texas:
- ▢None. Texas requires no notification, registration, or approval. Compliant as soon as bona fide instruction begins.
Filing deadline:
- ▢No filing deadline — begin teaching when ready
Moving from Texas to Colorado
Grace period: 14 days BEFORE beginning — must file notice in advance (CRS §22-33-104.5(3)(e))
What changes:
- +Colorado requires notification (Required — superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by 14 calendar days before beginning home-based education program). Texas does not
- +Colorado requires testing (Required (13th percentile composite on a nationally standardized achievement test)). Texas does not
- ~Required subjects: Texas (5 subjects) → Colorado (9 subjects)
- +Colorado requires instructional time (172 days/yr, 688 hrs/yr). Texas does not
- +Colorado requires recordkeeping (attendance). Texas does not
Transition checklist
Before you leave Texas:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in Texas
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Colorado requires: immunization records (CRS §25-4-902)
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 Texas 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 Texas?
Colorado and Texas 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 Texas?
When moving from Colorado to Texas, you must comply with Texas'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