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Ohio Homeschool Requirements Checklist

Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Ohio, based on ORC 3321.04; ORC 3321.042. Ohio is classified as Low regulation.

This is the general checklist for Home Education Notification, the most common of Ohio's 3 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.

Your compliance checklist

Do first

File your Notice of Intent

Submit to superintendent of the local school district. Deadline: within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter.

Deadline: within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter

More details

Per ORC 3321.042 (effective Oct 3, 2023, via HB 33), notification requires only: (1) parent's name and address, (2) child's name, and (3) assurance that instruction will be provided in required subject areas. No curriculum outline, textbook lists, or instructor qualifications needed. The superintendent must acknowledge receipt within 14 calendar days but does not approve or deny.

Withdrawal letter recommended

A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to current school and superintendent of the local school district.

Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)

More details

File the home education notification with the superintendent and submit a written withdrawal notice to the school simultaneously to avoid truancy issues. No statutory waiting period; homeschooling may begin upon filing of the notification.

Ongoing

Required subjects

English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, social studies

More details

Per ORC 3321.042 (HB 33), subjects simplified to six areas. Previous requirements for health, PE, fine arts, and first aid were removed. Parent determines curriculum and course sequence.

Renew each year

You must renew your homeschool notice each year by August 30.

More details

Annual notification to superintendent by August 30. No assessment results, progress reports, or other reporting required. Reporting relationship is between parent and local superintendent only.

Good news

No instructional time minimums

No minimum hours or days of instruction required.

No testing or assessment required

No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.

Filing requirements

What to file
simple notice
Send to
superintendent of the local school district
Deadline
within 5 calendar days of commencing home education; by August 30 each year thereafter
How often
annual

Per ORC 3321.042 (effective Oct 3, 2023, via HB 33), notification requires only: (1) parent's name and address, (2) child's name, and (3) assurance that instruction will be provided in required subject areas. No curriculum outline, textbook lists, or instructor qualifications needed. The superintendent must acknowledge receipt within 14 calendar days but does not approve or deny.

ORC 3321.042

Ongoing requirements

Required subjects

  • English language arts
  • mathematics
  • science
  • history
  • government
  • social studies

Per ORC 3321.042 (HB 33), subjects simplified to six areas. Previous requirements for health, PE, fine arts, and first aid were removed. Parent determines curriculum and course sequence.

ORC 3321.042

Reporting

Annual renewal
Required by August 30

Annual notification to superintendent by August 30. No assessment results, progress reports, or other reporting required. Reporting relationship is between parent and local superintendent only.

ORC 3321.042

What you don't need to worry about

No instructional time minimums

No minimum hours or days of instruction required.

No testing or assessment required

No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.

Other ways to homeschool in Ohio

This checklist covers Home Education Notification, the most common pathway. Ohio offers 3 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:

  • Home Education Notification(this checklist) : You notify your local superintendent with your name, address, child's name, and an assurance that you will teach six core subjects. Thanks to HB 33 (effective October 2023), Ohio requires no testing, no curriculum submission, no instructor credentials, and no records review. You renew the notification annually by August 30. This is the simplest and most common pathway.
  • Chartered Nonpublic School : You operate as or enroll in a chartered nonpublic school that meets full state chartering standards, including assessments, progress reporting to the state, and detailed recordkeeping. This pathway involves significantly more administrative requirements than home education and is impractical for most individual homeschooling families.
  • Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School ("08 School") : You operate as a non-chartered, non-tax-supported school (commonly called an "08 School"), notifying the local superintendent annually. You must teach a broader set of subjects (including health, PE, fine arts, and first aid) and provide at least 910 hours (grades 1-6) or 1,001 hours (grades 7-12) of instruction per year. Teachers must hold a bachelor's degree. No standardized testing is required. This pathway is commonly used by religious communities.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Ohio

Related guides

Get your personalized checklist

This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.

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Requirements sourced from ORC 3321.04; ORC 3321.042. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026