How to Start Homeschooling in Vermont

Yes. Homeschooling is fully legal in Vermont. The state has a dedicated statute that makes this clear.

Vermont homeschool laws are built on 16 V.S.A. Section 166b. This statute creates the Home Study Program. It is a recognized way to meet compulsory attendance. The system runs on notification, not permission. You tell the Vermont Agency of Education what you plan to do. The Secretary of Education does not approve or deny your program. You file your notice and start teaching.

There is also a second legal pathway. Under 16 V.S.A. Section 166, families can enroll in an approved independent school. Some of these schools support home-based learning. That route skips the enrollment notice and annual assessment. The school handles compliance instead. But most Vermont homeschool families use the Home Study Program under Section 166b.

Vermont requires children to attend school from age 6 through age 16. This comes from 16 V.S.A. Section 1121.

That end age of 16 is lower than many neighboring states. Connecticut and New Hampshire both go to 18. Once your child turns 16 in Vermont, there is no legal requirement to continue. No more enrollment notices. No more assessments. Most families keep going because they want to. But the legal obligation ends at 16.

If your child is younger than 6, you do not need to file anything. You can start teaching whenever you like. The paperwork begins when your child reaches compulsory age.

Here is how to start homeschooling in Vermont under the Home Study Program. These steps follow Vermont homeschool requirements under 16 V.S.A. Section 166b.

Step 1: Pick your pathway. Most families choose the Home Study Program. If you want a school to handle compliance for you, look into approved independent schools under 16 V.S.A. Section 166.

Step 2: File your enrollment notice. Send a written enrollment notice to the Vermont Secretary of Education. Do this at least 10 business days before you begin. Your notice must include your name and contact info. Your child's name and date of birth. A detailed outline of your educational program covering all nine required subjects. An affirmation that you will assess your child's progress each year. Find the forms on the Agency of Education's home study page.

Step 3: Withdraw from public school if needed. File the enrollment notice with the state first. Then tell your child's school you are withdrawing. Some districts have their own withdrawal steps. Do both.

Step 4: Wait the 10 business days, then begin. Once the waiting period passes, start teaching. Cover all nine required subjects. Match the level to your child's age and ability.

Step 5: Assess your child each year. Choose one method: a standardized test, a Vermont-certified teacher evaluation, or a portfolio. Keep the results on file at home.

Step 6: Renew annually. File a fresh enrollment notice each year. The deadline is 10 business days before your new year starts. The renewal form is simpler than the first one. You confirm you completed the prior year and kept evaluation records.

Your key document is the enrollment notice. You file it with the Vermont Agency of Education. Forms and instructions are on the Agency's home study page at education.vermont.gov.

First-time filers submit a comprehensive notice. It must include your contact info, your child's name and date of birth, and a detailed outline of your program covering nine subjects. You also affirm that you will assess progress annually. Here is a detail many guides miss: if your child has a documented disability and was not previously in a Vermont public school or Vermont home study, you need independent professional evidence about the disability.

Returning families file a shorter annual renewal. You confirm you finished the prior year and maintained your evaluation records.

Ending your program? Notify the Agency of Education when your child re-enrolls in a public or private school.

The enrollment notice is a notification, not an application. The Secretary of Education does not approve or deny it. File it. Wait 10 business days. Begin.

Vermont requires nine subject areas. These come from 16 V.S.A. Section 166b.

The subjects are: reading. Writing. Mathematics. Citizenship, history, and government of the United States and Vermont. Literature. Natural sciences. English language, including composition and grammar. Fine arts, covering visual art and music. Physical education and health.

You have real freedom in how you teach these. Vermont does not require any specific curriculum, textbook, or teaching method. Use whatever works for your family. Textbooks, unit studies, project-based learning, online courses, or a mix of everything. Just make sure you cover all nine areas at a level that fits your child's age and ability.

One Vermont-specific detail stands out. The citizenship requirement includes Vermont history and government, not just U.S. history. Many families bring this to life through field trips to Vermont historical sites. Vermont's strong tradition of town meeting democracy makes this subject especially hands-on and engaging for kids.

Do not skip subjects. Your enrollment notice describes how you cover all nine. If you neglect one, it can create a compliance gap. Account for each subject, even if the depth varies by age.

Vermont sets no minimum hours or days for home study. The statute requires an educational program. It does not say how many hours that program must fill.

Vermont public schools run about 175 days a year. Home study families do not need to match that number. There is no attendance tracking. No hour logs. No schedule submissions.

But here is the practical side. Your annual assessment needs to show progress. A program that is too light will show up in the results. Most families find they spend plenty of time on instruction naturally. Focus on depth and engagement, not counting minutes. If your child is learning and growing, you are doing it right.

Annual assessment under 16 V.S.A. Section 166b is one of Vermont's most important homeschool requirements. You need to evaluate your child each year. Three main options are available.

Standardized test. Give a nationally recognized achievement test. No minimum score is required. The test just needs to be an established one.

Teacher evaluation. Have a Vermont-certified teacher review your child's progress. This is a smart choice if you want outside feedback on how things are going. A fresh set of eyes can be reassuring, especially in your first year.

Portfolio. Put together a collection of your child's work showing growth across the required subjects. Families using project-based learning or child-led approaches often prefer this option. It lets your child's actual work speak for itself.

Here is something that sets Vermont apart from many states. Families keep their assessment records at home. You do not submit results to the Agency of Education. You attest on your enrollment forms that you are tracking progress and maintaining documentation. Keep those records organized and safe. They are your proof of compliance.

Take the assessment seriously. If results show inadequate progress, the Agency of Education has authority to step in. This is one of the most common compliance mistakes among Vermont homeschool families. Do not skip or delay it.

Vermont offers two pathways for home education.

Home Study Program (16 V.S.A. Section 166b). This is the main homeschool pathway. File an enrollment notice with the Agency of Education. Teach nine subjects. Assess your child annually. Most Vermont homeschool families use this option.

Approved Independent School (16 V.S.A. Section 166). Enroll in an approved independent school instead. Some support home-based learning. The school handles curriculum and compliance. No enrollment notice. No state assessments. This fits families who want a school framework without traditional classroom attendance.

Do not confuse these two pathways. They have different requirements and different reporting rules. Mixing them up is a common mistake.

Vermont does not have an umbrella school option. Co-ops work well as a supplement to your home study program. But a co-op that functions as a school may need independent school status under 16 V.S.A. Chapter 21.

Take two free public school courses. Vermont lets home study students enroll in courses at their local public school. You can take up to two for free. This is great for lab sciences, music, world languages, or anything that benefits from a classroom setting. Contact your local school to set it up.

Join extracurriculars and sports. Home study students can participate in public school extracurricular activities as space allows. For interscholastic athletics, the Vermont Principals' Association governs eligibility. Check with your school and the VPA for current rules.

Town tuitioning is not for homeschoolers. Vermont has a unique system where towns without a public school at a given grade level pay tuition for students to attend approved independent schools. It sounds helpful, but it is designed for small towns. It is not a general homeschool benefit.

Special needs families: plan ahead. Children with IEPs or 504 plans may lose district services when they withdraw for home study. Your enrollment notice must describe any special services or adaptations for your child's disability. The district still has Child Find obligations. Some districts offer services case by case. Contact your district to ask what is available. The Vermont Family Network provides advocacy support and can help you navigate the process.

Watch out if you are coming from a low-regulation state. Families moving from states like New Jersey or Connecticut sometimes assume Vermont is similarly hands-off. It is not. Vermont has real notification, subject, and assessment requirements. Read them carefully. File on time. Do not get caught off guard.

You are not alone in this. The Vermont Home Education Network (VHEN) at vermonthomeschool.org connects families across the state. They can help you find local groups, co-ops, field trip partners, and experienced mentors. Homeschooling in Vermont has a strong and supportive community behind it.