August 12, 2026 – Are You Covered? Navigating Testing, Records, and State Requirements for Homeschoolers
Are You Covered? Navigating Testing, Records, and State Requirements for Homeschoolers
August 12, 2026
Gena Suarez
The Letter You Are Afraid Of
Heather Vogler
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Stephanie Morrison
Planning Makes It Easier
Beth Mora
My Red Folder and Clipboard
Hey, Mama!
The Letter You Are Afraid Of
Hey, Mama,
Nothing rattles a homeschool mother quite like the word “requirements.” You hear that another family got a letter. Somebody mentions testing at co-op. And suddenly you wonder if you have missed something you were supposed to be doing all along.
Here is the good news. Every state is different, and many ask for far less than you fear. Some want a letter of intent. Some want attendance. Some want testing at certain grades. Some want almost nothing at all. Find out what yours asks. Read it yourself, from your own state’s rules, and stop guessing based on what a mama in another state told you.
Then keep records as you go. Attendance. A book list. A few work samples. Grades if you give them. Ten minutes on Friday afternoon saves you a frantic weekend in April.
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV). That verse covers your kitchen table too.
You do not have to build the system yourself. The Records Center at SchoolhouseTeachers.com gives you the forms and templates, and Applecore tracks credits and a running GPA for your high schooler. You fill them in. You keep them. They are your records, and no one else can keep them for you. To take advantage of these record‑keeping resources, join SchoolhouseTeachers.com now while you are able to get two years for the price of one!
“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds” (Proverbs 27:23, KJV).
The paperwork was never the school, Mama. It is only the proof.
His hand is on your head, Mama. Always.
—Gena
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PAC is a simple, easy-to-use homeschool curriculum for Jr. High and High School students.
Visit us at https://pacworks.com to learn more!
Heather Vogler
Is Homeschooling Legal?
“Oh, is school out today?” The woman at the deli counter asked me when I brought my kids shopping.
“Do you have a doctor’s appointment?” Another woman asked my son. He stared at her blankly.
This was pre-pandemic, and I am so relieved not to get these questions from well-meaning strangers anymore. I honestly felt bad for them. Before homeschooling was as accepted as it is now, those unfamiliar with homeschooling simply had no context. Seeing school-aged kids outside of school during school hours could only logically mean one of three things.
- School was out.
- The child was sick.
- The parent was allowing them to skip school.
Of course, nobody ever said option number three out loud, but in these strangers’ minds, they were genuinely hoping for the best—options one or two.
New homeschooling parents often fear that all eyes are on them in public. Not caring what strangers think comes with time. The mental battles are real and regardless of how long a parent has been homeschooling, doubts and fears can rear their ugly heads at any point.
Not worrying about whether you have all of your bases covered in regards to attendance and other requirements often takes longer. You can find your state requirements at HSLDA.org. And, at the very least, keep good records of your child’s testing, attendance, and academic progress every year, and you should be in compliance (SchoolhouseTeachers.com has lots of good info on record keeping).
The best remedy for this is to follow, join, or support your state’s homeschooling organization. Keeping up with that organization on social media or receiving their email updates will help you stay informed and ensure you are following all of your state’s requirements for testing and homeschool records.
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About the author
Heather Vogler, her husband, and five children call the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia home where they homeschool and homestead. Heather has homeschooled her children from the beginning and enjoys an eclectic style of teaching. As a freelance writer she has been published in Focus on the Family Magazine, War Cry Magazine, and Brio Magazine. Heather holds a BA in Christian Ministries and currently writes at ThriftSchooling.com.
Stephanie Morrison
Planning Makes It Easier
Homeschooling can be hard, but planning makes it easier. And often, the education plan you develop may be just what you need to submit for any state requirements.
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About the author
Pursuing her calling to help parents enjoy the responsibility of educating their children, Steph works with clients in the home education industry and helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses from home. She and her family are perfectly placed in the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada. She loves being a homebody and building up her permaculture property. www.CreatingWorkandPlay.com
Beth Mora
My Red Folder and Clipboard
When it comes to navigating testing, records, and state requirements, all I can say is, “You’ve got this!” Oh, I was so intimidated the first years of homeschooling, but really, my friend, “You’ve got this! Keep it simple and keep what you need for the state and what you need for your family.
State Requirements
Each state has its own requirements, and the tried-and-true website to find your state’s requirements is the Homeschool Defense League Association (HSLDA) website. I find my state, print the requirements, and put them in my red folder. I will give the state only what is required and nothing more. In case our homeschool is called into question, I have everything required, including my current HSLDA membership card, in an easy-to-find red folder.
Personal Records
I’m a clipboard girl, and with so many kids, the method was simple and easy to implement. I would generate, for each student, a list of subjects with easy fill-in-the-blanks that served as a check-off list. My students completed their own records!
State Standards
I use state standards only as a guideline. Since we did a lot of family learning, we didn’t study birds only in the second grade. So I print a copy for each of my students, and they check it off when the subject is covered.
Testing
We only tested when it was required. Ask your state homeschool organization which testing company to use.
Keep your records simple and easy, so you have more time to enjoy your family.
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