A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I submitted our first homeschool letter of intent. At least that’s how it feels. Although homeschooling was accepted and widely recognized in 2008, it was not a national conversation. Now, in the midst of Covid-19, it’s front and center as an educational choice. Here’s what you need to know about the homeschool letter of intent.
If you have chosen to homeschool and are not under an umbrella school, charter school, virtual school, or other similar setup, you will most likely need to file a letter of intent with your public school system.
More than half of the states require an annual letter of intent. A few states provide a state-wide letter of intent form but most often the forms can be found on the website for your county’s public schools. This letter of intent is your formal declaration that you are homeschooling and agreeing to abide by whatever regulations have been set up by your state.
Colorado’s Homeschool Letter of Intent
Do an online search for ‘(your county) homeschool letter of intent’. For example, we live in Jefferson County, Colorado. Our homeschool letter of intent can be found here.
The information required varies by state. Colorado, which is listed as a state with moderate regulation, requires that you fill in or provide the following information:
- Name, date of birth, grade level, address, contact information
- Number of Instructional Hours per day (average) __________ Answer: 4
- Number of Days per School Year ____________ Answer: 172
- Most recent test results (if continuing to homeschool)
If you are new to homeschooling in Colorado, you do not have to include any testing results. If you are ‘renewing’ – continuing to homeschool – the form asks you to attach the most recent odd year testing result for your student.
Homeschool Testing in Colorado
The Colorado Department of Education website lists the requirements for homeschoolers and also provides links for additional information.
Testing for homeschool students in Colorado is required in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. This is not done through the public school system. A nationally standardized test such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or the California Achievement Test can be administered at home. In 11th grade, the student can register to take the ACT or SAT. Registration is done online and testing is completed at a nearby high school. There are also other options available if standardized testing is not a good fit for your student.
A copy of the most recent testing results should be sent in each year with your letter of intent. For example, you would submit the 5th grade testing results with the letter of intent for 6th grade and then again in 7th grade.
Requirements for Other States
Become familiar with your state’s requirements and get comfortable with how to fulfill them. Like all unknowns, this can be intimidating. Get online, do the research, and make some calls if needed.
I’ve talked with families who’ve moved here from higher regulation states like Pennsylvania. According to them, finding the right resources can make more stringent state requirements feel very doable. Connecting with other homeschoolers is especially helpful. They can be valuable resources for information on how to develop a student portfolio or find a ‘qualified evaluator’ – things that sound sort of scary but aren’t that daunting once you find the right resources and get your own system in place.
If you’re like me, you’d much rather spend your time actually homeschooling rather than looking up legal requirements. However, understanding your state’s laws will give you peace of mind so you can focus on far more enjoyable activities like planning your homeschooling and setting up your homeschool schedule.
The information presented in this post should be used as an overview only. Please check your state and county regulations and stay up to date with any changes.