States that require no notice at all
Thirteen jurisdictions let you begin without telling anyone. That is not the same as having no rules, and the difference catches families out.
The short version
In 13 of 51 jurisdictions nothing has to be filed with anyone before a child starts learning at home. No form, no letter, no registration, no approval.
12 of those 13 still set subjects or teaching time in statute. Nobody checks, and no one asks for proof unless something goes wrong — but the duty exists, and the moment it is questioned, the parent is the one who has to show it was met.
What each still requires
| State | Subjects in statute | Teaching time | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | None | None for home education by parent… | None required for home education by parent. |
| Connecticut | 8 listed | None set by statute (SDE recommends… | None required. |
| Idaho | 1 listed | No specific number of days or hours… | None required (keeping attendance and work samples… |
| Illinois | 7 listed | None set by law (education must be at… | None required by law; ISBE strongly encourages… |
| Indiana | None | 180 days per school year (July 1-June… | Daily attendance record (required, IC 20-33-2-20)… |
| Iowa | 2 listed | IPI and non-reporting CPI Option 2… | None required for IPI or non-reporting CPI. |
| Michigan | 9 listed | None | None required by law; MDE encourages keeping… |
| Missouri | 5 listed | 1,000 hours per school year (July 1 to… | Required (not submitted): (1) a plan book, diary or… |
| New Hampshire | None | None; dates and hours of instruction… | None required (portfolio and record-keeping… |
| New Jersey | None | None | None required by law. |
| Oklahoma | None | Instruction must be provided 'for the… | None required by law. |
| Texas | 5 listed | None | None required by law. |
| Wyoming | 7 listed | No specific hours or days are set for… | None required. |
What to keep anyway
With no filing there is also no receipt — nothing on record showing when you began or what you did. Families in these states are the most exposed when a question does arrive, usually from a relative, a landlord, a court in a custody matter, or a school asking for a transcript years later.
Keep the cheap things: a dated note of the day home education started, a list of what was taught each year, samples of work a few times a year, and any test results. None is required. All of it is easier to keep as you go than to reconstruct under pressure.