Home Schooling
In Ohio, parents interested in educating their children at home may do so by notifying their local school district superintendents and meeting the requirements of Ohio law to home school. If requirements are met, the district superintendent releases the student from required compulsory school attendance. This excuses the student and family from school attendance requirements in state law.
Parents or guardians who decide to home educate their students are completely responsible for choosing the curriculum and course of study. They select the curriculum and educational materials and take responsibility for educating their children. There is no state financial assistance for families who choose this option. Visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
If a home educated student returns to a public school, the district superintendent determines the appropriate grade level for the student.
Requirements to Home School
Parents should start by notifying the superintendent of the school district where they reside about their intent to home educate their child/or children. Notification should be provided no later than the first week of the start of the public school building the child would attend in the school district of residence or within one week from the child's withdrawal from a school.
Here are the responsibilities of the district superintendent when families home educate their children.
Parents agree to:
- Provide 900 hours of instruction per year;
- Notify the superintendent every year (parents may use this Recommended Notification Form ); and
- Provide an assessment of the students work, this link will provide the OAC requirement.
Online or Virtual Learning
Many parents think that online schools fall into the category of home schooling; this is NOT true. In Ohio, online schools are considered community/chartered public schools.
If your student is enrolled in an online school based out of state, you must notify your district of residence your student will be attending an out of state school. You do not need to provide an intent to homeschool or meet the annual assessment requirement required for home educated students in Ohio.
College Credit Plus
Great news for home educated students! Ohio’s College Credit Plus program gives students in grades 7-12 the chance to earn high school and college credit simultaneously by taking courses at participating Ohio colleges or universities. Tuition is free if your home school student takes classes at a public college. There may be modest fees for private college credit. The deadline is April 1 for home school students to let the Ohio Department of Education know they want to participate in College Credit Plus next school year. Click on College Credit Plus for more information.
Sports and Other Activities
Legislation allows home educated students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools. An “extracurricular activity” is a pupil activity program that is run by a school or school district and is not included in a graded course of study. Activities include any offered at the school that the student would attend if enrolled in the public school district where the family resides. If the school district does not offer a particular activity, then the student may request to participate in another district’s program. The superintendent of the other school district may choose to allow the student to participate as an out-of-district student.
Home educated students must meet the same nonacademic and financial requirements as any other student participating in the activity. Fees and ability in sports, where there are cuts, apply.
EdChoice Scholarships
An EdChoice Scholarship allows students who are eligible to obtain scholarships to attend a nonpublic schools participating in the EdChoice program. Eligibility is based upon the performance of the public school building to which the student would be assigned or low income. EdChoice Scholarships are available to eligible home-schooled students who wish to enroll in a participating nonpublic school. More information is available here.
Ohio High School Diploma
Ohio law may allow for some home school students to receive diplomas. Please see section 3313.6110 of the Ohio Revised Code.
About Home Education
Last Modified: 3/14/2023 2:13:42 PM