Colorado Homeschool Laws

Requirements for Homeschooling in Colorado

Compulsory school age in Colorado is between 6 and 17 years old, and all children must be enrolled in a public or private school or choose one of the three options for home education to avoid truancy complications. Depending on the homeschool option you choose, you’ll have specific guidelines you need to follow.

In general, the difference between families homeschooling with or without an umbrella school boils down to whose policies they follow. Families who file their notice of intent to homeschool will follow the policies of the homeschool law, while families enrolling with an independent school are subject to that school’s specific policies. (For more information on independent school homeschooling, visit our Colorado Homeschool Umbrella Schools page.) Homeschoolers with a teacher’s license have the least regulations of all; there are no testing, attendance, or record-keeping requirements with that option.

More information relating to the home education rules for Colorado can be found at A2ZHomeschooling.com.
Full Details of Colorado’s Homeschool Laws

Non-Public Home Based Education Option

Using this option, families file a notice of intent (NOI) to homeschool annually with a Colorado school district. Requirements for homeschooling under this method include the following:

• The NOI must be filed 14 days before the family intends to begin homeschooling
• The NOI should be signed by the parent and should include the names, ages, address, and number of hours of attendance for any child who will be registered in the homeschool
• Teaching must be done by a parent, guardian, or adult relative designated by the parent
• Homeschoolers must receive instruction (at a minimum) in the subjects of reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the U.S. Constitution
• Instruction should extend for at least 172 days of the year for an average of four hours per day
• Records for each homeschool student should be kept permanently by the parent and should include attendance, test and evaluation results, and immunization records
• Must take a nationally standardized test in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 or be evaluated by a qualified person
• Must submit all test scores to the school district where the NOI was filed

Colorado Homeschool Testing Requirements

As mentioned above, all students homeschooling via the non-public home based education option are subject to testing at five different grade levels: 3rd grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, 9th grade, and 11th grade. The test that is used should be a nationally standardized assessment. Examples of acceptable tests include the California Achievement Test (CAT), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), and the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). Students must receive a composite score of at least 13% on their assessment. The results of a homeschooler’s tests should be submitted to the school district where they submitted their original notice of intent.

As an alternative to testing, families can choose to have a professional academic evaluation of their child done. In general, this would be a licensed teacher or psychologist or someone with an advanced degree in education.

Homeschool Record Keeping in Colorado

No matter what method of homeschooling you use, it’s important to keep an up-to-date homeschool portfolio of your child’s accomplishments. Even if you use the umbrella school option, there is always the potential for their records to be lost or to be in error, so keeping your own set of records can be a helpful back-up. In addition to the required records listed above, homeschoolers in Colorado should consider including the following in their portfolio:

• homeschool report cards or a list of grades received by subject
• for high schoolers, a homeschool transcript
• examples of work by grade level

All of these items may prove helpful if you need to go back to public/private school after a period of homeschooling or for preparing college applications.

Colorado Homeschool Graduation Requirements

If you have a child in high school, then graduation is likely one of the areas of homeschooling you have questions about. In Colorado, graduation requirements depend heavily on the option you are homeschooling under. If you are using the umbrella school option, for instance, you will follow the graduation guidelines of your enrolled school. Families who have chosen the home based option, however, will determine their own graduation guidelines. Not only will your homeschool be the one to administer your child’s diploma, but you will also decide how many credits your high schooler needs to graduate, as well as required coursework.

If this is true for your family, it is wise to base these requirements on your high schoolers future goals. When deciding on courses and graduation goals, consider the following.

• For homeschoolers who are considering college: take a look at admission requirements of schools he or she may apply to and align your requirements with those.
• For homeschoolers with no immediate college aspirations: take a look at the high school requirements laid out by your local school board. These can provide a helpful point of comparison, particularly if your homeschooler might one day decide to further their education or enter the military.
• For homeschoolers with definite career goals: it can always be helpful to include some coursework that corresponds to their field of interest.

Enrolling in Public School after Homeschooling

Most every family considers the decision to homeschool a year-to-year one. Some families will homeschool from kindergarten through graduation, but many other families will use homeschooling as an alternative for specific grades or in specific circumstances. If, after a period of teaching your child at home, you realize that it is not the right choice for your family anymore, you’ll need to know how to transfer from homeschool to public school.

According to Colorado School Attendance Law, previously homeschooled children who want to enroll in public school may be tested by their school district for the purpose of placing the child in the grade level deemed most appropriate. The school you are enrolling with may also request your child’s attendance records and transcripts, although they cannot guarantee that the transcripts will mean assignment into a specific grade level, particularly if the child’s assessment test does not warrant it.

Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Colorado

Have other questions about homeschooling in Colorado? You may find the following pages helpful.

• Homeschooling in Colorado
• Colorado Homeschool Associations
• Colorado Homeschooling Groups & Co-ops
• Colorado Homeschool Umbrella Schools
• Homeschool Field Trips in Colorado
• Colorado Test Prep

Welcome to Homeschooling Guide

Download this FREE resource where experienced homeschoolers share their stories for how to begin homeschooling, understanding your child academically, planning your days, and much more.

Get My Homeschool Guide Now!