You Want to Homeschool, Now What?

If your child is not currently enrolled in a Texas public school (due to age or because your family has recently moved to Texas) or if the child has been attending a private school, you are not required to do anything to begin homeschooling. If your child has never attended a public school, you are not required to register them or notify anyone that you intend to homeschool.

If your child is currently enrolled in a Texas public school and you intend to homeschool, you will need to withdraw your child from the school he or she attends. You can withdraw your child at any time during the calendar year. There is no official form required by the State of Texas to withdraw your children from public school.

When withdrawing, some school officials may ask you to submit a curriculum, lesson plans, tests, etc. before you withdraw your child from public school. Legally, you are not required to do so. As long as you return all materials that belong to the school and give them the “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool,” the school must officially withdraw your child from their school.  You do not have to sign any documents.  If you do choose to sign, please read very carefully what you are signing and make sure you get copies.

If there is any school property in your child’s possession (textbooks, sport equipment, musical instruments, library books, etc.), take these items and deliver the “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” to the school office to officially withdraw. The school administration may ask you to sign forms they have created specifically for their school, but you are not required to do so. Again, there is no authorized form for the State of Texas for withdrawing your student and registering as a Homeschool parent.

There is no need to go to the school if your child has no school property in his or her possession.  You can mail your “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” to the school office. If you choose to mail the letter, we suggest you send it via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to the principal or administrative official you have chosen.

Your “Letter of Assurance and Intent to Homeschool” requests the school your child has been attending to provide all of your child’s school records, including all medical as well as academic records. The Texas Open Records Act (TORA) requires that records of your student be considered private information (Chapter 552.026). However, TORA also specifically entitles you (i.e. parent, grandparent, or legal guardian of the student) to have access to ALL of the records pertaining to that student (Chapter 552.023).  You can find an example of a letter of intent online at Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) or Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

If you have any issues or recieve a truancy letter during or after the process of withdrawing your student from a public school, please consider contacting a homeschool advocacy agency such as Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) or Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Both groups offer free, general legal advice to homeschoolers, and legal protection services to their members.