Homeschooling in Colorado: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Colorado. Know the Colorado homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

Quick Facts:

There are 3 ways to homeschool:

1. Homeschool statute
2. Independent school
3. Certified teacher

Requirements:

• Children between 6-17 of age must be in school

• You must notify your local school district of your intentions to homeschool

• There are NO teacher qualifications UNLESS you homeschool with a private tutor then they must be certified teachers

• There ARE state mandated subjects

• There ARE required assessments or testing

• There ARE immunization requirements

How to Homeschool Under the Homeschool Statute

• Notify a school district of your intent to homeschool within 14 days of starting and then yearly after
• Include the name, age, address, hours of attendance
• Instruction must be by a parent, guardian, or adult relative designated by a parent
• Subjects must include reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, and science
• Must be at least 172 days of instruction with an average of 4 hours per day
• Maintain attendance records, tests, evaluations, and immunizations records
• Test or evaluate the child with a nationally standardized achievement test or by a “qualified person” in 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th,9^th, and 11^th grade.
• If you choose to have evaluations, they must be by a certified by a:

1. Colorado certified teacher
2. Teacher employed by a private school
3. Licensed psychologist

• Person with a graduate degree in education

• Send the test or evaluation results to an independent or church school within the state of Colorado

• Be aware that if the student does not score above the 13^th percentile on the nationally standardized achievement test you have two options: a) Retake the test with an alternate version or b) take a different nationally standardized achievement test

• If your child is still scoring under 13^th percentile according to Colorado state law they have the right to require your child be placed in a public, independent, or church school until the next testing period

How to Homeschool with an Independent School

• Enroll your child with an established Colorado independent school that accepts homeschooled students

• You may also establish your own independent school with two or more families

• If you establish your own independent schools, you need to keep records and teach the required subjects

How to Homeschool with a Certified Teacher

• If you as a parent or someone else you designate is a Colorado-certified teacher the requirements for the other options does not apply to you.

• There are no notifications, assessments, testing, subjects, hours of instruction, or any other requirements.

Helpful links:

https://www.cde.state.co.us/choice/homeschool

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/colorado.html

https://chec.org/how-to-homeschool-in-colorado/colorado-homeschool-law/

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Colorado Department of Education
  201 East Colfax Ave.
  Denver, CO 80203
  Phone: 303-866-6600
  Fax: 303-830-0793
  Website: http://www.cde.state.co.us/

• U.S. Department of Education, Colorado

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.