While Connecticut laws are not overly burdensome to homeschoolers, they impose far more demands and government controls than other states. Connecticut mandates many aspects of homeschooling including the number of hours and days of attendance, the subjects taught, annual notifications, minimum test scores and record keeping.
Connecticut homeschool laws require the following items:
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School attendance is compulsory for all children from ages 7-16
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Homeschool children must complete an average of 4 hours of instruction each day for 172 days each school year.
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Homeschool subjects must include but are not limited to communication skills of reading, writing and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science and regular courses of instruction in the constitution of the United States as provided in section 22-1-108.
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Homeschool parents must provide written notification to the local school district 14 days prior to the start of each homeschooling year. The notice must provide the name, age, place of residence and number of hours of attendance of each child enrolled. Providing this notice of intent allows parents to legally establish and operate a homeschool.
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Homeschool students must take standardized achievement tests every other year, starting in grade 3 and continuing until grade 11. Students scoring below the 13th percentile are required to enroll in public school the following school year. After enrolling in public school, if they are tested and score above the 13th percentile, they may return to homeschooling the following school year.
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Homeschool students who want to transfer into a public school may be tested by the school district to determine grade level placement.
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Homeschool parents are responsible for maintaining permanent records which include attendance, test scores and immunization records. These records are normally not required to be submitted to the school superintendent unless the superintendent suspects problems with a particular homeschool. If records are requested, parents must provide them within 14 days.
Another option for homeschooling in Connecticut is to enroll in a private school that permits at-home instruction. In this scenario, the subject and testing requirements are established by the private school. Parents have no legal requirements regarding attendance, teacher qualifications, school board notification, or recordkeeping. However, the private school might impose their own requirements.
A final option for legally homeschooling under Connecticut state law is hiring a private tutor. The tutor must be teacher certified and must teach the same subjects required for all homeschool parents. No requirements exist regarding attendance, school board notification, recordkeeping, or testing when using a private tutor.
Compulsory School Age: 5 - 18
Connecticut state law offers one legal homeschooling option, which is to establish and operate a homeschool. Under this option the child is required to attend 180 days of instruction per year. Required subjects include reading, writing, spelling, English, grammar, geography, arithmetic, United States history, citizenship, and local, state, and federal government. There are no legal requirements regarding teacher qualifications, school board notification, recordkeeping, or testing; however, the state has established guidelines concerning homeschool notification and recordkeeping. To be in compliance with notification guidelines, parents may voluntarily file a "Notice of Intent" with the local school superintendent within 10 days of the start of homeschool. Guidelines concerning the child's records insist that parents maintain a portfolio that demonstrates the child has been instructed in the required subjects.
See homeschool groups in Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Education
Connecticut State Legislature
Note: This summary of Connecticut homeschool law is for information purposes only and not as legal advice.