Switching from public school to homeschool mid-year

Find out what your state requires, withdraw your child in writing, ask the school for their records, and start slowly. You can do this any time of year, including the middle of a semester. Families switch in October and in March all the time.

Check your state's rules first

Every state allows homeschooling, and each one has its own steps. Some want a notice of intent filed before you withdraw, some want it within a set number of days, and some want nothing at all. Your state's department of education website has the current rules, and HSLDA keeps a plain-language summary for each state.

Withdraw in writing, and keep a copy

Don't just stop sending your child. A student who is still enrolled and stops showing up can be marked truant, even if you're teaching them every day. Send the school a short letter or email saying your child is withdrawing to be homeschooled, with the date. If your state requires a notice to the district, send that too. Keep copies of everything.

If you're not sure what to write, this is enough: "[Your child's name] is withdrawing from [school] as of [date] to be homeschooled. Please let me know if you need anything else from us." Short is fine.

Ask for their records

Request a copy of your child's school records, including report cards, test scores, and any evaluations. Federal law gives parents the right to see their child's education records. Those papers will help you figure out where to start, and you'll want them if your child ever goes back.

If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan

Leaving public school usually means leaving the plan, too. Some districts still offer services, like speech therapy, to homeschooled students, and some don't. Ask your district what it offers before you withdraw, so you know what you're giving up and what you might keep.

Take the first weeks slowly

Many families call this deschooling. It's a stretch of time, a few weeks or longer, where you lighten the load and let everyone adjust. A child coming out of a hard year at school may need rest before they need worksheets.

You know the kid who comes home from school every day, drops the backpack by the door, and goes straight to their room without a word to anyone until dinner, and then does it again the next day and the next. Some of them need a month of library books, long walks, and a lot of time with you before they're ready to learn at the table. That's time well spent.

Then start with reading and math

Once things settle, begin with the two subjects that build every day. Find where your child actually is, which may not match the grade on their last report card, and start there. Add the rest as the rhythm comes together.

The hardest part is usually the week you decide. The rest you'll figure out as you go.