Annual Notification is a yearly document that homeschool families send to their school district to confirm they are continuing to homeschool. It's usually shorter than the initial notice and helps ensure compliance with state laws.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
What is annual notification?
Annual Notification is a yearly form that homeschool families submit to their local school district or state education department. It confirms that you plan to keep homeschooling. This is different from the first notification, which is more detailed. Annual notifications are usually shorter, focusing on updating your contact info and confirming you’re still following the rules. About 25 states require this notification annually. The goal? It helps districts keep track of kids who must be in school and avoids any truancy checks for families following the law.
Which states require annual notification?
States have different rules for Annual Notification. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- No-notice states: States like Texas, Idaho, and Alaska don’t require any notification.
- Low-regulation states: Florida and Arizona need just a one-time notice when you start homeschooling.
- Moderate-regulation states: New York, Virginia, Colorado, and Pennsylvania require you to file annually with your local district.
- High-regulation states: Massachusetts may need not just notification but also approval to homeschool. Before you start or each year after, check the specific rules with your local homeschool organization or on the HSLDA legal page.
What to include
When filling out your Annual Notification, most states ask for some basic details:
- Your child’s full name, date of birth, grade level, and home address.
- The name of the parent or guardian homeschooling your child, along with their contact info. Some states might also want to know what subjects you plan to teach or a brief overview of your curriculum. A tip from experienced homeschoolers: only include what’s required. Avoid adding too much detail about your teaching philosophy. Keep it simple and to the point.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
Missing your Annual Notification deadline can be stressful, but it’s often fixable. School officials might reach out, sometimes through a truant officer, to see why your child isn’t registered. The solution is simple: contact your superintendent right away, admit the mistake, and send in your notification as soon as you can. Most districts just want families to follow the rules and will help you fix the issue without legal trouble. However, if you repeatedly miss deadlines, it could lead to truancy actions. So, be sure to mark your calendar and set reminders every year.
The bottom line
Annual Notification isn’t a big hurdle, just a requirement. Once you know your state’s deadline and what info you need, filing takes just minutes each year. The trick is to build the habit: mark your calendar, gather your details, submit it on time, and keep proof of submission. For families in states with moderate regulations, this simple task keeps your homeschool legal and prevents unnecessary issues with the district.
