Independent homeschooling means you teach your child at home without an organization in between. You follow your state's laws directly and handle all requirements yourself.
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. 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.
What is independent homeschooling?
When you choose independent homeschooling, you follow your state's laws without any middleman. You’re the teacher and responsible for everything: notifying the state, keeping attendance records, covering required subjects, and managing tests or evaluations. You’re not part of an umbrella school, virtual public school, or any private school program. It's the purest form of homeschooling.
Understanding state regulations
States have different rules for independent homeschoolers. About 11 states don’t require you to notify anyone—you can just start. Some ask for a basic notification to your district. Others may have more rules like standardized testing or evaluations. States like New York and Pennsylvania have stricter regulations, asking for quarterly reports and curriculum reviews. Check your state's requirements through HSLDA or your education department.
Advantages of independent homeschooling
Going independent means you have total freedom over your curriculum—no one tells you what to teach. You won’t pay umbrella school fees, which can be $100-500 a year. You enjoy privacy in your educational choices and can pivot your teaching style anytime without needing approval. In low-regulation states, you get the best of both worlds—freedom with little hassle.
Responsibilities to consider
With freedom comes responsibility. You need to know your state's rules well since you won’t have an umbrella school to help. You’re in charge of keeping records like attendance logs and course descriptions. In stricter states, this includes submitting reports and arranging evaluations. You’ll also need to find testing services and transcripts on your own, as umbrella schools usually provide these.
The bottom line
Independent homeschooling offers you control and flexibility, but it also means handling all compliance tasks yourself. In low-regulation states, there's little paperwork and lots of freedom. In high-regulation states, you face more documentation. Research your state's rules, connect with local homeschool groups for support, and decide if you want to manage everything yourself or consider an umbrella school.
