Homeschooling in Colorado

Colorado offers a three-pathway system for homeschooling under C.R.S. §22-33-104.5. The most common is Home-Based Education, which requires an annual Notice of Intent, instruction in seven subject areas, 172 days of attendance averaging 4 hours per day, and standardized testing or evaluation in odd-numbered grades (3, 5, 7, 9, 11). The state explicitly says homeschools are 'subject only to minimum state controls' — but those minimums include specific requirements. Note: Colorado homeschool families may file the Notice of Intent with ANY public school district in the state, not just their district of residence.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: Three pathways — Home-Based Education (most common), Enrollment in Independent/Parochial School (with home-based study), or Licensed Teacher exemption.

Notification: Home-Based Education: file written Notice of Intent (Letter of Intent) with ANY Colorado public school district at least 14 days before beginning, then annually each subsequent year. Independent/Parochial School path: enrollment is handled through the school. Licensed Teacher: exempt from most requirements..

Instructional time: 172 days per year, averaging 4 instructional contact hours per day (approximately 688 hours minimum).

Required subjects: Required subjects under C.R.S. §22-33-104.5(3)(d): communication skills (reading, writing, speaking), mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the U.S. Constitution..

Testing and evaluation: Standardized test OR evaluation by a 'qualified person' required at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Composite score must be at or above the 13th percentile, OR evaluation must show sufficient academic progress according to the child's ability..

What Colorado families need to know

**HOME-BASED EDUCATION** (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5, most common): file a written Notice of Intent with ANY Colorado public school district at least 14 days before beginning home-based education. Notification must include the child's name, age, place of residence, and number of attendance hours. Re-file annually each subsequent year.

Letter of Intent flexibility: Colorado is unique — you may file with ANY public school district in the state, not just your district of residence. This protects families in districts with adversarial homeschool relationships.

172 days / averaging 4 hours per day: minimum 688 instructional hours per year. Track attendance and hours in your records. If you start mid-year, you may pro-rate the 172-day requirement based on time remaining.

Seven required subjects (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5(3)(d)): communication skills (reading, writing, speaking), mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and 'regular courses of instruction in the constitution of the United States.' No state-approved curriculum — parents choose freely.

Testing/evaluation requirement (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5(5)): at the end of grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, students must EITHER (a) take a nationally normed standardized achievement test (Iowa, Stanford, CAT, etc.) and score at or above the 13th percentile composite, OR (b) be evaluated by a 'qualified person' who certifies sufficient academic progress according to the child's ability.

'Qualified person' definition (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5(2)(c)): a Colorado-licensed teacher, a teacher employed by an independent or parochial school, a licensed psychologist, or a person with a graduate degree in education. The supervising parent cannot be the evaluator.

Test/evaluation reporting: results must be submitted to the school district that received your Notice of Intent OR to an independent/parochial school. If submitted to a private school, provide that school's name to the district. Tests are at the parent's expense.

13th percentile threshold consequences: students scoring below the 13th percentile on standardized tests must retake the test (alternate version or different approved test). If the retest also fails, the district may require placement in public, independent, or parochial school until the next testing period. This rarely affects most homeschoolers — the threshold is intentionally low to measure whether education is occurring, not to demand high achievement.

**ENROLLMENT IN INDEPENDENT/PAROCHIAL SCHOOL** pathway: enroll your child in an independent or parochial school that 'provides a basic academic education.' The school oversees compliance under its own policies. Children enrolled this way count as private school students rather than homeschoolers. People in Interest of D.B. (Colo. App. 1988) confirmed this pathway.

**LICENSED TEACHER EXEMPTION**: parents holding a valid Colorado teaching license (per article 60.5 of the education code) are exempt from most home-based education requirements, including the 172-day rule.

Recordkeeping (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5): maintain attendance, test/evaluation results, and immunization records (or exemption documentation) on a permanent basis. Records stay with the family unless the superintendent requests them with probable cause to believe the homeschool is out of compliance.

Sports access: Colorado has strong homeschool sports access rights — homeschool students may participate in public school athletics on equal footing with enrolled students at their resident school district.

No state ESA or voucher: Colorado does not currently offer state-funded ESAs or vouchers for homeschool families. Coloradans rejected Amendment 80 in November 2024 (would have established a school choice fund). Federal Coverdell ESAs ($2,000/year) remain available.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6 through 17. Notification not required until child is 6 (C.R.S. §22-33-104.5(3)(e)). After age 16, the program may be discontinued without further notification.

Always verify current requirements with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Colorado homeschool parents issue their own diplomas under the Home-Based Education pathway. Homeschools are NOT accredited by the Colorado Department of Education or local school districts. Colorado public colleges (CU Boulder, CSU, CMU) accept homeschool transcripts. The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative is available for college-bound students. Document courses thoroughly with credit hours, grades, GPA, and detailed course descriptions. Most homeschool graduates supplement their transcripts with strong SAT/ACT scores and AP exam results.

Getting started in Colorado

If you are new to homeschooling in Colorado, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. Colorado offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. Colorado has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

Colorado homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Colorado homeschool families:

• Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) — Largest statewide Christian organization with annual convention — chec.org
• Rocky Mountain Education Connection (RMEC) — Inclusive statewide organization
• Homeschool Colorado — Statewide secular network — homeschoolcolorado.org
• HSLDA Colorado — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Colorado homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting Colorado's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • Colorado State Guide