Homeschooling in Ohio

Ohio dramatically simplified its homeschool law in October 2023 with House Bill 33. The state eliminated annual assessments, the 900-hour requirement, curriculum outline submission, and the parent qualification (high school diploma/GED) requirement. The current law (ORC 3321.042) requires only an annual notification by August 30 and instruction in six core subjects. If you find older guides referencing testing, 900 hours, or curriculum approval — those requirements no longer apply. Ohio is now one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: Three pathways — Home Education Notification (most common), Chartered Nonpublic School, or Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School ('08 School').

Notification: File a signed notification with your local school district superintendent within 5 calendar days of beginning home education, then by August 30 each year thereafter. The exemption from compulsory attendance is effective immediately upon receipt of the notification..

Instructional time: No specific minimum days or hours required (the previous 900-hour requirement was eliminated by HB 33 in October 2023).

Required subjects: Six required subjects under ORC 3321.042 as amended by HB 33: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies. (The previous law required additional subjects such as health, physical education, fine arts, and first aid — those were removed in October 2023 but may still be taught voluntarily.).

Testing and evaluation: No state-mandated testing or assessment required (the previous annual assessment requirement was eliminated by HB 33 in October 2023).

What Ohio families need to know

MAJOR 2023 LAW CHANGE (HB 33): Effective October 2023, House Bill 33 fundamentally restructured Ohio homeschool law. The following requirements were ELIMINATED: (1) annual assessment via standardized test or certified teacher evaluation, (2) the 900-hour minimum instruction requirement, (3) submitting a curriculum outline and textbook list, and (4) the requirement that the supervising parent hold a high school diploma or GED. If you encounter Ohio homeschool guides published before late 2023, treat them with caution — the requirements they describe no longer apply.

Annual notification (ORC 3321.042): submit a signed notification to your local school district superintendent. First-time filers must submit within 5 calendar days of beginning home education. Renewals are due by August 30 each year. The notification must include the parent's name and address, the child's name, and an assurance that you will provide instruction in the six required subjects. Exemption from compulsory attendance is effective IMMEDIATELY upon the superintendent's receipt of the notification — no approval is required.

Six required subjects (post-HB 33): English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies. Parents have full discretion over curriculum, methods, sequence, and materials. There is no state-approved curriculum list, no submission requirement, and no review process.

Parent qualifications: NONE (post-HB 33). Any parent or legal guardian may homeschool regardless of educational background or credentials.

Three pathways: (1) Home Education Notification — the simple exemption under ORC 3321.042 used by most families; (2) Chartered Nonpublic School — full state chartering standards including assessments and detailed recordkeeping (impractical for individual families); (3) Non-Chartered Non-Tax-Supported School ('08 School') — for families with a religious objection to government oversight; teacher must hold a bachelor's degree, parent must provide annual notice to the Ohio Department of Education, keep attendance records, and provide 182 days of instruction.

Sports and extracurricular access (ORC 3313.5312): Ohio law REQUIRES school districts to allow homeschool students to participate in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities at the school they would otherwise attend. Homeschool students must meet the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. If the resident district doesn't offer a particular activity, the homeschool student may request to participate in another district. This is one of the strongest sports access laws in the country.

College Credit Plus (CCP): Ohio's dual enrollment program allows homeschool students to take college courses at any participating Ohio public college or university tuition-free. Credits count for both high school and college. Homeschool students apply directly to the institution — the school district is not a gatekeeper.

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship: provides $10,045 to $34,000 per year for students with qualifying disabilities to access private therapies, specialized services, and educational programs. Ohio homeschool families with special needs students should investigate eligibility.

Work permits: HB 33 included a provision allowing homeschool parents to issue work permits for their own children over 16 — you no longer need to go through the school district.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6 through 18.

Always verify current requirements with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Ohio homeschool parents have full authority to set their own graduation requirements and issue diplomas. There is no state-defined graduation standard for homeschool students. A GED is NOT required and not recommended for homeschool graduates — the GED actually signals equivalency to a diploma rather than completion of a full educational program. Ohio public colleges (Ohio State, Kent State, Cincinnati, etc.) accept homeschool transcripts. For competitive admissions, document courses with credit hours, grades, GPA, and detailed course descriptions.

Getting started in Ohio

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

1. Read the statute. Visit the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce 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. Ohio 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. Ohio 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.

Ohio homeschool organizations

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

• Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) — Largest statewide Christian organization with annual convention and legislative tracking — cheohome.org
• Ohio Homeschooling Parents (OHP) — Inclusive statewide network with detailed legal information — ohiohomeschoolingparents.com
• HSLDA Ohio — Legal defense and member support — hslda.org/legal/ohio
• Ohio Home Education Network — Inclusive network with regional support groups

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Ohio 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 Ohio'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 • Ohio State Guide