Homeschooling in Utah

Utah is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country. The only legal requirement is a ONE-TIME affidavit (now called a 'signed notification') filed with your local school district. There are no required subjects, no minimum hours or days, no testing, no parent qualifications, and no recordkeeping mandate. Once your affidavit is on file, your child is exempt from compulsory attendance — the school district must issue a certificate of exemption within 30 days. IMPORTANT 2025 UPDATE: HB 209 (effective May 7, 2025) further simplified Utah's homeschool law by removing the criminal background attestation requirement and clarifying that the affidavit is a one-time filing.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — Home School exemption from compulsory attendance under Utah Code §53G-6-204.

Notification: File a one-time signed affidavit (notification) with your local school district. NOT required to refile annually as long as you continue homeschooling in the same district..

Instructional time: No specific minimum days or hours required by statute. Local school boards may NOT require attendance records..

Required subjects: No specific required subjects mandated by Utah law..

Testing and evaluation: No state-mandated standardized testing for homeschoolers.

What Utah families need to know

**ONE-TIME AFFIDAVIT** (Utah Code §53G-6-204): submit a signed notification (affidavit) to your local school district stating that your child will attend a home school and that you assume sole responsibility for the education. Utah law allows you to use the USBE model affidavit OR write your own simple letter. Notarization is not required by state law.

DOES NOT NEED ANNUAL RENEWAL: per Utah law, the affidavit remains in effect as long as you continue homeschooling in the same district. The only times you need to refile: (1) if you move to a different Utah school district, or (2) if you stop homeschooling and later resume.

**HB 209 (effective May 7, 2025)**: this recent law significantly simplified Utah's homeschool requirements. Key changes: (1) removed the requirement to submit an affidavit for students who begin homeschooling at the start of an academic year; (2) REMOVED the requirement for parents to attest to criminal background history (no more 'I have not been convicted of child abuse' statement); (3) established procedures for local school boards to process letters of intent; (4) removed liability from local school boards after student unenrollment.

Certificate of Exemption: within 30 days of receiving your affidavit, the school district MUST issue a certificate of exemption excusing your child from compulsory attendance. The district CANNOT deny this. Each subsequent year by August 1, the district will send you a renewed certificate (if applicable to their format). You do NOT need to take any action.

**NO REQUIRED SUBJECTS**: Utah is one of the few states with no statutorily required subjects for homeschoolers. Parents have complete curriculum freedom.

**NO REQUIRED DAYS OR HOURS**: per Utah Code §53G-6-204, a 'local school board may not require a parent of a homeschool minor to maintain records of instruction or attendance.' This is the most permissive language in the country.

**NO TESTING**: Utah homeschoolers are not required to take state assessments (RISE, Aspire Plus). The exemption certificate explicitly waives statewide testing requirements.

**NO PARENT QUALIFICATIONS**: no degree, certification, or credential required. Any parent or legal guardian may homeschool.

**UTAH FITS ALL SCHOLARSHIP** (established 2023): a school choice ESA program providing approximately $4,000-$8,000 per student annually for educational expenses. Funds may be used for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, online courses, and other approved expenses. Special needs students may receive up to $10,700 through related programs. Eligible to all Utah K-12 students. NOTE: students using Utah Fits All funding must identify themselves to the program for tracking purposes — classification differs from traditional homeschoolers.

Dual enrollment: Utah Code §53G-6-702 defines dual enrollment rights, allowing homeschool students to enroll part-time in public school for specific classes or activities at the discretion of the local district.

Sports access: dual enrollment provisions allow homeschool students to participate in public school sports at the discretion of local districts. Some districts are accommodating; policies vary.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6 through 18. The exemption applies to all school-age children covered by the affidavit.

Always verify current requirements with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Utah homeschool parents issue their own diplomas. Utah public colleges (BYU, University of Utah, USU, Utah Tech) accept homeschool transcripts. The University of Utah requires homeschooled applicants to submit a signed and notarized 'Affidavit of Completion of Homeschool' form along with a transcript. Other universities have similar but varying requirements. Strong SAT/ACT scores significantly strengthen applications. Homeschool graduates may pursue the GED if a state-recognized credential is needed for specific employers or institutions.

Getting started in Utah

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

1. Read the statute. Visit the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) 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. Utah 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. Utah 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.

Utah homeschool organizations

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

• Utah Home Education Association (UHEA) — Largest statewide organization with detailed legal information — uhea.org
• U-Hope Coalition — Inclusive Utah homeschool network — uhope.org
• HSLDA Utah — Legal defense and member support

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