If you looked into homeschooling in Ohio a few years ago and it seemed complicated, throw out what you remember. In October 2023, Ohio rewrote its homeschool law, and almost everything people found stressful about it is gone.
No more annual test. No more portfolio review. No more 900-hour count. No more proving you have a diploma. What is left is about as simple as it gets: you send one letter, you teach six subjects, and that is the whole thing.
Here is exactly what Ohio requires now, and why so much of the advice still floating around online is out of date.
Is Homeschooling Legal in Ohio?
Yes, and it is now one of the least regulated states in the country. Ohio homeschooling is governed by Ohio Revised Code Section 3321.042, created by House Bill 33 and effective October 3, 2023. That law moved home education into the statute and stripped out the old administrative rules.
Compulsory attendance in Ohio runs ages six through eighteen. Under the current law, a child receiving home education in the required subjects is simply exempt from compulsory attendance once you have sent your notice.
What Changed in 2023 (and Why Old Guides Are Wrong)
This is worth spelling out, because you will still find blogs, forums, and even well-meaning veteran homeschoolers describing the old rules. House Bill 33 eliminated all of the following:
- Annual academic assessment. The old requirement for a yearly standardized test or portfolio review is gone.
- The 900-hour minimum. There is no longer a mandated number of instruction hours.
- The diploma requirement. The teaching parent no longer needs a high school diploma or GED.
- Curriculum submission. You no longer send a curriculum outline to your district for review.
If a source is telling you to schedule a yearly test or line up an evaluator in Ohio, it is describing the repealed law. The superintendent no longer reviews or approves anything.
Step 1: Send Your Notification
The one thing you do have to do is send a notification to the superintendent of your resident school district. You send it within five calendar days of starting home education (or of moving into a new district or withdrawing your child), and then by August 30 each year after that.
The notice is short. It needs your name and address, your child’s name, and an assurance that your child will receive instruction in the required subject areas. That is it — no curriculum outline, no textbook list, no credentials.
This is a notification, not a request. The superintendent’s only role is to acknowledge that they received it. They cannot deny it or ask for more.
Step 2: Teach the Six Required Subjects
Under the current law, your home education covers six subject areas: English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies. How you teach them, what materials you use, and how you pace the year are entirely up to you.
There is no minimum number of hours and no state test to prepare for. The law does include a backstop: if there is actual evidence that a child is not being educated in these subjects, the truancy statute can come into play. In practice that means you need to genuinely teach — not that anyone is checking your work.
Keeping Your Own Records
Ohio no longer requires you to submit or even formally keep detailed records, but most experienced families keep a light paper trail anyway. Two things are worth holding onto: a copy of your annual notification and the superintendent’s acknowledgment, plus a simple record of attendance and coursework for your own peace of mind.
You are not filing any of this. It just makes life easier if you ever transfer your child back to school, apply somewhere that wants records, or field a question. A binder, or a wall-mounted file organizer by your teaching space, is plenty.
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Ohio Homeschool Law: Common Questions
Do I have to give my child a standardized test?
No. As of the October 2023 law, Ohio no longer requires annual testing or portfolio review under the main home education option. Any source telling you otherwise is describing the old, repealed rules.
Do I need a high school diploma to homeschool in Ohio?
No. House Bill 33 removed the diploma or GED requirement for the teaching parent. There is no educational qualification set in the current law.
Can the superintendent reject my notification?
No. The superintendent’s only role is to acknowledge receipt. It is a notice, not an application, and there is no approval or denial.
When is the notification due?
Within five calendar days of starting home education (or moving districts or withdrawing your child), and then by August 30 each year after that.
Other States and the Big Picture
After the 2023 change, Ohio sits firmly at the low-regulation end: one notice, six subjects, no testing. For comparison, our overview of homeschool laws by state shows the full range. Texas is similarly hands-off, while a state like North Carolina still requires an annual test that Ohio dropped.
The Bottom Line for Ohio Families
Send a short notification to your resident superintendent within five days of starting and by August 30 each year, teach the six required subjects, and keep your own light records. Under the 2023 law there is no test, no hour count, and no diploma requirement — you have close to complete freedom over what and how you teach.
Just getting started? Walk through how to start homeschooling and planning your homeschool year, then grab the free weekly planner above to keep the daily rhythm steady.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Homeschool law changes, and the details above are a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Before you make decisions for your family, confirm the current rules with the official source: Ohio Revised Code Section 3321.042. Governing law: ORC 3321.042 (House Bill 33, effective October 3, 2023). Send your notification to your resident district superintendent.
