How to Start Homeschooling
Short answer: read your state's official page first, then choose how you want the day to feel, then pick materials, then keep whatever records that official page actually names. This is a sequence, not legal advice.
1. Check the official rule for your state
Start at the state directory. Each state page links the government or statute page we could open, and a table says only what that source said. Where a row says the requirement was not stated, or that it is unknown, check the official source yourself. Do not treat a curriculum website as the law. Rules change, and a page here can go stale.
2. Choose a style before a brand
Traditional, classical, Charlotte Mason, literature-based, unit studies, and online learning change the week more than the logo does. Read homeschool styles explained and be honest about how much teaching you will do.
3. Pick a curriculum with the quiz
The quiz ranks the directory from grade, style, time, budget, faith, accreditation, and pace. It runs in your browser and stores nothing. Prices and grades on each result come from the provider's official page, checked October 17, 2026. Unknown stays unknown. You can also browse online homeschool programs or curriculum by grade and style.
4. Keep the records your state page names
Some official sources name a notice, a portfolio, an evaluation, or attendance. Some pages we checked do not state a record rule. Keep what the linked source names, and ask the agency when the table says unknown. Online schools often keep grades. Print curricula usually leave that to the parent. That difference is about who holds the file, not about which product is better.
5. Confirm the price before you buy
The cost guide lists starting figures we could verify. A monthly price, a kit, and a school tuition are different purchases. If a link is an affiliate link, the program page says so. Affiliate links are not how a program gets onto the list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step to start homeschooling?
Read the official state page linked from the state directory. The table on that page repeats only what the source said. It is not legal advice.
Do I have to buy a full curriculum before I begin?
No. Some families start with a style and a math program, then add other subjects. The quiz can rank a shortlist. It does not require an account.
What records should I keep?
Keep what your state's official source names. If that source does not state a record rule, the state page says so. Ask the agency rather than copying another state's list.
Not sure which fits?
Answer eight questions and get a ranked shortlist with a match score. It runs in your browser, and we store nothing.