Homeschool Letter of Intent

What Goes in a Homeschool Letter of Intent

A parent or legal guardian usually writes the school letter of intent and gives basic details about the child. Keep the letter to one page and include each of the following items:

• child or children’s full name
• address
• date of birth
• the person who will be taking responsibility to educate the child for the school year.

Nonetheless, each state has different guidelines on what should be included in a letter of intent to homeschool. In fact, some state’s departments of education may have their own specific intent to homeschool forms that you are required to use. Additionally, not all states require such a letter, but normally, it is the initial step to homeschool a child.

What Homeschooling Requirements Do States Set?

Most states require a parent or guardian to have an educational degree or certification that qualifies them to be able to teach in their state. These requirements vary vastly from state to state, and there are several categories of states based on the scope of requirements to homeschooling parents:

1. States with the least requirements (among such states are Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Idaho, and some else; they generally don’t require parents to send a notification to the department of education and typically offer one or two programs for homeschooling – schooling under the homeschool statute or schooling as a private (nonpublic) or denomination school; teacher qualifications are generally not needed).
2. States with low regulation (states like California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Georgia, Alabama, and some else require sending a notification to the local department of education and typically offer three programs for homeschooling – at a home-based private school, using a private-school satellite program, or via instruction by a private tutor).
3. States with moderate regulation (in states like Washington, Oregon, Ohio, Florida, teacher qualifications are required to teach children at home; there might be from 1 to 3 homeschooling options depending on the state; there are also state mandated subjects that a child should be taught at school; the notice should be always sent to the local department of education)
4. States with high regulation (these 5 states – New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania – might offer up to 4 options for homeschooling, and teacher qualifications are needed for some of them; notification to the department of education is always necessary)

It is crucial to check with your state’s department of education about these requirements and the process of homeschooling.

How to Fill Out a Letter of Intent for Homeschool

Before you start, gather your child’s full name and date of birth, your home address, and the superintendent’s name. Then work through the seven parts below in order. Each part adds one block to the letter, from the date at the top to the signatures at the bottom.

• Step 1 – Date, superintendent, and school district. Start with the date in the top left corner. Below it, write the superintendent’s name, followed by the school district name and number.
• Step 2 – Opening. Next, say why you are writing: to inform the school board that your children will be studying at home instead of attending public or private school.
• Step 3 – Information about child or children. Give the name, gender, and date of birth of each child who is about to be taught at home.
• Step 4 – Address of child/children. Add the street address of each student who will be taught at home.
• Step 5 – Information about the teacher. Say clearly who will do the teaching. It is also important to outline what subjects the child/children will be taught (they should correspond to the list of your state-required subjects if any). The letter should also state that to the request of the state department of education, you should provide materials that demonstrate proper educational instruction for your child or children.
• Step 6 – Signatures. End with the teacher’s signature, printed name, and contact information (telephone and email). Next, add the signature and the same information for the parent or guardian.
• Step 7 – Notary acknowledgment. To add legal validity to the document, you might notarize it (here’s a notary form). Check your state requirements to know whether you need or not a notary’s signature on your letter of intent to homeschool.

Homeschool Letter of Intent by State

Start by finding your state in the table below. If your state lists its own form, ask the office that receives your letter whether to submit that form, your homeschool letter, or both. Keep a copy of whatever you submit.

Sample Letter of Intent to Homeschool

This sample shows how the parts above fit together on one page. The names, addresses, and dates are made up, so replace them with your own before you use the letter. In particular, change these items:

• Your names and home address
• The recipient’s contact details and address
• Your child’s full name
• The date and your signatures

From: Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
1089 Augusta Park
Granbury, TX 76048

April 4, 2021

Terry Michael Cozy
Principal of Oak Woods School
311 Davis Rd, Granbury, TX 76049
Granbury Independent School District

RE: Notification of Student Withdrawal and Assurance of Home-Schooling

Dear Mr. Cozy,

This letter is created to notify you of the withdrawal of our son, Patrick Mario Stevens, from Oak Woods School and the Granbury Independent School District, effective immediately.

For your records, this is your assurance that Patrick Mario Stevens
is being homeschooled in a bona fide manner using a written curriculum consisting of books, workbooks, other written materials, and other educational tools meant to develop reading, spelling, grammar, math, and other essential skills.

I request that copies of Patrick Mario Steven’s academic, medical, and all other records concerning Patrick in your files be forwarded to me at the above address within seven (7) days of the date of this letter to avoid delays in continuing his education.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Lisa Lime Stevens
Mike Brown Stevens

Tips for Writing a Strong Letter

A good homeschool letter of intent is short, polite, and easy to file. Use plain business language and the same spellings that appear on your child’s school records. These habits help the office read your letter once and file it without follow-up questions.

• Use your child’s full name and the date of birth shown on the birth certificate.
• Keep the tone formal and the message short.
• Check names, spellings, and dates twice before you sign.
• Submit the letter in a way you can prove later, such as certified mail or an email with a read receipt.
• Save a signed copy and the submission date with your other homeschool documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a way to give a child an education at home instead of following the traditional routes of education. Education from home can be provided by parents and or guardians but this is completely state-dependent as some states will require authorized educators.

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, there are around 4-5 million homeschool students in grades K-12 (from kindergarten to 12th grade) in the United States.

Families choose to homeschool for many reasons. Common ones are disapproval of the local school district, religious or philosophical views, and dissatisfaction with the classic educational methods. It is possible to achieve similar if not better results through homeschooling methods when compared to traditional education.

Who do I address the homeschool letter of intent to?

Address it to the superintendent. If you are not sure of the name, you can usually find it in one of these places, so check each one before you send the letter:

• The staff or contact page of the district website
• The main office, by phone or email
• The notice instructions on your state’s official website

Can I use a template for my homeschool letter of intent?

Yes. A template gives you a clear layout, and you add your own details. Our online document builder walks you through each part with simple questions, and you can print and sign the finished letter.

Can I use the sample letter for my own family?

Yes, as a starting point. Replace the names, addresses, and dates with your own and delete any line that does not fit your situation. Then compare the finished letter with the instructions you received before you submit it.

How do I submit the letter?

Ask the office how it prefers to receive the letter, such as by mail, by email, or in person. Whichever way you choose to submit it, keep a copy and write down the submission date.

What should I keep after I submit the letter?

Keep a signed copy, the submission date, and any reply you receive. Store these documents with your other homeschool records so you can find them quickly.

What if my state has its own form?

Look for it in the state table above or on your state department of education website. Ask the office whether it wants that form, your letter, or both. Then submit the same details you would put in the letter.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Jennifer M. Settles

Author & Attorney

With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.