If you’re considering homeschooling in Vermont, state law provides one legal option for home study. Vermont defines and regulates homeschooling under 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(21) and 16 V.S.A. § 166b. The statute was amended on July 1, 2023, and several requirements changed as a result. Here’s what parents need to know to comply with current law.
Quick Overview
- Annual Notification: Required
- Compulsory School Ages: 6–16
- No Immunization Requirements
- Teacher Qualifications: Not required
- State Mandated Subjects: Yes
- Annual Assessment: Required
- Legal Option for Homeschooling: One — Home Study Program
Step 1: Submit an Annual Enrollment Notice
You must send a written enrollment notice to the Vermont Secretary of Education each year for every child you plan to homeschool. This can be completed through the Agency of Education’s website.
Your enrollment notice must include:
- Child’s full name, age, and birthdate (day, month, and year)
- Names, mailing addresses, email addresses, towns of legal residence, and phone numbers of all parents or guardians legally authorized to make educational decisions
- An attestation that you will assess your child’s academic progress at the end of the school year and maintain a record of that assessment
- Independent professional evidence regarding whether the child has a disability, if the child was not previously enrolled in a Vermont public school or home study program
- An attestation that your child will receive the equivalent of 175 days of instruction in the required subjects, or appropriate adaptations for a student with documented disabilities
- Signatures of all custodial parents or guardians with educational decision-making authority, or an attestation that the enrolling parent has sole primary decision-making authority
As of July 1, 2023, you are no longer required to submit:
- A minimum course of study
- Evidence of academic progress from the previous year
- Names, addresses, phone numbers, or signatures of persons providing instruction
Step 2: Receive Acknowledgement from the Agency of Education
Within 10 business days of receiving a complete enrollment notice, the Agency of Education will send you a written acknowledgement. This document verifies that your child is enrolled in a lawful home study program. Keep it for your records.
Important change as of July 1, 2023: The Agency no longer reviews enrollment notices for “completeness” or conducts pre-enrollment or post-enrollment hearings under the statute.
Step 3: Teach the Required Subjects
Vermont law requires that home study programs include instruction in the following subjects:
- Communication skills: Reading, writing, and use of numbers
- Civics: Citizenship, history, and government of Vermont and the United States
- Health and Physical Education: Including the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs on the human body and society
- Literature: English, American, and other literature
- Natural Sciences
- Fine Arts
Step 4: Conduct an Annual Assessment
Parents must assess each child’s academic progress at the end of every school year. You are not required to submit the assessment to the Agency of Education, but you must keep a record of it.
You may use any one of the following methods:
- A standardized test administered by your local school district, a testing service, or in a manner approved by the testing company
- A report prepared by a Vermont certified teacher
- A portfolio and report including a summary of material covered and at least four samples of the student’s work
- Grades from an online academy or school
- Evidence that the student passed the GED
Staying current with Vermont’s home study requirements helps ensure your homeschool program remains in compliance. For the most up-to-date forms and guidance, visit the Vermont Agency of Education’s home study webpage.
