How to Withdraw Your Child From Public School to Homeschool

Taking your child out of school can feel like a big, slightly scary step, and the paperwork is often what makes it feel real. The good news is that the process is usually short and follows a predictable order. The part that trips families up is doing the steps in the wrong sequence, or doing more than the law actually asks for.

This guide is one of the deeper steps in our overview, how to start homeschooling. It covers what to check first, how to write a withdrawal letter, what to ask for from the school, how to handle a mid-year change and what to do if the school pushes back. Because the legal details depend on your state, we point you to the official sources for each.

Quick answer: first read your state’s homeschool law. If it requires a notice of intent or similar filing, file it. Then give the school a short written withdrawal that states the effective date, keep a copy, request the records you want, and begin homeschooling. HSLDA publishes a “How to Withdraw Your Child from School” article for every state.

General information only, not legal advice. Requirements differ by state and by option within a state. Confirm yours with your state department of education or a homeschool legal organization.

Start With Your State Law, Not the School Office

It is tempting to walk into the front office and ask what to do. School staff are often kind and helpful, but their job is usually to handle students who transfer to other schools, not to explain homeschool law. HSLDA has reported on districts that have asked families switching to homeschooling for things the law does not require. Starting with the law protects you from both confusion and extra hurdles.

Our guide to homeschool laws by state shows how to read the HSLDA state page and your state department of education site. For withdrawal specifically, the HSLDA state page links to a “How to Withdraw Your Child from School” article. Pay attention to three questions:

1. Does my state require a notice of intent, affidavit or other filing before or after I withdraw?
2. Who receives it: the local district, the state or both?
3. Is there a deadline, and does it differ by homeschool option?

The answers shape everything else. In some states, filing a notice of intent comes first and the notice itself starts the homeschool. In other states, with no notification requirement, a withdrawal letter to the school is the only step. HSLDA’s state pages show this range, listing notification as not required for Texas and required for New York and Pennsylvania, for example.

Do the Steps in the Right Order

The order matters because of attendance rules. Every state has compulsory attendance laws, and a school that does not know your child is being homeschooled has to treat absences as absences. Repeated unexcused absences can lead to letters, calls and in some places a truancy referral. A clean, documented transition avoids all of that.

A general sequence that works in many states

1. Read the law and decide which homeschool option applies to you, if your state has more than one.
2. File the required notice or affidavit if your state calls for one, and keep proof of when and how it was sent.
3. Send the school a written withdrawal that says your child will be homeschooled as of a specific date.
4. Request any records you want, such as report cards, test scores, immunization records and a copy of any special education plan.
5. Return school property such as textbooks and library books, and get a receipt.
6. Begin your homeschool on the date you stated, and start your attendance log.

This is a general pattern, not a rule for every state. Some states want the notice before the withdrawal and some after. Some ask you to give a certain number of days of notice. Follow your own state’s sequence.

What to Put in a Withdrawal Letter

A withdrawal letter can be short. It is a notification, not a request for permission, and it should read that way. Plain and polite works best. A typical letter includes the following:

• Today’s date.
• The school’s name and the principal or registrar’s name, if you know it.
• Your child’s full name, grade and date of birth.
• A statement that you are withdrawing your child to homeschool under your state’s homeschool law, and the effective date.
• A request for copies of the records you want.
• Your contact information and signature.

You do not need to explain your reasons in the letter. Leaving them out keeps the letter simple and keeps the discussion to what the law requires. If you are in a state that requires a specific form or statute citation, include it. Send the letter in a way that gives you proof, such as email with a read receipt, certified mail or hand delivery with a signed copy. Keep a copy for your records.

Be aware that some districts have their own withdrawal forms. Using the form is fine when it only asks for what the law requires. If it asks for more, such as curriculum approval or a lesson plan in a state that does not call for one, compare it with the statute before you complete it.

Ask for the Records You Want

School records are yours to request, and having them makes homeschooling easier. Common items include:

• Report cards and any transcripts.
• Standardized test results.
• Immunization and health records.
• An individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan, if your child has one, along with recent evaluations.
• Attendance records.
• A list of the curriculum and materials used, if you want to continue where the class left off.

Ask in writing and give the school a reasonable time to respond. Records requests are separate from the withdrawal, so even if the school is slow to respond, your withdrawal still stands. If your child has special needs, HSLDA’s state pages include an article on special education provisions in your state, which explains what services, if any, remain available to homeschooled students.

Withdrawing in the Middle of the Year

Many families make the decision mid-year, after a hard fall semester or a family event. Legally, this is usually possible. The steps are the same: file any required notice, send the written withdrawal, collect records and begin. A few practical points are worth planning for.

First, decide whether to start right away or take a short break. Children who have had a difficult time in school often benefit from a few weeks of gentle days before formal lessons begin. Many families call this deschooling. There is no official length, and your state’s attendance rules may affect how long you can pause, so check them first.

Second, check how your state counts instructional days or hours. If it has a yearly minimum, days spent in school before you withdrew may count toward the total, and the number of days left could be fewer than you expect. A simple attendance log helps. A block schedule printable can help you map the remaining weeks.

Third, think about what your child already knows. Review the last report card and any recent work to see where they are in math and reading, and start there. You do not need to repeat the year.

If the School Pushes Back

Most withdrawals go smoothly. Occasionally, a school or district responds with extra demands or tries to talk a family out of it. Some common situations and calm responses include:

• A request to meet before you can withdraw. You can usually agree to a conversation without agreeing that the meeting is required. Check whether your state requires any meeting.
• A request for a lesson plan, curriculum list or proof of qualifications. Check the statute and your state department of education page. If the law does not require it, you can politely explain that you are following the state’s requirements.
• A warning about truancy. Send a copy of your notice and withdrawal letter, with proof of delivery, to the school and the district office.
• A claim that you need permission. In most states homeschooling is a parental right under the law and not a request to the school, but the exact process depends on the state.

Keep your tone friendly and your responses in writing. A short message such as “Attached is the notice we filed under the state homeschool law, and our withdrawal letter dated the first of the month” is usually enough. If the situation escalates, contact your state department of education, a local homeschool group or a homeschool legal organization for guidance.

Special Cases to Check

Private school, charter school or virtual school

If your child is enrolled in a private school, the school’s own policies apply to the withdrawal, and the state’s homeschool rules apply to what comes next. If your child attends a charter school or an online public school, check the school’s policies and your state’s rules. Some states treat students in publicly funded online programs as public school students rather than homeschoolers, which affects which rules apply. NCES, in its 2022-23 survey, reported that 1.8 percent of students were enrolled full time in virtual programs as students of public or private schools, separate from the 3.4 percent counted as homeschooled. Ask your state department of education how your situation is classified.

Children with special needs

HSLDA says families may legally homeschool children with physical or mental disabilities or specific learning disabilities. What changes from state to state is what, if anything, the public school must continue to provide. Ask the school in writing what services remain open to homeschooled students and read the special education article on your HSLDA state page.

Dual enrollment and public school access

Some states let homeschooled students join public school classes, sports or activities. Others do not. HSLDA’s state pages include a “Public School Access for Homeschoolers” article. Check it before you withdraw if part-time participation matters to you, because your options can change depending on how you withdraw.

Your First Weeks After Withdrawing

The first weeks are a transition for everyone. Aim for a gentle start. Pick a daily anchor, such as breakfast followed by reading together, and build from there. Start your records folder on day one, even if it only holds the attendance log and a copy of your notice. Our post on printable daily planners offers an easy way to track days.

Give your child a voice. Ask what they liked about school, what they did not, and what they want to learn. Children who have been through a hard season often relax once they see that their feelings were heard. If your child has close friends at the school, plan a few get-togethers so the friendship does not fade quietly.

Finally, be patient with yourself. You are learning to be a teacher, a planner and a record keeper all at once, and that takes time. Our guide on homeschool co-ops and socialization can help you find support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give a reason for withdrawing my child?

Usually not. A withdrawal letter can simply state that your child will be homeschooled, though your state’s rules for notices should be checked.

Can the school refuse to let me withdraw my child?

In general, the law of your state decides, not the school’s preference. Follow your state’s requirements and keep proof of what you sent.

Should I withdraw first or file the notice first?

It depends on the state. Some require notice before withdrawal, others after. Check your state’s HSLDA page and department of education site.

Can I withdraw in the middle of the school year?

In many cases yes. The steps are the same, and you should check how your state counts instructional days.

What if my child has an IEP?

Request a copy of the IEP and recent evaluations, and ask in writing what services remain available. HSLDA’s state pages include a special education article.

Sources: HSLDA, state pages and “How to Withdraw Your Child from School” articles (hslda.org/legal); HSLDA, Homeschool Laws by State overview; National Center for Education Statistics, Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey 2023 (homeschooling and full-time virtual enrollment, 2022-23). This article is general information and not legal advice.