How to start homeschooling in Utah
The legal steps, in order, checked against Utah law.
Short answer: Utah lets parents run a home school with very few state rules. A parent sends a one-time notice to the local school board when withdrawing a child to homeschool or choosing not to enroll one. The parent alone decides materials, schedule, and evaluation, and the school board may not require records, teacher credentials, inspections, or testing.
Checked against Utah Code 53G-6-204(2) to (6) on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 18. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home school
Families who want to teach their own children, alone or together with other homeschooling families.
Steps
- Write a one-time notice to the local school board of your district of residence. The law says it may be a letter of intent.
- Send it when you withdraw your child from school to homeschool, or when you choose not to enroll your child.
- Watch for the board's acknowledgment. The board must record the notice and acknowledge it to you within 30 days.
- Choose your materials, schedule, place, and method of instruction, and decide how you will evaluate progress.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The local school board of your child's district of residence When: Once, when you withdraw your child to homeschool or decide not to enroll your child; not required if you already notified the board on or before May 7, 2025, including by affidavit |
|---|---|
| Subjects | None required by law. The parent alone selects instructional materials and textbooks. |
| Time | None required by law. The parent decides the time, place, and method of instruction. |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law. A school board may not require credentials for people giving home school instruction. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law. A school board may not require standardized or other testing. On request, the board must share recommended grade level skills by subject. |
| Records to keep | None required by law. A school board may not require records of instruction or attendance. |
The law: Utah Code 53G-6-204(2) to (6)
Leaving public school mid-year
When a parent withdraws an enrolled child to homeschool, the parent gives the one-time notice to the local school board of the district of residence. Once the board receives it, the board and the school are no longer liable for the child's education or services (Utah Code 53G-6-204(3) and (5)).
Public school sports and activities
Yes. A home school student may take part in extracurricular activities at the public school whose boundaries include the custodial parent's home, or at the school the student left to homeschool. Other schools may allow participation if the student meets eligibility rules (Utah Code 53G-6-703).
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in Utah?
Yes, under the home school route, you notify the local school board of your child's district of residence once, when you withdraw your child to homeschool or decide not to enroll your child; not required if you already notified the board on or before May 7, 2025, including by affidavit.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in Utah?
No. Utah law does not require testing under the home school route. A school board may not require standardized or other testing. On request, the board must share recommended grade level skills by subject.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Utah?
None. Utah law does not set required subjects under the home school route. The parent alone selects instructional materials and textbooks.
What ages must be schooled in Utah?
Ages 6 to 18, per state law.
Sources
- Utah Code 53G-6-204(2) to (6)
- Utah Code 53G-6-201(15) (school-age child)
- Utah Code 53G-6-202
- Utah Code 53G-6-703
- Home School, Utah State Board of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.