Vermont Homeschool Notice of Intent

Understanding Vermont's Home Study Program

Vermont refers to homeschooling as "home study" in its statutes. The term "homeschooling" doesn't actually appear anywhere in Vermont law. Despite this quirk of language, Vermont maintains a relatively straightforward regulatory framework under 16 V.S.A. 166b. The state is considered low-regulation, and a 2023 reform further streamlined the process by repealing the Agency of Education's authority to hold pre-enrollment and post-enrollment hearings.

Filing Your Annual Enrollment Notice

Unlike many states that require just a one-time notification, Vermont asks you to file an annual enrollment notice with the Vermont Secretary of Education for each child you're homeschooling. You can complete this on the Agency of Education's website.

Your enrollment notice must include:

• Your child's name, age, and birthdate
• Parent/guardian names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers
• An attestation that you will assess your child's academic progress annually
• Confirmation that you'll provide the equivalent of 175 instructional days
• Information about any documented disabilities, if applicable
• Signatures of custodial parents (or attestation of sole decision-making authority)

As of July 1, 2023, the Agency of Education can no longer review enrollment notices for "completeness" or call hearings. This was a significant deregulation win for Vermont homeschool families.

Required Subjects

Vermont does mandate instruction in specific subject areas. Your home study program must include:

• Basic communication skills (reading, writing, and the use of numbers)
• Citizenship, history, and government of Vermont and the United States
• Physical education and comprehensive health education, including the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs on the human body and society
• English, American, and other literature
• Natural sciences
• Fine arts

You have full freedom to choose how you teach these subjects. Vermont does not prescribe specific curricula, textbooks, or teaching methods.

Attendance Requirements

You must provide the equivalent of 175 instructional days per year. Vermont does not specify minimum hours per day, so you have flexibility in how you structure your teaching schedule. If your child has a documented disability, accommodations to the 175-day requirement may apply.

Teacher Qualifications

Vermont does not require homeschool parents to hold any teaching certifications, college degrees, or specific educational credentials. Any parent or guardian may provide home study instruction.

Recordkeeping

While Vermont does not mandate that you submit records to the state, you are required to retain assessment records (see the evaluations section below). It's wise to also keep attendance logs, curriculum descriptions, and work samples for your own records.