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Colorado · Some paperwork
Colorado asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.
VerifiedMarch 2026
Written from Colorado's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.
Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Colorado asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Written notice of intent to any Colorado school district at least 14 days before you start, then again each year while you keep homeschooling. The notice lists each child's name, age, place of residence and hours of attendance. You do not need to file until your child is 6, and you can stop filing after age 16. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Your chosen Colorado school district receives your notice and test results. The Colorado Department of Education (Schools of Choice) shares general information only; it does not advise on homeschool matters or collect notices..
Cover the subjects the state names
Colorado names 9 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Colorado expects you to keep a portfolio of your child's work.
Plan the assessment early
Colorado asks for an assessment in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. You can choose from: Nationally standardized achievement test (composite score above 13th percentile); Evaluation by a qualified person showing sufficient academic progress. Deciding early which route you will take saves a scramble.
No program on file yet
We do not have a verified Colorado education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Your chosen Colorado school district receives your notice and test results. The Colorado Department of Education (Schools of Choice) shares general information only; it does not advise on homeschool matters or collect notices. directly.
Is homeschooling legal in Colorado?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Colorado. Colorado has moderate homeschool regulation — some requirements apply but they are generally manageable. Koydo can put the dates your state lists on your calendar.
Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Written notice of intent to any Colorado school district at least 14 days before you start, then again each year while you keep homeschooling. The notice lists each child's name, age, place of residence and hours of attendance. You do not need to file until your child is 6, and you can stop filing after age 16.. This notice must be renewed annually.
How many instruction days are required in Colorado?
Colorado requires 172 days a year.
What subjects are required by law in Colorado?
Colorado requires instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Writing, Speaking (Communication Skills), Mathematics, History, Civics, Literature, Science, Constitution of the United States.
Does Colorado require annual assessment for homeschoolers?
Yes. Colorado requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Nationally standardized achievement test (composite score above 13th percentile), Evaluation by a qualified person showing sufficient academic progress.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Colorado?
Colorado has a law on this. Under CRS 22-33-104.5(6)(b), a child in a home-based program may take part on an equal basis in extracurricular and interscholastic activities offered by a public school, and is subject to the same rules as the school's activity association. See also CRS 22-32-116.5. Check with your school district for how it applies to your child.
Colorado requires written notice each year (14 days before you start), 172 days of instruction averaging 4 instructional contact hours per day, a nationally standardized test or a qualified person's evaluation at grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (a composite score above the 13th percentile, or sufficient progress), and permanent records kept by the parent. Sports access is set by CRS 22-33-104.5(6)(b).
The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Colorado's requirements and ignore the rest.
Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Your chosen Colorado school district receives your notice and test results. The Colorado Department of Education (Schools of Choice) shares general information only; it does not advise on homeschool matters or collect notices.. This is information for families, not legal advice.