Top Resources for Homeschooling in Texas
Homeschooling isn’t about perfection for me. It’s about providing my children with the highest level of education possible. Whether that means paying for subscriptions, using free resources at the public library, or even hiring a tutor, I’m committed to meeting their needs.
Every state has different homeschooling requirements. In this post, I’ll share some specifics about homeschooling in Texas and highlight resources that apply across North America.
Know Your State’s Legal Requirements
The best way to avoid legal troubles is to understand your state’s homeschooling laws. My go-to resource for this is HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). This site provides an overview of homeschooling regulations across North America, including specifics about your state. It outlines whether you need to submit a letter of intent (a formal notice of your plan to homeschool) and the age range for mandatory schooling.
In Texas, children aged 6-18 must be enrolled in school, but a letter of intent isn’t required unless your child is already enrolled in a public or private school. In that case, a withdrawal process is necessary. Texas also doesn’t require parents to have teacher qualifications. The state mandates teaching these subjects: Math, Reading, Spelling and Grammar, and a course in Good Citizenship. You must also use a “bona fide” curriculum.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out these links:
HSLDA Texas Overview
How to Comply with Texas Homeschool Law
Helpful Homeschooling Resources
Here are some tools and platforms I’ve found helpful:
IXL Learning: This online platform provides resources for Pre-K through 12th grade. It offers a detailed list of state-specific learning standards and a subscription service for access to online lessons, textbook recommendations, and more.
IXL LearningThe Good & The Beautiful: A faith-based curriculum popular in the homeschooling community. I’ve used it for science, though I wasn’t particularly impressed.
Stephanie Hathaway Designs: An author of nature-based curricula. We’re currently using her insect guide, which has been a great fit for our studies.
Apps and Other Tools
Khan Academy Kids: A free app with activities designed to meet state learning requirements. I use this app to help my 5-year-old improve letter recognition, phonics, and reading foundations. It also covers math and more.
Studycat: A language-learning app we use to teach Spanish. It offers other languages like French, Chinese, German, and English.
Pinterest and Etsy: Great for finding arts and crafts ideas and purchasing unique, nature-based curricula.
Socialization and Co-ops
Because we’re in a transitional living phase, we haven’t joined any co-ops yet. However, once we settle on our homestead, I plan to explore co-op programs for traveling families. Some parents worry about socialization, but that’s not a primary concern for us. My children are naturally outgoing and engage with people of all ages when we’re out and about.
Final Thoughts
There are countless resources available for homeschooling families, from YouTube and Etsy to paid apps and website subscriptions. Ultimately, it’s up to each parent to create an environment that works best for their child while meeting state requirements.