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As of the 2026-27 school year, Connecticut law still requires no notification of intent to homeschool and no mandatory record-keeping for most families. But Public Act 26-37 (formerly HB 5468) was signed into law on May 26, 2026, and phases in real changes: DCF notification on withdrawal starting July 1, 2027, and mandatory annual registration plus a household background check starting with the 2028-29 school year.
Connecticut Homeschool Requirements (2026)
📋 What Connecticut Does NOT Require (for now)
- No notification of intent to homeschool required for the 2026-27 school year
- No mandatory record-keeping requirement yet
- No standardized testing required, and Public Act 26-37 does not add one
- No teacher certification required for parents
📚 What Connecticut DOES Require
- Nothing beyond general compulsory education law is mandatory yet — Connecticut's voluntary Notice of Intent and end-of-year portfolio review remain optional for now, not legal requirements
- Families who opt into the voluntary process file a Notice of Intent and may undergo an end-of-year portfolio review at their own choice
- Public Act 26-37 (signed May 26, 2026) has already become law and will require, on a phased timeline: automatic DCF notification whenever a child is withdrawn from public school to homeschool (effective July 1, 2027), and a one-time household background/DCF-registry check plus an annual intent-to-educate registration (effective with the 2028-29 school year)
📚 Required Subjects in Connecticut
- No state-mandated subject list under current law
Connecticut does not currently specify required subjects by statute, consistent with its overall light-touch regulatory approach as of 2026.
📁 Record-Keeping in Connecticut
- No state-mandated record-keeping exists yet for the 2026-27 school year
- Families may voluntarily maintain a portfolio with samples of activities, assignments, and projects if they choose
- Keeping some records is good practice regardless, since new requirements are already signed into law and phasing in
- Plan ahead — Public Act 26-37 (signed into law May 26, 2026) introduces a mandatory household DCF/background check and automatic DCF notification on withdrawal (effective July 1, 2027), plus annual intent-to-educate registration (effective with the 2028-29 school year). It does not add a portfolio or test-result requirement.
⚠️ Always verify current requirements with your state department of education or the Home School Legal Defense Association (hslda.org). Laws can change and this page is for general reference only.
Getting Started / Withdrawing from Public School in Connecticut
For the 2026-27 school year, no formal notification or registration is legally required to begin homeschooling in Connecticut. Some families choose to voluntarily file the state's Notice of Intent to Homeschool as a courtesy and paper trail, even though it isn't mandatory. Important: Public Act 26-37 (formerly House Bill 5468) was signed into law by Governor Lamont on May 26, 2026. It phases in over the next two years — automatic DCF notification when a child is withdrawn from public school to homeschool starts July 1, 2027, and mandatory annual intent-to-educate registration plus a one-time household background/DCF-registry check starts with the 2028-29 school year. Check HSLDA or the Connecticut State Department of Education for the latest effective-date guidance before assuming today's lighter rules still apply to your filing year.
How Lumi Helps Connecticut Homeschool Families
Lumi handles curriculum planning, grading, and progress tracking automatically, so Connecticut families can focus on their kids instead of paperwork — while staying comfortably aligned with state requirements.
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Covers Required Subjects
Lumi covers the core subjects Connecticut expects, plus additional subjects including Coding, Art, Music, and more — all in one flat-price app.
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Attendance Tracker
Built-in attendance logging helps you document instructional time and subject coverage automatically, useful for meeting record-keeping expectations.
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Printable Report Cards
Generate formal report cards automatically — useful for evaluations, re-enrollment in public school, or any situation requiring proof of academic progress.
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Printable Workbooks
Six standards-aligned workbooks covering every grade level — great for portfolio documentation and supplemental practice.
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Flat Family Price
$39.99/month covers up to 8 kids — no per-child fees as your family grows.
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Voice-Guided Lessons
Every lesson is narrated aloud by Lumi, so kids can work independently while parents focus on the bigger picture.
Connecticut Homeschool Resources
- Connecticut State Department of Education — Homeschooling — portal.ct.gov/SDE/Homeschooling — Official state guidance, including the voluntary Notice of Intent process.
- Connecticut Homeschool Network (CHN) — cthomeschoolnetwork.org/laws-policies — Statewide advocacy organization tracking legislative changes including HB 5468.
- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) — hslda.org — National legal advocacy tracking Public Act 26-37's phased implementation and compliance guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions — Homeschooling in Connecticut
Do I need to notify Connecticut to homeschool?
As of the 2026-27 school year, no — the voluntary Notice of Intent is still optional. That changes with Public Act 26-37 (formerly HB 5468), signed into law May 26, 2026: starting with the 2028-29 school year, most families will be required to file an annual intent-to-educate form, and school districts must notify DCF whenever a child is withdrawn to homeschool after July 1, 2027.
Is Connecticut's homeschool law about to change?
Yes — it already has. Governor Lamont signed Public Act 26-37 (formerly House Bill 5468) into law on May 26, 2026. It adds a mandatory DCF/child-abuse-registry background check for the household, automatic DCF notification when a child is withdrawn from public school to homeschool (effective July 1, 2027), and an annual intent-to-educate registration (effective with the 2028-29 school year). Confirm current effective dates before assuming today's lighter rules still apply to your filing year.
Does Connecticut require a homeschool portfolio?
Not currently — portfolio review remains part of the state's voluntary guidelines, not a legal mandate. Public Act 26-37 does not add a portfolio requirement; its main changes are registration and background checks.
Does Connecticut require standardized testing?
No. This remains true even under the newly signed Public Act 26-37, which focuses on registration and background checks rather than academic testing.
What is the best homeschool curriculum app for Connecticut families?
Lumi Academy's built-in progress tracking and printable report cards give Connecticut families a head start on documentation, which is valuable both for the state's current voluntary portfolio option and to be ready as Public Act 26-37's registration requirements phase in over 2027-2029.
Given that Public Act 26-37 is now signed into law and phasing in over the next two years, Connecticut families may want to start voluntarily keeping basic records now — even though not yet required for the 2026-27 school year — so the transition to formal registration and background checks in 2027-2029 is far less disruptive.
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