Connecticut currently requires no mandatory notification for most families — but Public Act 26-37, signed into law in May 2026, adds an in-person withdrawal form and DCF records check starting July 1, 2027, and an annual intent-to-educate form starting July 1, 2028.
🗽
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: from the 2027-28 school year, an in-person withdrawal form and a DCF records check of every adult in the household when you withdraw a child from public school, and from the 2028-29 school year an annual intent-to-educate form for families of school-age children.
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) is law and phases in: starting with the school year that begins July 1, 2027, a parent who withdraws a child from public school must appear in person at the school district office to sign a withdrawal form, and the district must run a Department of Children and Families (DCF) records check on every person 18 or older living with the child; starting July 1, 2028, an annual intent-to-educate form (due by October 1) applies to families of children in public school, nonpublic school and parent-managed learning
📚 Required Subjects in Connecticut
Connecticut law (C.G.S. §10-184) says parents must instruct their children in reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, United States history and citizenship, including a study of the town, state and federal government
Within those subjects you choose your own curriculum and schedule, and Connecticut does not require standardized testing.
📁 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) adds an in-person withdrawal form and a DCF records check of every adult in the household when you withdraw a child from public school (starting July 1, 2027), plus an annual intent-to-educate form (starting July 1, 2028). 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 — from the school year starting July 1, 2027, withdrawing a child from public school means signing a withdrawal form in person at the district office, and the district runs a DCF records check on every adult living in the home; from July 1, 2028, an annual intent-to-educate form applies to families of school-age children. 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.
📚
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.
📅
Attendance Tracker
Built-in attendance logging helps you document instructional time and subject coverage automatically, useful for meeting record-keeping expectations.
📄
Printable Report Cards
Generate formal report cards automatically — useful for evaluations, re-enrollment in public school, or any situation requiring proof of academic progress.
📓
Printable Workbooks
Six printable workbooks covering every grade level — great for portfolio documentation and supplemental practice.
👪
Flat Family Price
$9.99/month covers up to 8 kids — no per-child fees as your family grows.
🗣️
Narrated 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.
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, families of school-age children, whether in public school, nonpublic school or parent-managed learning, must complete an annual intent-to-educate form (due by October 1). Separately, starting with the 2027-28 school year, withdrawing a child from public school requires signing a withdrawal form in person at the district office and a DCF records check of every adult in the household.
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. Starting with the school year that begins July 1, 2027, a parent withdrawing a child from public school must appear in person at the district office to sign a withdrawal form, and the district must run a DCF records check (the child abuse and neglect registry and open investigations) on every person 18 or older living with the child. Starting July 1, 2028, an annual intent-to-educate form applies to families of children in public school, nonpublic school and parent-managed learning. 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 the withdrawal form, the records check and the annual form.
Does Connecticut require standardized testing?
No. This remains true even under the newly signed Public Act 26-37, which focuses on withdrawal, records checks and registration 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 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 the in-person withdrawal form, records check and annual form in 2027-2029 is far less disruptive.
Start Your Connecticut Homeschool Journey
Free 48-hour trial access. Full K–8 curriculum from day one.