American Home Schools

Texas homeschools are considered private schools, as outlined in the court case of Leeper v. Arlington ISD, and are exempt from compulsory attendance requirements if their homeschool is operated in a bona fide manner (not a sham or subterfuge), if they have a written curriculum from any source (including video or computer) that covers the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, math, and a course in good citizenship. Private schools are not regulated in Texas; the state constitution (Article 7 Sec 2) only authorizes the legislature to establish and maintain public schools, not private or parochial schools. Parents are not required to file any papers or notify anyone that they are homeschooling their children in Texas. If the children are already enrolled in a public school, parents must withdraw the children from school so they will not be considered truant. Parents need no approval of the school district in order to withdraw their children from school to be homeschooled or attend a private school.

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Summary:

The decision rendered in Leeper vs. Arlington clearly establishes that students who are home schooled are exempt from the compulsory attendance requirement to the same extent as students enrolled in private schools.  School districts which become aware of a student who is potentially being home schooled may request in writing a letter of notification from the parents of the student regarding their intention to home-school the student.  This letter may require assurances that the home-school curriculum is designed to meet basic education goals including reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and study of good citizenship.  Please note that a letter of this type is not required each year.