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If your child has never attended public school, you can start homeschooling immediately without notifying the state. If they are currently enrolled in a public school, you must submit a formal withdrawal letter to the school. Texas Homeschool Coalition can assist with their automated email or link to a printable withdrawal letter.

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No, you do not need to register with the state, notify the government, or obtain approval to homeschool in Texas.

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 Texas law requires that homeschools:

• Be conducted in a bona fide (genuine) manner

• Cover the required subjects

  • Reading

  • Spelling

  • Grammar

  • Mathematics

  • Good Citizenship

• Curriculum may be obtained from any source and can consist of books, workbooks, other written materials, or materials on an electronic monitor, including computer or video screens, or any combination of these.

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 No, the state of Texas does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.

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No, the state of Texas does not regulate the number of days per year that homeschools must be in session.

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Parents create their own transcripts ( see FAQ Homeschooling 101) and issue diplomas, which are legally valid in Texas.

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If your child is in public school, please see the laws and regulations FAQ's for information on how to withdraw your child.

If your child is not in public school, you do not need to inform anyone that you will be homeschooling in Texas. You will first need to research your educational approach/philosophy and decide what will work best for your family. Below is a list of several options to explore. You can also find a wealth of information at Cathy Duffy Reviews.

Traditional- a structured approach that mimics a conventional classroom setting within the home. It typically features a fixed, Monday-through-Friday schedule, textbooks, prepackaged curricula, and regular tests or quizzes. The Traditional Homeschooling Style

Classical- classical education builds the experience of learning around the three different natural developmental phases known as The Trivium (Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric). The Classical Homeschooling Style

Charlotte Mason- focuses on learning through living books that inspire further learning and educating the whole child through a feast of learning opportunities including but not limited to literature, art, poetry, and time spent outdoors. The Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Style

Montessori- emphasizes self-directed, sensory-based learning tailored to children's individual needs and interests. It encourages children to explore and manipulate materials in a "prepared environment," promoting hands-on interaction and independent learning. The Montessori Style

Waldorf- a child centered education rooted in Anthroposophy, which emphasizes the holistic development of each child as a threefold being—spirit, soul, and body—through distinct developmental stages, prioritizes the nurturing of individual abilities and fosters a love of learning, integrating academic subjects with artistic and practical activities. The Waldorf Style

Unit Studies- a method of themed topic teaching. All areas of learning—Bible, history, science, health, and the arts are centered around a chosen topic which helps develop a deeper understanding of the topic and make connections to the world around them. Math and language are taught separately but can often be included in the theme. The Unit Study Homeschooling Style

Unschooling- a learner-driven approach where the child’s natural curiosity and interests dictate what and when they learn, often without formal, traditional curricula. The Unschooling Approach

Eclectic- a personalized, flexible learning approach that blends various educational philosophies, curricula, and teaching methods rather than adhering to one single style. The Eclectic Homeschooling Style

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Once you have chosen an approach/philosophy, you will need to find curriculum that goes along with your chosen style. Today there is an abundance of wonderful curriculum to choose from for all styles and budgets. One thing thing to remember is that if you find yourself or your child frustrated with a particular curriculum, you don’t have to stick with it! What works wonderfully for one family, might not work as well for another and that is okay. There is a wonderful, family-owned Houston homeschool store that has a vast assortment of new and used curriculum. The employees at The Homeschool Store are extremely knowledgeable about the different curriculum they carry and will even help you find exactly where it is in their store. You can also look on Rainbow Resource Center, ChristianBook and even Amazon.

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The short answer is no. Homeschool hours are flexible and you get to choose what works best for your family. Some families choose 3, 4 or 5 days per week. Some families homeschool in the morning and some choose afternoons or evenings. Some families homeschool year round, some do 12 week intervals, while others follow the local public school schedule. In the state of Texas, you decide when and how long you teach your children.

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The cost of homeschooling can vary wildly based on what curriculum and extra curricular activities you choose for your child. It can range anywhere from almost free to a few thousand dollars. The use of free/low-cost online resources and public libraries can help reduce the cost of homeschooling. You can also look for used curriculum in Facebook groups and marketplace, as well as local and online homeschool stores that sell used curriculum.

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By far, this is the most asked question for new homeschoolers. As homeschoolers, opportunities for socialization abound! CHARIS provides many opportunities like park days and a wonderful co-op. There are also many local homeschool sports programs (basketball, volleyball, track), dance, martial arts, theatre, horse riding, 4H, American Heritage Girls & Trail Life Troops. There are homeschool dances to attend like Fall Formal and even Prom.

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In Texas, standardized testing is not required. However, taking the SAT or ACT is strongly encouraged for admission to colleges and universities. Some colleges use the TSI, while others require SAT or ACT test scores.

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Yes, a homeschool transcript is essential for any homeschooled student planning to attend college, apply for scholarships, join the military, or enter certain trade schools. It will need to include student info, course titles, credits earned, grades, GPA, and a parent signature. You can create a transcript easily using a website like Fast Transcripts or use the free editable one here.

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CHARIS is a Christian support group for homeschool families. Our acronym stands for Christian Homeschool Association for Renewal, Inspiration, and Support. We include Christian families of multiple denominations, all seeking to honor the Lord in the education and raising of our children.

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Members families must have a homeschooling child in their household. All prospective members must attend two social events prior to submitting membership paperwork. Our membership forms are available on our website. Membership fees for 2026-2027 are $25 per family

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Our public Facebook page, CHARIS Homeschool Information, posts information about upcoming public events for prospective members.

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CHARIS provides social and enrichment opportunities for homeschoolers and their families. We have a regularly scheduled Park Day on the second Tuesday of every month, year round. We also have one bonus park day per month, on a changing date of the month (weather and schedule dependent). CHARIS moms enjoy a “Mom’s Night” meetup monthly, teens have a “Teen Night” monthly, and we have a monthly field trip September through May. We plan meetups throughout the summer months, and host a pool party for all member families to kick off each school year. CHARIS also runs an enrichment Co-Op exclusively for homeschoolers in the Fall and Spring semesters.

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Our group meets at a variety of places. While the bulk of our group is housed around the Dayton/ Liberty area, we have many members from the surrounding areas as well. As a result, we meet at parks within about a 40 minute radius of Dayton. Mom’s Nights and Teen Nights are usually hosted in a members home, which means their location changes from month to month. Field trips also vary, with most locations within an hour of Dayton. Our homeschool Co-Op meets at a church in Liberty.

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Active members are asked to glorify the Lord by maintaining God honoring dress and behavior expectations at CHARIS activities. We do not have a participation requirement in order to remain an active member. Membership is a yearlong commitment, which is reinstated annually by resigning our membership agreement forms and paying yearly membership fees. All activities are optional to attend.

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Think of the co-op as a creative village where everyone brings a skill to the table. It offers extracurricular classes taught by parent volunteers, giving kids a chance to learn, explore, and socialize in a structured, community-driven setting.

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To join, you must be part of CHARIS for at least one semester first

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No. The co-op is optional, not mandatory. If you are not a part of the co-op, you may still attend any activity or event CHARIS offers.

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The co-op consists of six Fridays per semester. 

There are two semesters in a year, one in the Fall and the other in the Spring. 

The co-op usually meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.

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The co-op offers a wide variety of extracurricular classes designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Because classes are taught by parent volunteers, offerings can vary each semester, but typically include things like debate, PE, art, science, hands-on STEM activities, creative writing, history, photography, life skills, and fun enrichment classes like cooking or crafts. This variety allows students to explore new interests, build friendships, and learn in a relaxed, engaging environment.

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Each class has its own fee, which depends on the supplies required and is determined by each teacher before the classes are offered. Each class fee can be easily viewed while picking one's classes. Additionally, there is a $15 registration fee per family.

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Payment dates for each semester will be clearly stated on the CHARIS website and Facebook. For any payment-related questions, please contact our treasurer, Stephanie Hayman.

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Kids 7 and older take one class per hour.

There are 3 hours so your child will choose 3 classes. 

You can only choose one class per horizontal hour block

They stay within their age group

They cannot mix age divisions

Younger groups (Nursery–Little Learners) stay in one class the entire time.

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You can join the waitlist

You should also select a backup class

Movement off the waitlist happens in order of sign-up time

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Yes, always. This is not a drop off program. Every child must have a parent on site who is available for their child and actively helping the co-op run.

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Nope! But everyone participates in some way.Roles may include: 

Teacher

Teacher helper

Hall monitor

Other support roles.

Many hands make light work…and a smoother co-op experience.

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You can teach a class after participating in the co-op for 2 semesters. This helps ensure that teachers understand the rules and how everything flows before leading a class.

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Attendance matters and is an important part of making our co-op run smoothly and serve all families well. Because space is limited, we ask that you only register if you are able to commit to regular attendance throughout the semester. When a family takes a spot but is frequently absent, it not only prevents another student from participating, but can also leave essential co-op roles unfilled. We understand that occasional conflicts arise, but we encourage families to make every effort to prioritize attendance and avoid missing whenever possible so that classes, responsibilities, and the overall experience remain consistent for everyone.

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The annual Family Membership Fee is $25. This membership grants access to our website, Facebook group, and eligibility to participate in CHARIS events. The fee goes towards operating costs and select events such as our annual pool party and graduation.

Additional fees vary depending on optional participation in Co-op and field trips. 

You may also choose to purchase a CHARIS Homeschool t-shirt to wear at events. 

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The annual membership window begins June 1st and ends May 31st. Members may join year-round, however, memberships are not prorated depending on the joining date. 

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Membership is open year-round, however, members must have joined by certain dates in order to participate in the optional next semester of Co-op.

Members must join by July 31st to be eligible to participate in the fall Co-op. 

Members must join by October 31st to be eligible to participate in the spring Co-op.

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Payments can conveniently be made through the website. There is a small processing fee for each transaction. If cash or check payment is needed, please contact the Treasurer.

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We do not offer refunds for family membership, co-op registration, or t-shirts.

Field Trip refunds are dependent on the date of cancellation.

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Fee amounts and deadline for payment are visible on the field trip calendar event. Nonpayment by the deadline will result in being cancelled from the field trip.

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If you cancel your field trip registration BEFORE the payment deadline, you may request a refund from the Treasurer. The website does not allow for refunds. Refunds are given through Paypal or in the form of cash or check through a porch pickup or at a CHARIS event.

If you cancel your field trip registration AFTER the payment deadline, no refund will be issued because the payment has already been sent to the field trip venue.

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If a discrepancy is noticed, please contact the Treasurer.

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There is a $15 Family Registration Fee for each semester of Co-op. This is a donation to our host church of Co-op for use of the facilities.

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Class fees vary depending on the class. Each teacher establishes the necessary fees for lesson supplies. Teachers do not get paid.