Homeschooling in Vermont
Everything you need to homeschool in Vermont: annual enrollment notice, required subjects, 175 instructional days, assessment options, and public school access.
At a Glance
Vermont homeschool law overview
- Compulsory Age
- 6-16
- Notification
- Annual enrollment notice to Secretary of Education
- Attendance
- 175 instructional days per year
- Testing
- Annual assessment required (parent-retained)
- Teacher Qualifications
- None required
- Statute
- 16 V.S.A. 166b
Important Notice
Requirements
What you need to know to start homeschooling in Vermont
Understanding Vermont's Home Study Program
Vermont refers to homeschooling as "home study" in its statutes. The term "homeschooling" doesn't actually appear anywhere in Vermont law. Despite this quirk of language, Vermont maintains a relatively straightforward regulatory framework under 16 V.S.A. 166b. The state is considered low-regulation, and a 2023 reform further streamlined the process by repealing the Agency of Education's authority to hold pre-enrollment and post-enrollment hearings.
Filing Your Annual Enrollment Notice
Unlike many states that require just a one-time notification, Vermont asks you to file an annual enrollment notice with the Vermont Secretary of Education for each child you're homeschooling. You can complete this on the Agency of Education's website.
Your enrollment notice must include:
- Your child's name, age, and birthdate
- Parent/guardian names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers
- An attestation that you will assess your child's academic progress annually
- Confirmation that you'll provide the equivalent of 175 instructional days
- Information about any documented disabilities, if applicable
- Signatures of custodial parents (or attestation of sole decision-making authority)
As of July 1, 2023, the Agency of Education can no longer review enrollment notices for "completeness" or call hearings. This was a significant deregulation win for Vermont homeschool families.
Required Subjects
Vermont does mandate instruction in specific subject areas. Your home study program must include:
- Basic communication skills (reading, writing, and the use of numbers)
- Citizenship, history, and government of Vermont and the United States
- Physical education and comprehensive health education, including the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs on the human body and society
- English, American, and other literature
- Natural sciences
- Fine arts
You have full freedom to choose how you teach these subjects. Vermont does not prescribe specific curricula, textbooks, or teaching methods.
Attendance Requirements
You must provide the equivalent of 175 instructional days per year. Vermont does not specify minimum hours per day, so you have flexibility in how you structure your teaching schedule. If your child has a documented disability, accommodations to the 175-day requirement may apply.
Teacher Qualifications
Vermont does not require homeschool parents to hold any teaching certifications, college degrees, or specific educational credentials. Any parent or guardian may provide home study instruction.
Recordkeeping
While Vermont does not mandate that you submit records to the state, you are required to retain assessment records (see the evaluations section below). It's wise to also keep attendance logs, curriculum descriptions, and work samples for your own records.
Evaluations
Annual evaluation and assessment options
Annual Assessment Requirements
Vermont requires that you assess your child's academic progress annually. Here's the good news: you do not need to submit these assessments to the state. You simply retain the records yourself.
You can satisfy the assessment requirement through any of these methods:
- Standardized testing administered through your local school district or a private testing service
- A written report from a Vermont-certified teacher who reviews your child's work
- A portfolio with samples of your child's work across subject areas
- Grades from an online academy or accredited school program
- Evidence of GED passage (for older students)
The key is that you must attest on your enrollment notice that you will assess your child, and then you need to actually do it and keep the records. The state trusts parents to choose an appropriate assessment method and follow through.
Financial Resources
Vouchers, scholarships, and tax credits
State Funding for Homeschoolers
Vermont does not currently offer a state-specific Education Savings Account (ESA), voucher, or tax credit program for homeschooling families. This puts Vermont behind the growing number of states that provide direct financial support to homeschoolers.
529 Education Savings Plans
Vermont offers the VT529 plan, which provides a nonrefundable state income tax credit for contributions. As of 2026, federal law allows up to $20,000 in annual withdrawals from 529 accounts for qualified K-12 education expenses, including curriculum materials and tutoring services. This is a significant expansion from the previous $10,000 limit.
Federal Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
You can contribute up to $2,000 per year per child into a Coverdell ESA and use the funds tax-free for qualified education expenses, including homeschool curriculum and supplies.
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Effective January 1, 2027, a new federal program will allow individuals to receive up to $1,700 in tax credits for donations to qualified scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). If Vermont opts into this program, it could provide scholarship funding to homeschool families. Check with the Vermont Department of Taxes for the latest status.
Local Resources
The Vermont Home Education Network (VHEN) at vhen.org is the state's primary homeschool support organization. Many Vermont libraries offer free educational programming, and some museums and cultural institutions provide homeschool-specific discounts and classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about homeschooling in Vermont