A clear, practical guide for families ready to bring learning home — written for the way Colorado actually does it. Three legal pathways. Eight required subjects. One straightforward Notice of Intent. Everything you need to begin with confidence, in plain language and without the noise.
Colorado offers three distinct, fully legal ways to homeschool. Each has different paperwork and different freedoms. Most families choose the Home-Based Education Program — but the right fit depends on your goals, your time, and how much structure you want.
Send a written Notice of Intent to any Colorado school district at least 14 days before you begin teaching. The district must acknowledge it — they can't deny it or add requirements. You'll renew this filing every year you continue homeschooling.
Colorado does not approve, prescribe, or review curriculum — that part is yours to design. You're free to choose textbooks, online programs, co-ops, unit studies, or a blended approach. The only requirement is that you cover the eight required subjects, including the U.S. Constitution.
You'll need to keep ongoing records: attendance, immunization records, and any test or evaluation results. Plan for at least 172 days of instruction averaging four hours per day — these can be flexible (mornings, afternoons, weekends, road trips, kitchen science) so long as the year-end totals hold.
Children must be assessed in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 — either with a nationally standardized achievement test or through evaluation by a qualified person (a Colorado-licensed teacher, an independent / parochial school teacher, a licensed psychologist, or someone with a master's in education). Submit results to the district where you filed your NOI.
Homeschooling has been expressly legal in Colorado since 1988 under C.R.S. § 22-33-104.5, which declares home-based education "a legitimate alternative to classroom attendance." The law gives families three distinct routes — each fully legal, each with different paperwork and different freedoms.
Best for families who want full control over the day, the curriculum, and the pace.
Best for families who want curriculum support, simpler reporting, or a community of record.
Best for parents who already hold a valid Colorado teaching license and want the lightest reporting load.
How you teach these is entirely up to you — Colorado does not approve curriculum or dictate methodology. The state simply asks that the year's instruction includes meaningful work in each of the following eight areas, plus regular content on the U.S. Constitution.
Phonics, fluency, comprehension, literacy across genres and grade levels.
Composition, grammar, mechanics, and writing across the curriculum.
Verbal communication, presentation, discussion, and oral expression.
Numeracy, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and applied math reasoning.
Inquiry, observation, life sciences, physical sciences, earth & space.
World & American history, chronology, primary sources, and context.
Government structure, citizenship, & participation in democratic life.
Reading great works across cultures & eras — and the founding document.
Submit your Notice of Intent at least two weeks before you begin instruction. Renew annually.
Required per school year, averaging about four hours per day. Can be prorated for mid-year starts.
Reading, writing, speaking, math, science, history, civics, literature — plus the U.S. Constitution.
Children are assessed in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 — by standardized test or qualified evaluator.
The state's official homeschool guidance — covering the law, NOI procedures, testing, and recordkeeping straight from CDE.
Colorado's largest homeschool organization — annual conferences, legal updates, support groups, and the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference each June.
Plain-language summaries of Colorado law, plus member-only legal advocacy if you ever face questions or a records request.
The Colorado Getting Started Kit turns the law into paperwork you can actually file — five polished, print-ready documents built specifically for Colorado's requirements, so your first year starts organized instead of overwhelming.