Considering Homeschooling? *Updated September 2025*

 

Families consider homeschooling for various reasons. Some reevaluate every year, lamenting over their choices, while others are in it for the long haul from day one. My reason for homeschooling flipped during our first school year in 1997. My initial reason was based in fear, as school shootings were on the rise and I was terrified to send our children to school. During our first year, I quickly realized nothing could replace the joy I experienced in having my children at home with me and in being part of the “light bulb” moments. I learned so much my second time through elementary school! History came alive as it had never done when I was in school, and we enjoyed mornings snuggling on the couch reading our Bibles and great literature. It became our family’s identity and one that I believe shaped our close relationships. When I began homeschooling 28 years ago, the resources were not as plentiful and I hadn’t ever heard of a co-op. The world of homeschooling has evolved, but one thing has remained constant for our family: I truly love having my children at home. Do I get weary of them being at home all the time? Of course! But I am still deeply committed to the cause, method, and heart of homeschooling and couldn’t imagine trading it for alone time every day. And now that I am nearing the end of my homeschool career, I would go back and do it all over again (although with a lot more confidence!). I am so thankful for a husband who supports our ability to homeschool and wish it was an option for every family.

I originally wrote this article in response to the number of families who were considering homeschooling due to the new Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) law passed in our state. The school closures from COVID-19 in 2020 caused large numbers of families to consider homeschooling as a permanent option. At that time, mask mandates for students, along with social distancing requirements and possible weekly virus testing caused an unprecedented surge in homeschooling. Now that CSE is being implemented and Washington State seems intent on eroding parental rights, we’re facing a new influx of families choosing to educate their children from home.

The good news is that homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. While some states make it easier than others, families in every state are afforded the freedom to legally issue a high school diploma to our graduates that is as valid as a public high school diploma. We can choose our own curriculum, set our own schedules, and test using a variety of methods in order to comply with the testing requirements in each state. Homeschoolers are free to combine subjects, study outside of our child’s grade level, and employ creative and outside resources to fulfill the required subjects.

In any discussion of homeschooling, it is inevitable to include the topic of public school “at home” programs. With these programs (called Parent Partnership Programs/PPPs or Alternative Learning Experience/ALEs), the school district receives a percentage or near total funding for any enrolled student. Depending on the district, up to 99% enrollment will allow students to maintain homeschool status, but the district requires oversight and approval of materials used. Many homeschoolers steer away from PPPs/ALEs to avoid the weekly oversight by a certified teacher. Some also believe these programs send a message to the state that homeschoolers need government help, money, curriculum, and programs. Other families appreciate the oversight and find that they are able to accomplish more with the accountability inherent in a PPP/ALE. Since I am an independent homeschooler, along with a majority of other homeschoolers, the resources included here are representative of an independent model. However, families who choose to use a PPP/ALE may also be able to use some of these recommended materials.

Now that we have arrived at the beginning of the school year in 2025, school districts in Washington are now mandated to cover CSE beginning in kindergarten, and a new law just passed allows schools to vaccinate children without parental consent if a medical provider deems it necessary. This has caused many to either continue homeschooling or to begin homeschooling for the first time. Many have decided to homeschool strictly to send a message to the school districts and to reduce the funding they receive for each student. Public schools in Washington state receive over $12,000 of federal money for each student. Families that are homeschooling specifically to keep their kids from being exposed to CSE will send the strongest message by not participating in public programs to any extent. For these families, simply doing public school online will not change the desired outcome of reducing funding to affect change. The resources in this article will help these families make a clean break from public schooling and they may just decide they really enjoy homeschooling.  

If you are considering homeschooling, I’ve compiled a variety of links (links shown in color) for resources, laws, curriculum, testing, and support groups. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it includes the most popular options and should help narrow down the overwhelming amount of choices. I hope you find them helpful!

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Homeschool Legal Defense Association
HSLDA is a legal organization that defends the constitutional right of families to direct their children’s education. Their website outlines each state’s homeschool law (though the website sometimes lacks the details of each state’s law) and includes other resources. Some homeschoolers pay for a yearly membership as a safeguard against truancy allegations.

Washington Homeschool Organization
For Washington State residents, WHO is an excellent source for understanding your options. Here you can find the WA State Homeschool Law, instructions for how to inform the school district of your intent to homeschool, support groups in your area, and much more. WHO offers a qualifying course for parents who don’t have the required number of college credit hours to homeschool without supervision. This class is valuable whether you qualify on your own or not. For those considering homeschooling and not sure where to start, I recommend clicking on “Begin Homeschooling” at the top of the WHO home page. If you are in another state, search online for your state’s homeschool association or advocacy organization.

The Home Scholar
Lee Binz (The HomeScholar) is a consultant who specializes in helping families homeschool through the high school years. Her books and workshops help bolster confidence in preparing your high school student for college or a career. Her website includes a helpful section on her favorite curriculum choices, as well as various online courses for everything from testing to preparing transcripts.

Reviews/General Homeschool Aid
The following sites offer reviews on nearly all available curricula. Both give thorough reviews and recommendations, as well as offering general articles for new and experienced homeschoolers.

Cathy Duffy Reviews
The Homeschool Mom

Complete Curriculum – Christian
The following curriculum companies offer full packages, some of which were originally designed for Christian schools and have also been made available to homeschoolers. Some families choose to purchase individual subjects, while some choose to purchase the full curriculum for a grade level. Some of these companies offer online video options, while others offer textbooks/workbooks. A full curriculum can be overwhelming and unnecessary depending on the age/grade of the student, so my recommendation is to choose the necessary core subjects and eventually add more if you feel they are needed.

Abeka
Bob Jones
Alpha Omega
Liberty Academy
Master Books

Online Curriculum – Secular
The following curriculum companies offer full packages or specific subjects in an online format. Homeschoolers can use a portion of what is offered or can enroll for a complete package. These companies are among the most affordable in the online homeschool arena.

Time4Learning (Complete curriculum)
Power Homeschool Services (Complete curriculum, customizable)
Khan Academy (Math, science, engineering, computer programming, reading, test prep, and economics)
IXL Learning (Complete curriculum)
Outschool (Electives for ages 3-18)
Udemy (Electives, geared for adults/continuing education but start at beginning level, such as piano or art)

Online Curriculum – Free
It is possible to homeschool for little to no cost. Here are a couple of options, but creative homeschoolers are able to start with this type of resource and build their own curriculum. This is a great option for a family that enjoys going to the library and picking from an eclectic range of curricula.

Khan Academy
Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason guide)
Easy Peasy Homeschool (Free online complete curriculum for K-8, no frills or automation/grading)
Easy Peasy High School (Free online complete curriculum for grades 9-12, no frills or automation/grading)

Timberdoodle
Timberdoodle deserves a section of its own because it’s that good! This family company is located in Shelton, WA and specializes in unique, hands-on, and creative homeschooling products. They have also created curriculum packages for grade levels that take the guesswork out of planning for a full year. These kits are especially helpful for new homeschoolers who are overwhelmed with navigating the vast array of curriculum choices. As a homeschool family, they only recommend products they have used and loved.

Math Curriculum
The following math programs are available as online, DVD-based, and/or textbook-based options:

Denison Math (Our personal favorite for upper levels! From pre-algebra through trigonometry, this curriculum is a homeschooler’s dream. Very thorough instruction that hits all learning styles.)
Teaching Textbooks (Typically delayed by at least one year in developmental grade level, online placement tests are available, minimal instruction that works well for students who don’t struggle with math)
Thinkwell Math (Thorough instruction at a slightly higher cost but similar format as Teaching Textbooks)
Khan Academy

Writing Programs
Many homeschooling families use co-ops for writing instruction, where students can take classes in essay writing and creative writing. The following curriculum companies offer online writing instruction or a textbook/workbook format.

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
Brave Writer
Essentials in Writing (This is my personal favorite for writing instruction. Each lesson includes video instruction and workbook activities.)

Physical Curriculum
The following products are some of the most popular hard-copy curriculum options among homeschoolers, other than those listed in the “Complete Curriculum” sections above.

Sonlight Curriculum (Literature-based, Christian)
Book Shark (Literature-based, secular version of Sonlight)
My Father’s World
Gather ‘Round (A fully-connected curriculum for all subjects and ages, Christian)

Testing Providers
Testing requirements vary by state and by age. In WA, homeschooled students over the age of 8 are required to complete a yearly standardized test or be evaluated by a certified teacher. Following are testing providers, but your homeschool organization can also provide a list of local teachers who provide yearly assessments. Most homeschoolers complete their testing in order to comply with the homeschool law, not as a means of assessing how well their children are doing in school. Test results may be requested by public or private schools upon enrollment, but in 24 years of homeschooling, I have only heard of one private school that requested test results.

Seton Testing Service Seton offers a variety of standardized assessments. My personal favorite is the Stanford online test. This is a scheduled, 2-day assessment completed online.
Family Learning Organization FLO offers a variety of standardized assessments, as well as an option to complete a non-testing assessment that complies with WA state’s testing requirements.

Homeschool Groups & Co-ops
For new homeschoolers, joining a co-op can be a little overwhelming in addition to taking on the responsibility of educating at home. However, for those who would like to take on an additional day each to provide their children with an outside social or classroom environment, I’m including resources on how to find a group in your area. Some of the sites listed above also include links to local groups.

WHO Support Groups & Co-ops (WA) While not an exhaustive list, many groups are listed by region.
Homeschool-Life Many homeschool co-ops use this site as their server. From this page, click on your state and a list of homeschool groups will pop up with city names.

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I hope this guide has given you a starting point for beginning a rewarding homeschool journey. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about homeschooling or any of the resources listed here. One of my passions is helping families feel confident about homeschooling if that’s the direction God is leading them. If He has called you to the great responsibility of educating your children, He will equip you! Take advantage of those who have gone before you and reach out to another homeschooler you know or to me. We love to welcome others to the exciting and challenging world of homeschooling!