Wyoming Homeschooling Laws
There are two ways to homeschool in Wyoming:
1. Homeschooling under the statute on homeschools
To homeschool under this option one must:
i. Submit an annual summary of the intended curriculum to the board of trustees of the local school in your district. The curriculum must show that the mandatory subjects are being taught to the homeschooler at the home study program. The instruction must also be sequential and progressive.
ii. Provide instruction in the mandatory subjects.
2. Homeschooling under a church school
Most church schools allow their students to receive instruction from their homes. The homeschool must be operating under the umbrella of a church or is controlled by a church, religious organization or a specific denomination.
Homeschooling Laws in Wyoming
The laws that regulate homeschool education in Wyoming are easy to follow and straightforward. Families are given a lot freedom to determine the best way to teach their student for the best interest of the child. Parents choose the type of curriculum to be used, make their own personalized calendars and since there are no laws that require homeschoolers to take annual tests or have annual assessments, parents get to focus on providing the best education to their students. This page provides information on the requirements that must be met to legally homeschool in Wyoming including:
· Requirements to Homeschool in Wyoming
· Notice of Intention to Homeschool in Wyoming
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Wyoming
· Requirements for Graduation
· Switching from Homeschool to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Wyoming
The three basic requirements to start homeschooling are:
1. File an annual notice of intention to homeschool your child to the local school in your district either online or via mail. The notice should be for every child between 7 and 16 years.
2. Provide instruction in the mandatory subjects which include: literature, science, reading, writing, mathematics, history and civics.
3. Submit to the board of the local school a detailed curriculum every year you intend to homeschool that includes a list of the instructional materials to be used in that year.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Wyoming
This can be in form of a letter to the office of the superintendent or done online by filling a registration form. These forms are provided by the district and must be submitted every year the homeschool program is ongoing. A summary of the curriculum intended to be used for every subject should be attached to the notice, failure to which may render the application non-compliant.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Wyoming
It is not a requirement by law for homeschoolers to maintain academic records; however, it is a good idea to create a homeschool portfolio which shows the academic progress of the child. This may also aid during the transcript creation process and when applyting to colleges and universities down the road. Some of the things that should be included in the portfolio are:
- A detailed report and samples of instructional materials
- Demonstration that the specified subjects are covered
- Evidence of any annual tests
- Information on the teachers who provided the content
Requirements for Graduation in Wyoming
Homeschool parents in Wyoming are free to set the graduation requirements for their student. Parents also determine if and when their student will graduate and are also able to award a high school diploma under their own terms. Parents are advised to consult with colleges the student may be interested in to know the requirements the child must meet so as to align the homeschool goals and curriculum with those requirements.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Wyoming.
Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
---|---|---|
Diploma requirements in Wyoming |
Students who wish to graduate in Wyoming must complete 4 years of English course, 3 of science and maybe 1 in computer science, 3of mathematics, 3 of social studies including American Government, history and economics, pass a test on US constitution and Wyoming state exam. |
Parents in Wyoming have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
Testing requirements in Wyoming | Students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge and basic skills in the core subjects including the Wyoming state exam and the principles of the US constitution. Students must pass the Wyoming TOPP in 10th grade and the ACT reading, math, language, writing and science in 11th grade. |
There is no law in Wyoming that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
Wyoming high school transcripts |
Schools make the transcripts for their students which are made available upon request by the student. The forms are available at the state’s archives. |
Parents in Wyoming can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
High school course credits in Wyoming |
Students should have completed 4 years of English course, 3 of science, 3 of mathematics, and 3 of social studies. |
Many parents in Wyoming choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
Eligibility for GED in Wyoming |
Students who are 18 years and above are eligible to take the GED. Those below 18 (at least 16 or 17) must have a waiver from the GED office of the state. |
Homeschoolers in Wyoming are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Wyoming
There are no laws in Wyoming on reenrolling back to public school after homeschooling. Every district in Wyoming has different rules and guidelines in enrolling students from homeschools. It is the duty of every parent to inquire from the administration office of the local school in their districton the requirements they must meet to have their students enrolled in that particular school. The administrative officials provide parents with the information relevant to the enrollment process.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Wyoming
Have other questions about homeschooling in Wyoming? You may find the following pages helpful.