Utah Homeschooling Laws
The law that regulates homeschooling in Utah is generally Utah Code Ann 53G-6-204(2). The statute requires homeschooling families to:
1. Submit an affidavit
2. Ensure the children are taught in the homeschool
Homeschooling in Utah is quite straightforward and easy to accomplish. Homeschools in Utah are regulated at the district level while the Board of Education of the State provides the policies to be met by homeschooling families.
This page provides information on homeschool laws including:
· Requirements to Homeschool Utah
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Utah
· 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 Utah
Parents are only required to:
1. Submit an affidavit that is notarized to the district school which is available at the website of Utah State Education Board here.
There is no specified time one should provide instruction or any mandatory subjects. Parents choose the curriculum they wish as well as the textbooks and instructional materials they prefer.
The affidavit must be notarized and should be hand delivered or sent via mail to reach the district school. An exemption certificate is given in 30 days counting from the day of receipt. The affidavit is only submitted once and the certificate of exemption awarded every year. One only needs to submit another affidavit if there is a change in one’s location from one district to another.
Homeschoolers are allowed to take part in public school activities, functions and even classes. It is however a good idea to contact the local school on any requirements that should be met by homeschooling families. Students moving from public school to homeschool should first be withdrawn formally to avoid any truancy complications.
2. Teach the children in the homeschool
There are no mandatory subjects to be included in the curriculum or any requirement on the minimum hours instruction must be provided.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Utah
It is a good idea to officially withdraw a student previously enrolled in a public school to avoid truancy complications in the school. The common way is sending a letter or an email informing them of your intention to start homeschooling the student. Umbrella schools mostly inform the former school of the student of the change on behalf of the parent.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Utah
In as much as it is not a requirement by law to maintain records, it is beneficial to create a homeschool portfolio which assists when creating homeschool transcripts, returning to public or private school after homeschooling, applying to colleges, universities, and workplaces, as well as the military. It acts as a keepsake of the homeschool activities and the time spent together learning while tracking the child’s academic progress. Some of the things parents may include in the portfolio are: work samples, artwork, grades awarded, attendance records and any other necessary information. For students who wish to join colleges/universities, it is recommended to research on the requirements to join those institutions so as to align the homeschool goals with those.
Requirements for Graduation in Utah
Homeschoolers may rely on the public school requirements for high schoolers to graduate as a guide in creating their own standards. Parents may also contact their local schools for ideas on how and what to consider while creating a homeschool curriculum. Homeschoolers are not awarded a state diploma in Utah but are given the option to take the GED in order to get a diploma from the state.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Utah.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Utah |
To receive a diploma in Utah, a minimum of 24 unit credits must be completed. The courses include Math, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Physical education, Directed Coursework, and Electives. |
Parents in Utah 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 Utah | N/A |
There is no law in Utah that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Utah high school transcripts |
Students can choose to contact their school or use E-transcript system to submit a duplicate of the student’s transcript to the college they wish to join. Unless prices are offset, there is a reasonable charge. |
Parents in Utah 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 Utah |
The following course credits must be completed by the student: 3 Sciences including Chemistry and Biology, career and tech instruction or Physics, 3 Math including Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2,and Statistics Probability, 3.5 Social Studies(History of the world, the US, Geography, Economics and Government and Citizenship), Language Arts, Physical education, Art and 7 electives. |
Many parents in Utah 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 Utah |
English/Language Arts (4 Credits) Science (3 Credits) Social Studies (3 Credits) Directed Coursework (3.5 Credits) Physical Education Health (2 Credits) Required Electives (5.5 Credits) |
Homeschoolers in Utah 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 Utah
Every district has unique guidelines and policies on enrolling new students and especially those from a homeschool program. It is the duty of the parent to inquire from the board of the school they wish to enroll their child on the requirements to join the school. Some schools may accept the homeschool credits and determine the grade of the student while others may require the student to take a placement test.
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 Utah
Have other questions about homeschooling in Utah? You may find the following pages helpful.
