Is homeschooling legal in Oklahoma?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the only state whose constitution explicitly protects the right to educate your children by "other means" than public school, so homeschooling rests on unusually solid ground here. There is no registration, no notice of intent, no testing, and no required reporting. If you can teach in good faith for the equivalent of a full school term, you can homeschool in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | No. No filing or registration; formally withdrawing from your old school is recommended. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | No. No subjects are mandated for homeschools, though a good-faith, equivalent education is expected. |
| Testing / assessment | No. No testing or evaluation is required. |
| Recordkeeping | No. Nothing is required by law, though attendance and work samples are wise. |
| Parent qualifications | None. No diploma, degree, or certification required. |
Oklahoma homeschool law in detail
We link the governing law so you can read it yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is 70 O.S. Section 10-105 (compulsory attendance, with the "other means of education" exemption rooted in Okla. Const. Art. XIII, Section 4).
Notice / letter of intent
Oklahoma requires no notice of intent and no registration with the state or your district. The right to homeschool comes from Article XIII, Section 4 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which allows "other means of education," and the compulsory attendance statute (70 O.S. Section 10-105) exempts children for whom other means of education are provided for the full term the district's schools are in session. The Oklahoma State Department of Education suggests letting your local school principal know you plan to homeschool, but that is a courtesy, not a legal requirement.
Required subjects
No Oklahoma statute lists required subjects for homeschools. Oklahoma courts have said home instruction must be provided in good faith and be equivalent to public school education, so most families anchor their program in the core areas public schools teach: reading, writing, math, science, and citizenship, with health, physical education, and U.S. Constitution study often added. HSLDA recommends covering at least math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Required days or hours
The compulsory attendance statute requires that other means of education be provided for the full term the local district is in session, which is generally understood as the equivalent of 180 days per year. The state education department references roughly six clock hours per day as the public school benchmark, but no one audits homeschool hours.
Recordkeeping
Oklahoma law requires no homeschool records, reports, or filings. It is still smart to keep a simple attendance log, samples of work, and a high school transcript, both in case attendance questions ever arise and because colleges and employers will ask for documentation. Keep receipts for curriculum and materials too, since they can support the state's homeschool tax credit.
Testing and assessment
No standardized testing, portfolio review, or evaluation is required at any grade level. Families who want benchmarks can test privately and never have to share results.
Withdrawing from public school
If your child is enrolled in public school, formally withdraw them in writing before you begin homeschooling so the district does not mark unexcused absences. The school may ask you to sign a simple form acknowledging you are assuming responsibility for your child's education, which is normal. After withdrawal there is nothing further to file with anyone. Compulsory attendance in Oklahoma covers ages 5 through 18.
Good to know
Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit includes a homeschool benefit of up to 1,000 dollars per student per year (statewide cap of 5 million dollars), claimed on your state income tax return with Form 591-D and receipts for qualifying expenses. Public school activity and sports access for homeschoolers is decided district by district, so ask your local district about part-time enrollment or activity participation.
How to start homeschooling in Oklahoma
- If your child attends public school, send a short written withdrawal letter to the school and keep a copy. If your child has never enrolled, you can simply begin.
- Pick a curriculum or build your own covering the core areas: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies or citizenship. Oklahoma leaves the choice entirely to you.
- Plan a schedule that adds up to roughly a full school term (about 180 days) over the year. The shape of those days is up to you.
- Keep light records: attendance, work samples, and receipts for curriculum purchases (the receipts matter for Oklahoma's homeschool tax credit).
- Plug into Oklahoma's homeschool community, such as Homeschool Oklahoma (formerly OCHEC) or a local co-op, for support and law updates.
File your notice
Good news: Oklahoma requires no notice or form to homeschool. No notice or form is required to homeschool in Oklahoma, which protects home instruction in its state constitution and does not require parents to file with the state or local district.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Oklahoma
We're verifying Oklahoma's funding programs against official sources right now, dollar amounts and rules change yearly, and we'd rather be right than first. Check back soon.
Free Oklahoma Withdrawal Letter template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Oklahoma
Co-Op
- Beacon Academy Oklahoma · Bartlesville
A cooperative Christian community in Bartlesville that partners with individual homeschool families to provide a classical K-8 education from a Biblical worldview, including a separate Friday School program.
Visit website - CHEER (Christian Home Educators Encouragement Resource) · Tulsa
A Christ-centered support group of over 150 homeschool families from the greater Tulsa and Broken Arrow area, offering an academic co-op for pre-K through high school plus game days, back-to-school nights, and plenty of mom-to-mom encouragement.
Visit website - Homeschool Oklahoma · Statewide
Oklahoma's statewide homeschool organization connecting families to affiliated local support groups in every corner of the state, plus seminars, a social events calendar, legislative updates, and guidance for families just getting started.
Visit website - Logan County Home Educators · Guthrie (Logan County)
A welcoming group of Logan County families who support one another through a co-op with classes, field trips, small group meetings, and seasonal activities, open to both brand-new and experienced homeschoolers.
Visit website - TRAIN Academics · Duncan
A friendly group of southern Oklahoma homeschool families from Duncan, Marlow, Rush Springs, and nearby towns who gather for a monthly parent-taught co-op day, field trips, a geography fair, and holiday get-togethers from September through May.
Visit website - Trailblazers Homeschool Association · Moore (South OKC)
An affordable Christian homeschool group running a weekly Thursday co-op in the Moore and south Oklahoma City area, with parent-led classes for all ages, small class sizes, field trips, parties, and curriculum swaps.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- Prairiewood Forest School at St. Francis of the Woods · Coyle (Logan County)
A secular forest school on 580 acres of prairie and woods near Coyle, offering a homeschool co-op and weekly enrichment classes for ages 1 to 17, with days spent feeding chickens, planting wildflowers, and exploring forested trails.
Visit website - Sequoia Park Forest School · Yukon
An urban homestead offering Christ-centered, Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool enrichment for ages 4 through 16, where kids spend most of their learning time outdoors exploring nature, making music and art, and caring for plants and animals.
Visit website - Tulsa Area Forest School · Tulsa
A community-driven nonprofit offering free, inclusive outdoor learning for kids 2-3 times a week in Tulsa-area parks and natural spaces, with hikes, foraging, camping, and wildcrafting open to all families regardless of background or ability.
Visit website
Waldorf School
- Back to Earth School · Oklahoma City
A Waldorf-inspired school in Oklahoma City where learning engages head, heart, and hands at a slower, experiential pace, with parent-tot, kindergarten, grades, and forest school programs for growing families.
Visit website - Rose Rock School · Norman
A Waldorf- and LifeWays-inspired school on four acres in the heart of Norman, serving children from age 2 through the grades with learning through play, nature-based rhythms, mixed-age groupings, and fresh organic meals made on site.
Visit website - Under the Canopy School · Tulsa
A nature-based, public Waldorf-inspired Pre-K through 5th grade school in west Tulsa and an Initiative Member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, weaving handwork, music, gardening, and outdoor learning into a rigorous academic day.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Oklahoma homeschooling FAQ
Do I have to notify anyone before homeschooling in Oklahoma?
No. Oklahoma requires no notice, registration, or filing of any kind. The only practical step is formally withdrawing your child if they are currently enrolled in a public school, so attendance records close out cleanly.
Is homeschooling really in the Oklahoma Constitution?
Yes. Article XIII, Section 4 requires compulsory attendance "unless other means of education are provided," and Oklahoma is generally considered the only state with this kind of constitutional homeschool protection. The compulsory attendance statute, 70 O.S. Section 10-105, carries the same exemption.
How many days do I have to teach?
The law expects other means of education for the full term the local schools are in session, generally understood as the equivalent of 180 days a year. Nobody collects attendance from homeschoolers, but keeping your own log is a sensible safeguard.
Can I get any money back for homeschool expenses?
Yes. Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit gives homeschool families up to 1,000 dollars per student per year for qualifying expenses like curriculum, tutoring, online courses, and standardized test fees. You claim it on your Oklahoma tax return with Form 591-D and receipts; no advance application is needed for the homeschool credit.
Do I need a diploma or teaching certificate to teach my own kids?
No. Oklahoma sets no qualifications for homeschool parents. Courts only expect that instruction be given in good faith and be equivalent to a public school education.
What about testing and grade levels?
Oklahoma requires no testing and does not track homeschool grade levels. If your child later enrolls in public school, the district will decide placement, so keeping work samples and a transcript helps that conversation.
Sources
- Oklahoma State Dept. of Education, Home School
- HSLDA, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Tax Commission, Parental Choice Tax Credit
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, always confirm current requirements with your state's official sources before relying on them.