Connecticut C-14 Guidelines: What They Are and Whether You Have to Follow Them

If you've spent any time researching Connecticut homeschool requirements, you've almost certainly encountered references to "C-14" or "Circular Letter C-14." Districts cite it. State websites reference it. Some administrators present it as though it's the law governing your homeschool. It isn't — and understanding the difference between C-14 and actual Connecticut statute changes how you navigate every administrative interaction.

What Circular Letter C-14 Actually Is

C-14 is a policy document, not a statute. Issued in 1994 by the Connecticut State Department of Education, it outlines "suggested procedures for home instruction." The circular describes a voluntary framework: parents inform their local superintendent of their intent to homeschool, maintain educational records, and may participate in an end-of-year review to demonstrate that their program provides "equivalent instruction" under CGS §10-184.

The word "suggested" is doing significant work there. C-14 was developed as a compromise between the CSDE and homeschool advocates — a set of administrative recommendations that the state hoped families and districts would voluntarily follow. It has never been enacted into statute. It carries no binding legal authority.

Connecticut General Statute §10-184 is the actual law. It requires parents to ensure their children receive equivalent instruction in nine specific subjects: reading, writing (including spelling and English grammar), geography, arithmetic, United States history, and citizenship. §10-184 says nothing about filing a Notice of Intent, submitting portfolios to district administrators, or scheduling annual reviews. Those elements come from C-14, not from the statute.

When a district sends you a letter demanding a NOI by a specific date "per state guidelines," they are citing policy. When they ask you to schedule a portfolio review "as required," they are describing a voluntary procedure as mandatory. Knowing this gives you a firm foundation for every communication you have with your district.

The Notice of Intent: Is It Required?

The short answer: no. Filing a Notice of Intent with your local superintendent is not legally required under Connecticut law.

The longer answer: it's voluntary, with some practical considerations that influence how many families approach it.

C-14 recommends that parents file an NOI with the superintendent of their local district — a form that typically asks for the name and address of the instructing parent, a confirmation of the subjects to be covered, the anticipated method of assessment, and the number of instructional days planned.

Families who choose to file the NOI often do so because:

• It establishes a paper trail that the district has been officially informed, which can reduce friction later
• Some families use the NOI's administrative record as supporting documentation for future re-enrollment or GED applications
• In districts with aggressive postures, having a filed NOI sometimes (though not always) reduces the frequency of district inquiries

Families who choose not to file often make that decision because:

• Filing creates a documented relationship with district oversight that they prefer to avoid
• In genuinely low-friction districts, the NOI provides minimal practical benefit
• Philosophically, they object to normalizing voluntary compliance with non-mandatory state procedures

Neither choice is wrong. The Connecticut Homeschool Network (CHN) actively defends families who choose not to file, noting clearly that the NOI is embedded in a policy framework, not statutory law.

If You Choose to File the NOI

The CSDE provides a sample Notice of Intent form. Districts also distribute their own versions — Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport each have customized forms, though they all request essentially the same information.

A few strategic points for completing the form:

Days of instruction: C-14 and the NOI ask for the total number of instructional days planned. Connecticut public schools operate under a 180-day mandate; home educators do not. Entering "180+" is a widely used approach — it satisfies administrative expectations while accurately reflecting that experiential home education typically exceeds the public school calendar in hours of engagement, even if the format differs.

Method of assessment: The form asks how you'll assess your child's progress. Because standardized testing is not required in Connecticut, you're not obligated to list a specific test. "Portfolio review," "narrative evaluation," "skills checklist," or "informal assessment" are all appropriate responses.

Age constraints: The NOI framework under C-14 applies to children between ages 7 and 16. A district should not request or require a NOI for a child under age 7 or over age 16. If you receive such a request outside these age parameters, you're within your rights to note this discrepancy in your response.

Signing: Review carefully before signing. Some district-issued NOI forms include language acknowledging district oversight or agreeing to conditions that exceed what the law requires. You are not obligated to accept non-statutory conditions as part of filing a voluntary document. If you see problematic language, consult CHN before signing.

The Withdrawal Letter: Separate from the NOI

The Notice of Intent and the withdrawal letter serve different functions and are frequently confused.

The withdrawal letter (sometimes called a Letter of Withdrawal) is how you formally remove your child from public school. This is not addressed in C-14 — it's a practical administrative step that triggers the official end of the public school's attendance obligation for your child. Failing to submit a withdrawal letter leaves your child listed as enrolled in the public school, which means they'll be counted as truant as soon as they stop attending.

A withdrawal letter is typically brief: it states your child's name, their current school and grade, the effective date of withdrawal, and your intention to provide home instruction under CGS §10-184. Send it to the principal and the superintendent's office. Keep a copy.

The Notice of Intent comes after withdrawal — it's the document notifying the district of your homeschool program under the C-14 framework. Some families send a combined letter that handles both functions at once. Others send them separately to keep the administrative record clear.

You can withdraw your child without filing an NOI. The withdrawal letter is the necessary step. The NOI is the voluntary step.

What C-14 Says About Portfolio Reviews

C-14 describes a voluntary end-of-year review process in which a parent and a district representative meet to discuss the homeschool program and review samples of student work. When districts return signed copies of your NOI with language about a "scheduled portfolio review," they're invoking this C-14 framework.

Participation in this review is voluntary. If you filed an NOI and your district now expects a review, you can decline in writing. A polite letter stating that you're providing instruction under §10-184 and that you're exercising your right to decline the voluntary review process is sufficient.

If you choose to participate — which some families do for relationship-management reasons, or because their district has demonstrated a pattern of escalating inquiry without it — your preparation approach matters. Bring curated samples covering the nine §10-184 subjects. Don't bring your child, daily lesson plans, medical records, or test scores unless you've decided to include them. Don't allow the district to make copies of your materials.

HB 5468 and the Future of C-14

The 2026 legislative session introduced House Bill 5468, which would have transformed C-14's voluntary framework into statutory law — mandatory annual NOI filings, formalized portfolio reviews between March and June, and DCF background checks for families withdrawing from public schools. The bill was defeated after significant public opposition, with over 2,150 Connecticut residents appearing at the Legislative Office Building to testify against it.

For now, C-14 remains what it has always been: a suggested procedure. But the legislative pressure documented by HB 5468 illustrates why maintaining organized, §10-184-aligned records is sound strategy even in Connecticut's low-regulation environment. Well-organized documentation — a subject tracking sheet, reading list, curated work samples, and activity log — is your best insurance against both the current risk of district overreach and any future shift in the regulatory landscape.

The Connecticut Portfolio & Assessment Templates include a pre-written Notice of Intent template, a withdrawal letter template, and a complete portfolio system organized around the nine §10-184 subjects — everything you need to handle the administrative layer of Connecticut homeschooling from day one, without spending hours decoding policy documents.

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