State Math and Science Standards for Homeschoolers: What You Actually Need to Know

Every year, thousands of new homeschooling parents google "[state] math standards" or "[state] science standards" and then spend hours reading Department of Education documents they are not legally required to follow. This post will save you that time.

Here is the plain-language answer for six of the most commonly searched states, plus a framework for thinking about standards if you decide you want to align to them.

Do Homeschoolers Have to Follow State Standards?

In almost every US state: no.

State academic standards — whether California's Common Core-aligned frameworks, Florida's NGSSS, or any other state version — are requirements for public schools and, in most cases, state-approved private schools. Homeschools operate under entirely different legal frameworks.

What states typically regulate for homeschoolers is: - Whether you must notify the school district (and how) - Whether your child must be assessed annually (and by what method) - Which subjects must be "covered" (usually listed in broad categories like "mathematics" and "language arts," not specific grade-level standards)

Most states that list subjects use language like "instruction shall include" basic subjects — not "instruction must align to Grade 6 math standard CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.C.5." That level of prescription is for public school teachers, not homeschooling parents.

State-by-State Summary

California

California homeschoolers operate under a "private school exemption" (Education Code 48222) or enroll in a public charter/PSP (private school satellite program). Under the private school exemption, parents file an affidavit, list the subjects they will teach, and have significant curriculum freedom.

The math standards question: California has adopted the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. These are the official frameworks for California public school teachers. Homeschoolers filing under the private school exemption are not bound to them. However, if you want your child to be on pace to pass the SAT, PSAT, or state-wide assessments (CAASPP), aligning to grade-level expectations based on these standards is sensible planning.

What to do instead of reading the full framework: Look at the grade-level overview documents (California DOE publishes single-page grade-level snapshots) to understand what concepts are expected at each grade. Use these as a benchmark, not a mandate.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin homeschoolers file under Chapter 118.165 of the state statutes, which requires a notice of home-based private educational program. The notice must list topics covered in the current term, but there is no requirement to align to the Wisconsin Academic Standards for Mathematics or Science.

Wisconsin's Math Standards: Wisconsin uses its own Math Standards framework, which closely parallels Common Core but with state-specific additions. Public school teachers follow these; homeschoolers do not.

Practical note: Wisconsin requires 875 hours of instruction annually. What you teach within those hours is broadly your choice, as long as core subjects (math, language arts, social studies, science, health) are included.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma homeschoolers are not required to register with the state, notify any authority, or follow any curriculum guidelines. Oklahoma law (§70-10-105) simply states that compulsory attendance requirements do not apply to children receiving equivalent instruction at home.

Oklahoma's Math Standards: Oklahoma adopted its own Academic Standards for Mathematics in 2016 (distinct from Common Core, which the state formally withdrew from). These standards are irrelevant to homeschoolers legally, but can serve as a useful grade-level reference for families who want a public-school alignment.

Bottom line: Oklahoma is one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. You have full curriculum autonomy.

Arkansas

Arkansas requires an annual notice of intent to homeschool (Act 1080 of 2015). The notice goes to the local school district. Beyond that, parents choose their own curriculum and are not required to follow Arkansas Academic Standards.

Arkansas Science Standards: Arkansas adopted revised science standards in 2016 that include the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework with some modifications. Homeschoolers are not bound to NGSS or any Arkansas science framework.

Practical note: If your child plans to take ACT Science (which is standard for Arkansas college admission), being familiar with NGSS-style science reasoning is useful — not because you must teach those standards, but because the ACT tests scientific reasoning skills developed by that type of curriculum.

Florida

Florida homeschoolers have two primary paths: file an annual notice with the school district, or enroll with a private umbrella school. Under the notice pathway, parents submit a portfolio of work at year's end for review.

Florida Science Standards (NGSSS): Florida uses the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science, which predate federal NGSS adoption. These are the standards Florida public school teachers follow and that the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) measure. Homeschoolers are not tested on FSA assessments.

If you want alignment: Florida publishes a Curriculum Frameworks document that breaks NGSSS into grade-level benchmarks. These can serve as a scope-and-sequence reference without obligating you to specific textbooks or methods.

Alabama

Alabama requires a church school or tutor exemption for homeschooling. Many families enroll in a church-umbrella program; others file under their own private school. Curriculum requirements are set by the exemption type, not by the state's academic content standards.

Alabama Science Standards: Alabama adopted its own Course of Study for Science in 2015 (Alabama Courses of Study — Science), which uses NGSS as a framework but includes Alabama-specific additions and in some cases modifications around evolutionary biology. These apply to public schools.

What this means for homeschoolers: You can choose any science curriculum, including explicitly creationist programs (Apologia), secular evolution-based programs (Real Science Odyssey), or neutral programs (Mystery Science for K-5). Alabama does not regulate this choice.

When Following State Standards Actually Makes Sense

There are practical reasons a homeschooling family might choose to align to state standards, even without being required to:

1. Returning to public school. If there is any possibility your child will re-enter public school, knowing what their grade-level peers have covered is useful. A child entering 7th grade in California should have covered what California public schools cover in grades K-6. The grade-level standards give you a checklist.

2. Dual enrollment at community college. Community colleges use placement tests that are roughly calibrated to state academic standards. If you want your high schooler to test into college-level courses without remediation, those assessments often reflect state expectations.

3. SAT/ACT preparation. Both tests assess math and science reasoning that tracks closely to the college-preparatory tier of state standards. Broadly following grade-level math standards (whatever state's version) puts a student in a reasonable position for standardized test prep.

4. Co-ops and hybrid programs. If your child participates in a hybrid program or co-op that uses grade-level materials, those materials typically align to state or national standards by default.

What to Actually Use for Curriculum

Following state standards does not mean using state-mandated textbooks (no such thing exists for homeschoolers). It means ensuring your curriculum covers the concepts those standards describe.

For math: programs like Saxon, Singapore Math, and Math-U-See all cover the major concepts in national and state math standards at every grade level. If you use any established K-8 math curriculum consistently through grade 8, your child will arrive at high school math with the foundation those standards are designed to build.

For science: programs like Real Science Odyssey, Mystery Science (K-5), and Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU) cover the scientific inquiry and content standards that NGSS and most state science frameworks describe — without being tied to a specific state's exact wording.

The United States Curriculum Matching Matrix maps major curricula to these conceptual benchmarks, so you can see at a glance which programs build the skills that matter for college readiness — without having to read a 200-page state standards document to figure it out.

See the full curriculum comparison at /us/curriculum/

State standards are a useful reference, not a cage. Use them as a benchmark and let your curriculum do the work.